6 things to know for Tuesday, July 8, 2025

From devastating flooding in Texas to voter decisions in Green Country, here are the top headlines making news today.

1. Search continues after deadly Texas flooding

Recovery teams in Texas are still searching for survivors following last week’s historic flash floods. Officials now confirm more than 100 people have died, including nearly 30 from an all-girls sleepaway camp in Kerr County.

Ten children and one counselor from Camp Mystic remain missing. Hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers are still combing through debris.

“It’s complicated by the broad, the mass of people that we’re looking for,” said Tom Olson, a K9 search and rescue handler. “This is going to take a while.”

President Donald Trump announced plans to visit Texas on Friday.

2. Oklahoma crews deployed to help in Texas

Oklahoma Task Force 1 remains on the ground in Hamilton, Texas, assisting in water rescues. So far, they’ve avoided recovery work, focusing instead on life-saving missions.

Two Human Remains Detection K-9s, named Truman and Seven, joined operations Monday. The dogs are trained by Ground Zero Emergency Training Center.

Later today, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief will send in volunteers to help residents begin cleaning out flood-damaged homes.

“We’ll be going in and helping homeowners with their homes that have been impacted by these floodwaters,” said Jason Yarbrough with Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief. “We help remove anything that has become wet and damaged.”

3. Owasso police arrest Kansas kidnapping suspect

Owasso officers arrested a man wanted for aggravated kidnapping out of Kansas. Authorities say they were contacted Monday by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to assist.

Officers found 45-year-old Jamie Black near Third Street and Beaumont and took him into custody without incident. He was booked into the Tulsa County Jail and awaits extradition.

4. OU athletic director to retire in 2028

University of Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione is preparing to step down, but not just yet. OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. announced that Castiglione will retire in June 2028 after 30 years at the university.

Castiglione will then take on a new role as Athletics Director Emeritus and help select his successor. He is currently the longest-tenured athletic director in major college sports.

5. Voters head to the polls across Green Country

Several propositions are on the ballot today across parts of Green Country. In Creek County, voters are deciding on a clerk-treasurer appointment for Mounds.

In Osage County, Anderson Schools have two bond issues on the ballot. Muskogee County voters are deciding on a half-cent sales tax extension. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

6. ‘Summer Slide’ efforts underway in Tulsa

As summer break continues, organizations like the Opp Project are working to fight the “summer slide”—a term for the learning loss students experience over the summer months. The group partners with Tulsa Public Schools and others to offer hands-on enrichment opportunities, including programs with Global Gardens and the Tulsa Zoo.

“We know that kids need to be in school to learn,” said Josie Pascoe, Opp Project Development and Partnership Specialist. “Anything we can do to incentivize them to show up and want to keep coming back to school is powerful.”

According to the American Educational Research Association, more than half of U.S. students lose nearly 40 percent of their school year gains during summer.