A 50-year-old Missouri man was charged with stealing a Liberty Public Schools (Kansas) bus after authorities said he broke into a district building, drove the vehicle to Independence and abandoned it as police closed in, reported KSHB News.

According to the news report, Clay County prosecutors charged Randolph L. Schmidt of St. James with second-degree burglary and stealing a motor vehicle. A judge set his bond at $75,000.

The theft reportedly began shortly after 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at the district’s Support Services Building. Schmidt entered the building and took a school bus. Members of the district’s safety team worked with Liberty police to review surveillance video from the building. Authorities then used the bus’s onboard GPS system to follow its movement.

The district said via the article that the bus was recovered within an hour of the break-in after a coordinated tracking by school safety officials and police.

About 50 minutes after the break-in was reported, Independence police received a call about a school bus being driven recklessly. The caller reported seeing the bus heading south at about 7:50 p.m. Officers reportedly located the bus near Hidden Valley Road in Independence. The vehicle had been abandoned by the time the police arrived.

Police searched the surrounding area and reportedly found Schmidt nearby. Officers took him into custody. Authorities did not provide details about its route, whether the bus was damaged or whether anyone was aboard when it was stolen. No injuries were reported. Officials also did not say how Schmidt gained entry. No initial court date was announced.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A dump truck loaded with gravel struck a Jonesboro Public Schools Arkansas bus carrying 10 children, resulting in no injuries, reported K8 News.

The collision reportedly occurred at about 7:45 a.m. Aug. 12 near the intersection of East Johnson Avenue. It came as students were beginning the first day of school in northeastern Arkansas.

According to the news report, the dump truck was traveling north when it clipped the left rear side of the school bus. The truck continued away from the scene after the collision.

The dump truck driver reportedly returned about an hour later and spoke with a police officer. Police did not identify the driver in information released about the crash.

Sally Smith, a public information officer for the Jonesboro Police Department, said none of the 10 students on aboard the bus or the bus driver had any reported injuries.

The crash briefly disrupted what otherwise marked the opening morning of the school year for the students on board. The bus was near a busy Jonesboro intersection when its left rear side was hit. Authorities did not release additional information about the children, including their ages or the schools they attend.

Police also did not immediately provide details about possible damage to the bus or dump truck. The department’s account did not say why the dump truck initially continued from the scene or what the driver told the officer after returning.

Written with the assistance of AI

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As schools returned for the new school year, an elementary school student suffered a minor foot injury after being struck by a vehicle near a Little Rock school bus stop Wednesday, reported Deltaplex News.

According to the news report, the Little Rock School District confirmed that the child attends Watson Elementary School. Principal Christopher Jackson notified parents and staff members about the incident, saying the student received treatment and was doing well.

Officials did not release the student’s name, age, or grade. Authorities also had not provided details about where or when the collision occurred, what led to it or whether the driver remained at the scene. It is also unknown if the school bus was on scene. No information about the vehicle or driver was immediately available.

The incident reportedly prompted school officials to remind families about precautions children should take while walking to school or waiting for a bus. Parents and guardians were encouraged to talk with students about staying alert around traffic and keeping a safe distance from the roadway.

The district also reportedly urged motorists to slow down and remain watchful in areas where children travel before and after school. Drivers should be prepared for students who may be walking along roads, standing near bus stops or crossing streets.

School arrival and dismissal periods can bring increased pedestrian activity around neighborhoods, campuses and bus routes. Officials said extra attention from students, families and motorists can help reduce the risk of similar incidents.

Written with the Assistance of AI.

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A former Springdale School District bus driver has pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated after authorities said she crashed a school bus carrying dozens of students and continued her route before returning to the district’s transportation facility, reported Northwest Arkansas.

According to the news report, Dawn Ellen Russell, 70, of Springdale entered the guilty plea Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated stemming from the March 4 incident. She was sentenced to one year in jail with all, but one day suspended and fined $1,000.

Prosecutors charged Russell with driving while intoxicated, first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree criminal mischief, and leaving the scene of an accident involving $10,000 or more in property damage. She pleaded guilty to the DWI charge and was referred to the Washington County Veterans Treatment Court on the remaining charges. Successful completion of the program will result in dismissal of the remaining charges.

Springdale police responded at about 9:08 a.m. March 4 to a report of a school bus that had struck a tree and a utility pole near the intersection of Holcomb Street and Meadow Avenue.

Authorities said there were 53 students on board the bus at the time of the crash, though no injuries were reported. A preliminary police report stated Russell continued driving her assigned route after the collision before returning to the school district’s bus lot. Police later located the bus and driver at the transportation facility. Officers reported smelling alcohol on Russell’s breath during their investigation and subsequently arrested her on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

According to the news report, Russell had transported about 150 students during the morning before the incident was reported. Damage to the utility pole was estimated at approximately $10,000. Following the arrest, the Springdale School District confirmed that one of its bus drivers had been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and that the individual was no longer operating district vehicles.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Durham School Services, a premier student transportation provider, has been unanimously chosen for their dedication to safety and reliability by Lawrence Public Schools to become their new transportation provider for the next three years through 2029. Durham currently serves over 50 schools in Kansas with nearly three decades of experience in the state.

With a fleet of 90 buses, Durham will run 74 routes for the school district, which includes regular, special education, and summer routes. To ensure safe and reliable service, each bus will be equipped with industry-trusted safety and operational technology. This includes Zonar’s fleet management platform for real-time GPS tracking and pre and post trip safety inspections, and Samsara’s AI enabled dash cameras to improve driver responsiveness and safety along each route. Additionally, parents and guardians will have full visibility into their student’s bus location, route changes, and arrival time, via our BusZone bus tracking app. Through the support of these innovative, state-of-the-art technology platforms, Lawrence Public Schools can anticipate an unrivaled level of service built with trust, transparency, and dependability.

“I have had the opportunity to work with Durham Bus Service for almost a decade. This experience provides me with the highest level of confidence that we will be working with a partner who will support our continued commitment to strengthen and enhance our student transportation,” said Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, Superintendent, Lawrence Public Schools. “Together, we will focus on the priorities of student safety, customer service, and timely communication while also achieving systems efficiencies to improve the overall experience for students and families.”

“I’d like to thank Lawrence Public Schools for entrusting us with their students and giving us this opportunity to provide such a vital service to their students and the Lawrence community,” said Tim Wertner, CEO, Durham School Services. “Student transportation is an essential means to more than just an education. It is also a catalyst for access and safety – two valued principles that have driven our Company and team members to do our best each and every day for over a century and counting. I can say with confidence that Lawrence Public Schools can look forward to an unparalleled level of service, dedication to safety, and clear, consistent communication from Durham. Our team is full of gusto to get started and can’t wait to work together with the school to deliver the safe, reliable, and efficient service students and families of Lawrence Public Schools deserve.”

About Durham School Services
As a premier transportation provider, Durham School Services provides safe, reliable student transportation that communities trust and families depend on, backed by our operational discipline, local commitment, proven safety standards, and clear accountability. Our teams bring deep expertise and shared accountability to every route we operate. Driven by our five values: Safety, Care, Transparency, Communities, and Culture, we deliver transportation that works quietly, consistently, and without disruption.

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