Highway Patrol Urges Back-to-School Safety as Students Return to Class

As students across Missouri head back to school for the 2026-27 academic year, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is urging families and drivers to make safety part of their back-to-school routine.

The Patrol said parents should talk with children about how to get to school safely, whether they ride a bus, walk, bike or drive. Motorists, meanwhile, should prepare for heavier traffic around schools, buses, crosswalks and neighborhoods as classes resume.

In 2025, one person was killed and 284 people were injured in Missouri traffic crashes involving school buses, according to the Patrol. Statewide, 871 crashes involved school buses last year.

Students who walk to school should cross at intersections or marked crosswalks, using sidewalks whenever possible and never crossing between parked vehicles. Students should make eye contact with drivers before entering the street and should avoid running into traffic.

Students who must walk along a roadway should stay close to the left edge and step farther left when vehicles approach. Bicyclists should wear helmets, obey traffic signs and signals, ride as far to the right as safely possible, keep both hands on the handlebars except when signaling and avoid carrying passengers.

Bus riders are reminded to wait on the shoulder or sidewalk, stay in line, never try to retrieve items that fall under a bus and walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing the street. Once aboard, students should sit quietly, keep the aisle clear and follow the driver’s instructions if an incident occurs.

The Patrol also noted that many crashes involving drivers younger than 21 happen between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., around the time school typically lets out. Young drivers are being urged to treat driving as a full-time responsibility, buckle up and put their phones down. Missouri is a hands-free state.

Parents are encouraged to review safety expectations with their children before the school year begins, including how to ride the bus, walk, bike or drive safely. Families with students who bike to school should make sure helmets are worn and traffic laws are followed.

Drivers are urged to be especially alert in school zones, near playgrounds and bicycle paths, and around crosswalks and bus stops. The Patrol said drivers should allow extra travel time as school traffic patterns return.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Second Flock Camera Missing after Earlier Vandalism

a separate Flock camera near 19th Street and Nation Road was found cut down.

City officials say another Flock safety camera has been tampered with in Kearney, this time near Jesse James Park, where a camera was reported missing.

The discovery comes only days after a separate Flock camera near 19th Street and Nation Road was found cut down. Officers with the Kearney Police Department discovered that damaged camera, according to city officials.

It remains unclear when the Jesse James Park camera was removed. The city said investigators do not currently have leads in either case.

The incidents come as communities continue to debate the use of Flock license plate reader cameras. Supporters say the technology can help police investigate crimes and locate missing people, while critics have raised concerns about privacy and the collection of license plate data.

Kearney officials said the city is still seeking bids to replace the camera damaged near Nation Road.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact the Kearney Police Department.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

KSD Highlights Safety Resources for Students and Families

Creating safe, welcoming and supportive schools remains a daily priority across the Kearney School District as staff members continue working with families, law enforcement and community partners to protect students and support a positive learning environment.

The district’s safety efforts include collaboration with local law enforcement and first responders, trained school safety personnel, emergency planning and drills, threat assessment procedures, visitor management systems and ongoing education to help students and staff know what to do when concerns arise.

District leaders said families play an important role in that work, especially by staying informed about available resources and encouraging students to speak up when they see or hear something concerning.

The district’s Safety & Security webpage provides information about the School Safety & Security Team, emergency response procedures, common terminology families may hear during an emergency, reunification procedures and ways to report a safety concern.

The webpage also includes anonymous reporting resources, including Courage2Report, Missouri’s confidential school safety reporting system, and Scholastic Crime Stoppers. Students and families are encouraged to tell a trusted adult or KSD employee whenever they become aware of a potential safety issue.

In addition to campus safety, the district is also emphasizing online safety. KSD families can use the Online Safety Hub, which offers articles, videos, courses and other resources to help parents and guardians better understand the digital spaces students navigate.

Families may also access the Qustodio Parents App, which gives parents and guardians greater visibility into how their children are using district-issued devices.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Proclaims August 20 as Hometown Radio Day

As National Radio Day approaches on August 20, the City of Kearney recognized the role of local radio in keeping residents informed, connected, and engaged.

Mayor Randy Pogue proclaimed August 20 as “Hometown Radio Day” in Kearney during the August 17 Aldermen Board meeting, while also recognizing 102.7FM KPGZ as Kearney’s hometown radio station.

For nearly a decade, KPGZ has served the community with local news, weather updates, community event coverage, public service announcements, and Bulldog sports broadcasts. The station has also worked with local businesses, volunteers, listeners, and community partners to promote events, support charitable efforts, and highlight the people and traditions that help define Kearney.

The proclamation notes that local radio remains an important source of information and communication for residents, especially by promoting civic involvement, celebrating community achievements, and helping people stay informed about matters that affect daily life.

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, Randy Pogue, Mayor of the City of Kearney, Missouri, do hereby proclaim 102.7FM KPGZ as Kearney’s Hometown Radio Station and August 20, as HOMETOWN RADIO DAY in the City of Kearney and encourage all residents to recognize and celebrate the important role local radio plays in informing, connecting, and strengthening our community,” reads Mayor Pogue’s proclamation.

City leaders also recognized the support of local businesses whose sponsorship helps make hometown radio possible and contributes to the economic vitality and quality of life enjoyed by Kearney residents.

National Radio Day is observed each year on August 20 to honor the lasting value and impact of radio broadcasting across the United States. In Kearney, the local observance will serve as a celebration of the station, its listeners, and the many community partners who continue to make hometown radio part of the city’s daily life.

Highway Patrol Launches ‘Show-Me Shield’ Reporting Site

The Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Tuesday, August 18, announced the launch of a new site for the public to report suspicious activity in Missouri: “Show-Me Shield” has replaced the Missouri SafeNation app. Show-Me Shield, which can be accessed by visiting ShowMeShield.mo.gov, is now available for the public to file suspicious activity reports (SAR) online.

Based on the national “See Something Say Something” initiative used to encourage the public to report potential terrorist-related suspicious activity, Show-Me Shield is where Missourians may report unusual items or situations they encounter, persons attempting to elicit information at a level beyond simple curiosity about a building’s purpose, operations, security procedures and/or personnel, when shift changes occur, etc.

These activities may be innocent, and it’s important to consider the context of each situation. Law enforcement will determine whether the behavior warrants additional investigation.

The Patrol also announced its Courage2Report school violence and anti-bullying hotline will now be accessed by visiting Courage2ReportMO.com

Courage2Report will receive tips online or by calling 1-866-748-7047. Tips will continue to be handled 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by trained professionals. The Courage2Report and SafeNation apps have been deactivated and will no longer be monitored.

The Missouri School Violence Hotline (SVH) began in October 2001. In 2019, through the Missouri School Safety Initiative, the reporting mechanism moved to the Missouri Information Analysis Center for 24/7 operation and was named Courage2Report. The goal is to make schools safer by helping school districts and law enforcement learn about school violence before it happens.

Courage2Report partners with public and private schools in Missouri with students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. All reporting through the Courage2Report platform is confidential.

KPGZ News – Missouri State Highway Patrol