JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri’s unemployment has dropped slightly to hit its lowest rate since June 2000.

Department of Economic Development data released Wednesday show the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent in July.

That’s down from 3.5 percent in June.

Missouri unemployment was at 3.6 percent in July 2017 and hovered between 3.6 percent and 3.7 percent for most of the past year. It started edging down in June.

According to department data, seasonally adjusted employment went up by about 9,800 jobs in July compared to June.

The change in nonfarm employment came as the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force went up by about 7,700 people in the same time period. The labor force counts people with jobs and those who are on unemployment but looking for work.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY— Emergency management authorities have identified a father and son who died in flooding Tuesday evening.

The two Montgomery County Kansas men were killed when their vehicle was swept off on CR 2950 south of CR 5400 during heavy rainfall.  The two identified 72-year-old Dennis Clark Catron Sr. and 39-year-old Dennis Clark Catron Jr., both of rural Elk City, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Roberts Dierks.

During the heavy rain Deputies responded to multiple calls of stranded motorists and in some cases Rural Firefighters and Deputies were going door to door to warn individuals of high waters.

Deputies also responded to an incident at CR 4500 and CR 5000 where a vehicle was found on its side in the ditch.  No one was found in or around the vehicle and attempts to contact the owner of the vehicle were unsuccessful.  

During the storms the northern part of Montgomery County received high amounts of rain. Rain fall totals for the area range between seven to eleven inches unofficially.

There are also reports of a tornado in the Elk City area.  Several videos have surfaced on social media of the funnel cloud near Elk City, according to the sheriff’s department. 

WASHINGTON — President Trump continues to tighten his grip on the Republican Party as the turbulent 2018 primary season lurched toward its finale.

On Wednesday morning, Trump used his Twitter account and recognized Kris Kobach’s victory in the GOP primary for Kansas governor.

My friend and very early supporter Kris Kobach won the Republican Nomination for Governor of Kansas last night in a tough race against a very fine opponent. Kris will win in November and be a great Governor. He has my complete and total Endorsement!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 15, 2018

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer will endorse Kobach after he conceded in a surprise Tuesday night announcement a week after their neck-and-neck finish threatened to send the race to a recount.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A special prosecutor wants a gag order in the case against a former Missouri sheriff and a subordinate with whom he was having a romantic relationship.

Former Texas County Sheriff James Sigman and Lt. Deputy Jennifer Tomaszewski appeared in court Tuesday. They’re charged with assault, robbery, child endangerment, unlawful use of a weapon, harassment and two misdemeanors. Allegations include that Tomaszewski hit a mentally disabled man and threatened to shoot another inmate.

The special prosecutor, Don Trotter, says Sigman and Tomaszewski’s attorney, Jason Coatney, should stop trying the case “out in the open.” Coatney says he has the right to defend his clients. He has said a video shows that evidence was tampered with and potentially destroyed.

The judge didn’t immediately rule on the gag-order request.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the counting of provisional ballots in the tight Republican primary for Kansas governor (all times local):

Democratic nominee for Kansas governor Laura Kelly is launching attacks against Republican opponent Kris Kobach now that Gov. Jeff Colyer has conceded the GOP nomination to him.

Kelly said on Tuesday evening that Kansas families suffered under former Gov. Sam Brownback, who left office earlier this year for a position in President Donald Trump’s administration. The state senator form Topeka slammed Kobach for his pledge to return to what she called Brownback’s failed policies and Kobach’s extreme partisanship and self-promotion.

Kobach, currently the secretary of state, is promising to push for lower income and sales tax rates and tighter controls on local property taxes a year after bipartisan supermajorities in the state Legislature rolled back past income tax cuts championed by Brownback.

Kelly said she would push for strong schools, good jobs, balanced budgets and steady leadership.

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KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 32-year-old man who fought with and threatened security officers outside a federal office building in Kansas City has been sentenced to 15 years without parole.

James Everett Jr., of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced Tuesday for threatening a federal law enforcement officer, resisting a federal law enforcement officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors said in March 2016, Everett was yelling and threatening a judge when he approached the Richard Bolling Federal Building in downtown Kansas City.

Four officers from the Federal Protective Service confronted Everett in front of the entrance. He threatened to blow the officers brains out, began fighting, bit one officer’s finger and spit on another. Two Kansas City police officers helped to subdue Everett.

A loaded handgun was later found in Everett’s car.