The Latest: Panel says Kansas law limits GoFundMe donations

The Associated Press
The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the death of a 10-year-old boy at a Kansas City, Kansas, water park (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission says state law limits contributions by lobbyists to a GoFundMe campaign to cover the funeral expenses for a state lawmaker’s son who died at a water park.

The commission said Monday that contributions to the campaign to help Rep. Scott Schwab’s family fall under the state’s $40-a-year limit on gifts from lobbyists to legislators. The commission also said lobbyists must report their contributions to the state.

The commission had a short teleconference Monday to respond to what Executive Director Carol Williams said were numerous inquiries from lobbyists.

Ten-year-old Caleb Thomas Schwab died Sunday at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, while riding what’s billed as the world’s largest waterslide.

TheGoFundMe campaign had raised more than $20,000 as of Monday afternoon.

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1:50 p.m.

A Kansas water park was having a special day for elected officials when the 10-year-old son of a state legislator died on what is billed as the world’s largest waterslide.

Both a state senator who was at the park and the Kansas City, Kansas, mayor’s office confirmed Monday that state legislators and local elected officials were invited to the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

State Sen. Pat Pettey of Kansas City said the park provided a buffet lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs and thanked elected officials for their service to the state and their communities.

Caleb Thomas Schwab died Sunday while riding the 168-foot Verruckt, one of the top attractions at the park. He was the son of state Rep. Scott Schwab of Olathe.

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12:40 a.m.

Authorities are conducting an autopsy of a 10-year-old boy killed on a Kansas waterslide billed as the world’s largest.

An administrative assistant with the Wyandotte County, Kansas, coroner’s office says the post-mortem examination of Caleb Thomas Schwab began Monday morning. Margaret Studyvin says it’s unclear whether the autopsy results will be publicly released and, if so, when.

Caleb is the son of Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab of Olathe.

Few details have been released about Caleb’s death on the 168-foot-tall Verruckt, one of the top attractions of Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

The park was closed Monday amid the investigation.

11:20 a.m.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help a Kansas lawmaker’s family cover funeral expenses for a 10-year-old son who died at a water park in Kansas City, Kansas.

The campaign set up for the family of state Rep. Scott Schwab of Olathe had raised more than $15,000 by late Monday morning.

The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission was having a short meeting Monday to discuss whether state campaign finance laws apply to the effort. Executive Director Carol Williams said the commission received numerous inquiries from lobbyists who want to donate.

Authorities and family members say 10-year-old Caleb Thomas Schwab died Sunday at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio says the boy died on what the park bills as the world’s largest water slide.

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1 a.m.

Officials are investigating the death of a young Kansas boy on a water slide that is billed as the world’s largest.

Authorities and family members say 10-year-old Caleb Thomas Schwab died Sunday at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas. Schwab was the son of state Rep. Scott Schwab.

Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio says the boy died on one of the park’s main attractions, Verruckt, a 168-foot-tall water slide that has 264 stairs leading to the top.

No specific details about what led to Caleb’s death have been provided.

The park will be closed Monday, and the ride will be closed pending the investigation.

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