Pulaski County discontinues the use of Flock Cameras

KMIZ on August 20, 2026

Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office has announced that it will discontinue the use of Flock automated license plate reader cameras.

In a statement on Facebook, posted by the sheriff’s office Thursday morning, Sheriff Stacy Ball said that he took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and that his responsibility is to protect the community.

“My responsibility is not only to protect you and your families from crime, but also to protect and respect your constitutional rights and individual liberties,” said Ball.

Ball goes on to say that there have been genuine concerns about privacy, misuse and what the technology could mean for the future. He says that he has heard the concerns.

“Sometimes leadership means listening to the people you serve,” Ball wrote.

Ball told ABC 17 that he did not want to take a change on violating anyone constitutional rights.

“I don’t want to take a chance of violating anyone’s constitutional rights for the purpose of capturing a picture of their vehicle,” said Ball.

Ball said that this does not mean the sheriff’s office is going backwards, and that they will be coming for criminals with or without Flock.

“Our deputies and detectives were doing damn good police work long before Flock ever showed up, and they’ll be doing damn good police work after it’s gone,” said Ball.

Flock has come under nationwide criticism after multiple reports of police abusing the system. Opponents also express more general worries about civil rights and the cameras’ ability to do more than just read license plates.

An advocacy group has formed in Columbia to oppose the police department’s use of the cameras.

Ball said that the sheriff’s office will continue protecting Pulaski County while finding the right tools.

“Aggressively when it comes to criminals, professionally when it comes to our duties, and constitutionally when it comes to your rights,” said Ball.

Ball ends the statement by saying that although people may not always agree, he will listen and make the decisions he believes are right for the citizens of Pulaski County.

“Your voice matters. Your rights matter. Your trust matters,” said Ball.

Ball followed the original post with a second one showing an email chain with a Flock representative canceling the county’s contract.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office held a Community Forum on Thursday, where this announcement was first made

ABC 17 spoke with Ball, he said that after all of the complaints, issues, and concerns from citizens, he wants the citizens to trust him.

“I want to do what’s best for Pulaski County, because that’s what I’m concerned with. And that was my decision to discontinue a flock, ” said Ball.

Although there is no set date when the cameras will be down, Ball said there was a talk about getting them covered up.

“I had a gentleman that volunteered to make some covers for me if it’s going to take a long time. That I will put up versus having somebody put a trash bag,” said Ball.

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MoDOT evaluating rural highways for potential 75 mph speed limits

KMIZ on August 20, 2026

Euphenie Andre

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A new Missouri law allowing higher speed limits on certain rural highways is set to take effect Aug. 28, but drivers will not see immediate changes.

Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 1408 in July, giving the Missouri Department of Transportation the authority to raise speed limits from 70 to 75 mph on eligible rural highways and interstate freeways.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is evaluating eligible highways to determine where speed limits could potentially increase to 75 mph. MoDOT said no speed limit changes will take effect until that review is complete.

MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger said effective date does not mean drivers can automatically start driving 75 mph.

“Don’t think on August 28th that automatically I can drive faster than the posted speed limit. The sign that’s up is the speed limit until it changes,” Hassinger said.

MoDOT is evaluating individual highways to determine where a higher speed limit could be implemented safely.

“There definitely are places where it does not make sense to do so,” Hassinger said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11,288 people were killed in speeding-related crashes in 2024.

The agency said traffic congestion can be one factor that contributes to speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors. When drivers become frustrated or impatient in heavy traffic, they may be more likely to speed, frequently change lanes or become angry with other drivers they believe are slowing them down.

In a news release, MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger said the department is working to balance traffic efficiency with safety.

“There’s a balance to be struck here between efficient traffic movement and safety, so we’re taking careful consideration of any potential location, what the roadway is like there and how people use it,” Hassinger said.

Under the new law, MoDOT will continue to determine speed limits and must consider whether a higher limit would be reasonably safe for each roadway.

The department said its evaluation will include several factors, including:

Current traffic volumes

Truck traffic volumes

Crash history

Terrain

Road design and existing safety features

Speed limits in neighboring states near the Missouri border

Hassinger said the department wants to carefully evaluate each location before making any changes.

“We basically made people aware that this could have negative impacts,” Hassinger said. “That’s why we’re being really careful.”

Interstate 70 will not see its speed limit increase while construction continues through MoDOT’s Improve I-70 Program. The department said it will reevaluate the corridor once the rebuild and expansion project is complete.

“We’re not going to do anything on I-70,” Hassinger said. “We’ve got most of that under a work zone speed limit anyway, and we’re actually having trouble getting people to drive the workzone speed limits,”

Hassinger said MoDOT hopes to complete its review of eligible locations by the end of the year and provide an update on which highways could see higher speed limits.

Until then, MoDOT is reminding drivers to continue following posted speed limits, particularly in work zones across the state.

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Royals stadium gets closer to home with Kansas City’s $600M commitment

CNN Newsource on August 20, 2026

By Nick Sloan & Beth Carlson

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — Kansas City has signed off on a $600 million commitment toward a new Royals stadium, advancing a $1.9 billion plan that calls for public sources to cover 60 percent of the project’s cost.

The Kansas City Council on Thursday approved an ordinance 11-2 authorizing a package of agreements for a new Royals stadium in the Washington Square Park and Crown Center area.

Under the agreement, the goal is for public sources to cover 60% of project costs up to $1.9 billion, or an estimated $1.14 billion. Private funding would cover the other 40%, or about $760 million.

The vote came after council members offered different views of what the stadium could mean for Kansas City.

Councilmember Johnathan Duncan, who voted against the ordinance, said he supports parts of the agreements, including labor protections and apprenticeship opportunities, but believes the city is giving up its negotiating leverage too soon.

“We only get one time to do this right,” Duncan said. “This is not just a deal for us. This is not just a deal for our children. It’s a deal for our grandchildren.”

Duncan said the city should continue negotiating for additional community benefits and stronger financial protections before authorizing the agreements.

“We are telling the Royals that we are moving forward on a deal that’s incomplete, that does not have the assurances that we need,” Duncan said.

He also questioned whether Kansas City is getting enough in return for its investment, pointing to the community benefits package and the city’s financial commitment.

“Our city deserves better. Our residents deserve better. We deserve better, and we have all the leverage,” Duncan said.

Councilmember Wes Rogers supported the deal.

He called Thursday “a really exciting day” and predicting the stadium development will generate jobs and bring millions of additional visitors into downtown Kansas City.

“I’m not celebrating because of baseball. I’m not celebrating it because of billionaires,” Rogers said. “I’m celebrating it because of the people who live and work in Kansas City and who believe in our city.”

Rogers spoke on the agreements involving organized labor and prevailing wages and said construction and surrounding development could provide billions of dollars worth of work.

He also argued the impact would extend beyond construction, with baseball fans spending money at restaurants, bars, hotels and other businesses.

“We have 3 million new people coming downtown every year,” Rogers said. “They’re going to walk by our restaurants. They’re going to walk by our bars. They’re going to walk by retail establishments. They’re going to stay in our hotels.”

The council’s decision drew an immediate response from some people watching inside City Hall.

After the measure was approved, a crowd of demonstrators and residents could be heard yelling “Shame on you” and “Let us vote” at council members.

The Royals reacted after the vote, calling it a “major step forward.”

“The tireless work of our Mayor, City Manager and City Council today resulted in a major step forward for our team, our fans and for the hometown we love,” Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman said after the vote on Thursday. “This step advances what will be the largest public-private economic development project in Kansas City. It will bring Royals baseball to the center of our city, creating jobs, housing and year-round economic activity, advancing Kansas City’s terrific momentum. We are grateful for the broad support from the community, surrounding neighborhoods and Royals fans everywhere. Ewing Kauffman founded the Royals in the spirit of making Kansas City better. We are proud stewards of that vision and intend to fulfill it by making the Royals Kansas City’s forever.”

Kansas City’s share of that public funding is $600 million.

Up to $90 million of the city’s commitment can go toward infrastructure.

The remainder is expected to be financed primarily through city-supported bonds, although the city can use other legally available funding sources.

Thursday’s ordinance starts that process by creating a “Special Obligation Downtown Stadium Bond Fund” and appropriating $20 million in bond proceeds toward the city’s contribution.

The Royals would not be responsible for repaying the city’s bonds.

The team does, however, take on significant financial responsibility if the project becomes more expensive or anticipated public money falls short.

What’s the next action needed on the Royals stadium proposal?

The council voted Thursday to commit its share of the funding, but it’s not the final city council action needed before the proposed stadium can move forward.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said decisions are still ahead, including zoning, bond financing and tax increment financing, or TIF.

“The other agreements that we still have yet to vote on, first of all, include the zoning issues that will be before us in the first week of September, and then subsequent bond agreements or an ordinance authorizing such, and then fundamentally the TIF itself,” Lucas said.

He said the TIF and bond proposals will also undergo third-party analyses before the council considers them.

How the funding for the Royals stadium proposal in downtown Kansas City breaks down Funding remains one of the biggest pieces still to come together.

The total cost of the project is $1.9 billion.

Under the funding agreement, the goal is for public sources to cover 60 percent, or about $1.14 billion, while private funding from the Royals covers about $760 million.

The city’s portion of the public contribution is $600 million, including up to $90 million for infrastructure. The rest of the city’s commitment is expected to be financed largely through city-supported bonds or other legally available sources.

The agreement also includes $50 million in Missouri Development Finance Board tax credits, $23 million in MODOT economic development funding, $20 million through another MODOT cost-share program and $55 million previously appropriated by the state.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Wellsville, Kansas, Police Department ditching Flock camera system after community concerns

CNN Newsource on August 20, 2026

By Chloe Godding

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    WELLSVILLE, Kansas (KMBC) — Another city in Kansas is saying goodbye to Flock cameras amid growing concerns about their use.

Wellsville, Kansas, Police Chief Danny Hackler shared a statement about the license plate reading cameras on social media Thursday.

Hackler acknowledged residents’ concerns surrounding the cameras and said he wanted to make sure community members “feel heard and respected.”

“After careful consideration, I have made the decision to terminate all agreements between the City of Wellsville Police Department and Flock Safety. These agreements have been in place since October 2023,” Hackler said. “Moving forward, the cameras will be covered, and authorization for their use by staff will be removed.”

Hackler also clarified the number of Flock cameras in the city. While the Flock Safety map indicates there are three cameras, that is due to a camera location change.

There are two cameras — one on First Street just west of Ash Street, and another on 10th Street and Main Street. The second camera was originally located on K-33.

Flock cameras have been in use around the country for years. But more and more people are expressing their concerns with privacy and overreaching surveillance capabilities.

What to know about Flock cameras

What are Flock cameras? What to know about surveillance cameras being vandalized across the country Wellsville isn’t the first city in the area to ditch the camera system.

Earlier this week, the Gardner, Kansas, City Council agreed to turn off the city’s Flock cameras and not renew the contract.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

College of the Desert professor on how students should use AI this school year

KESQ on August 20, 2026

KESQ News Team

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) Students heading back to class at College of the Desert this month are bringing artificial intelligence with them. Their professors already know it.

“Oh, yeah, of course they are. Everyone is,” Dr. Corbyn Wild said when asked whether students are using AI.

“Students are using AI in the classroom. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

Wild teaches English at College of the Desert and serves as president of the college’s Academic Senate, the faculty body responsible for academic standards on campus.

As part of News Channel 3’s back-to-school coverage, we sat down with her to talk about how the college is handling a technology already in nearly every backpack.

The conversation revealed a divide most families may not realize exists.

For K-12 schools, California lawmakers stepped in. A 2024 law, Assembly Bill 2876, directs the state commission that writes curriculum frameworks to weave AI literacy into math, science and history-social science standards at their next revision. No comparable law exists for the state’s community colleges. There, curriculum decisions rest with faculty on each campus.

At College of the Desert, that puts professors like Wild at the center of the question.

“It depends on the discipline,” Wild said. “What I don’t want is a nurse who only uses AI. But in an English classroom, things are a little different.”

Rather than banning the technology or leaning on detection software, Wild said she hands her English students a set of structured prompts, questions designed to make AI sharpen their thinking instead of replacing it. Examples include asking a chatbot to strengthen a thesis or point out what an argument is missing.

“It’s all about empowering our learners to feel strong in their own thoughts and use AI instead to help them get those thoughts on paper better,” she said.

Wild said the technology can also fill a gap no professor can.

“If a student emails me at 4 a.m. for help with an essay, I’m asleep. I’m not answering that email,” she said. “But ChatGPT is awake and it can give them some good feedback.”

She acknowledged a learning risk if students simply ask AI to write an essay and copy the result. The college’s answer, she said, is teaching students how to ask, not pretending they won’t.

Faculty on campus have also created displays promoting responsible and ethical AI use, including respecting privacy and intellectual property and disclosing when the technology is used.

Wild said some students and staff still feel a stigma around admitting they use AI.

“That comes with any new technology,” she said. “It can be scary, it can be intimidating, and we can also be a little bit worried about what we might lose.”

Her message as the semester begins: “AI is not the enemy. But if you’re not sure what you’re doing with it, ask. We have lots of people on campus who are working with AI. Ask a person, and then they can help you use the machine.”

Fall classes at College of the Desert begin Aug. 31.

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Powers Boulevard reopens in both directions following multi-vehicle crash Thursday

KRDO on August 20, 2026

Alexander Brunet

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Powers Boulevard was shut down in both directions from Constitution Avenue to Palmer Park Boulevard following a multi-vehicle crash, according to CDOT.

A member of the police department’s Major Crash Team on scene said the crash involved two vehicles and a motorcycle, and that the rider is receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Police said the crash happened around 4:30 a.m. on northbound Powers when the motorcycle collided with a car; the impact sent the motorcycle into the southbound lanes where it hit another car.

The impact shattered the motorcycle and left debris in the traffic lanes.

It’s unclear how many people were in the two cars, and police said their injuries are minor.

By 9 a.m., the scene was clear as the wreckage and debris were removed and Powers reopened.

The crash caused major traffic backups during morning rush hour, as drivers even cut through parking lots to detour around the closure.

The incident remains under investigation by the crash team; police said that alcohol and speed were factors in the accident.

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El Paso offers free flu vaccines with” Be POWERflu” campaign

KVIA on August 20, 2026

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-The City of El Paso Department of Public Health and the El Paso Fire Departmentare starting the Be POWERflu campaign by offering free flu vaccines to everyone 6 months and olderat any of the City’s Community Clinics.

You do not need an appointment or insurance to get vaccinated at El Paso Community Clinics.Clinics are open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They close for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

Here are the clinic addresses:

• Westside: 7380 Remcon Circle• Henderson: 721 S. Mesa St.• Northeast: 9566 Railroad Drive• Mission Valley: 9341 Alameda Ave.• Medical Center of the Americas: 4240 Alameda Avenue

The City is also working with local organizations to offer Be POWERflu Pop-Up Events.You can find a list of these events at BePOWERflu.com.

Drive-Thru Events:

Thursday, September 11 p.m. to 7 p.m.El Paso County Coliseum4100 E. Paisano Dr.

Saturday, September 58 a.m. to 12 p.m.University Medical Center1416 George Dieter Dr.

Wednesday, September 232 p.m. to 6 p.m.Fabens Independent School District601 NE G Ave.

Saturday, September 268 a.m. to 12 p.m.Ysleta Independent School District9600 Sims Dr.

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Free health and wellness fair to offer screenings in Bend on Sept. 19

KTVZ on August 20, 2026

Adrielle Hasara

A free health and wellness fair is coming to Bend, Ore., to help improve access to health care for local residents.

The event aims to provide preventative screenings and community resources for Latino and Spanish-speaking families, though all community members are welcome to attend.

Mosaic, Deschutes County Health Services and Volunteers in Medicine are partnering to host the event at Ponderosa Park. The gathering is scheduled for Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fairgoers will have access to a variety of free medical and dental services. On-site offerings include dental screenings, HIV and STI testing and immunizations.

In addition to medical care, the fair will feature community resource information, food and activities for children.

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Bear enters Asheville home, swats at resident on way out

CNN Newsource on August 20, 2026

By Stephanie Moore, Brad Broders

Click here for updates on this story

    ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WYFF) — A bear was able to get into an Asheville home and swat at a woman inside on its way out, according to firefighters.

The Reems Creek Fire Department confirmed that fire crews were called to an incident involving a bear about 9 p.m. Tuesday on Spooks Branch Road north of downtown Asheville.

Crews said when they arrived, they used a siren to try and scare away any bears in the area.

They said no bears were seen by firefighters and crews were able to safely get into the home.

Firefighters said a woman inside the home encountered the bear as it left, with the bear swatting at the occupant on its way out.

Buncombe County EMS also responded, evaluated the woman, and took her for further evaluation.

A North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission spokesperson said an adult female bear entered a home through an unlocked door while her three cubs were seen playing on the front porch and said the woman was injured while attempting to give the bear an escape route out of the home.

The NCWRC said the adult female bear poses a threat to human safety and efforts are being made to humanely dispatch the bear. NCWRC biologists will determine whether the cubs are at a self-sufficient age to be moved to an undeveloped area based on NCWRC orphaned cub guidelines.

We saw crews taking bear traps near the woman’s property Wednesday afternoon.

“I mean it’s two-fold because we are starting to get used to seeing bears in the neighborhood and we leave them alone and for the most part they leave us alone but when bears become so aggressive and desperate it is frightening,” one neighbor said, who didn’t want to be identified out of respect for her injured neighbor. “

The Reems Creek Fire Department also said in a post about the bear encounter, “We remind residents in areas with active bear populations to use caution, secure potential food sources and other attractants, and keep doors and windows secured. Please do not approach or attempt to interact with a bear.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

PSP prepares for a busy fall travel season

KESQ on August 20, 2026

Dakota Makinen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs International Airport is preparing for a busy fall and winter travel season after welcoming more than two million passengers so far this year.

Several seasonal nonstop flights are also returning earlier this year, including Alaska Airlines’ service to Santa Rosa on September 10. Flights to Houston, Minneapolis, Boise and Austin are also returning.

PSP is also making improvements around the airport, including replacing the Bono Concourse escalators and adding 80 new electric vehicle charging ports in Lot B.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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