Missouri

Missouri Set to Implement Ban on Phones During School Hours

Published

11 months ago

May 15, 2025

Missouri Set to Implement Ban on Phones During School Hours

(TNS) — Missouri lawmakers passed a bill earlier this week requiring public schools to ban cellphone use during the school day.

When the bill was first filed, it called for a cellphone ban in schools during instructional time.

However, state lawmakers took a more restrictive approach, with a complete ban on cellphones during the school day, including during lunch breaks, passing periods and study hall.

Now, the bill is heading to Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s desk.

PARK HILL CELLPHONE RULES

Last week, the Park Hill School District adapted a new cellphone policy with the help of a task force of 30 parents, teachers, administrators and students. The new rules tighten restrictions for high school students, restricting access during instructional hours but allowing students to use cellphones and Bluetooth devices during passing periods and lunch time.Kelly Wachelf, the district’s chief communications officer, said Park Hill will review the policy to ensure the district is complying with state law and will update it over the summer if needed.

Wachel said the district was already reviewing its cellphone policy not only because of the legislation but also because of parent and teacher concerns.

“This year in our middle school and elementary schools, we did not allow cellphone access or electronic personal device access,” Wachel said. “That was really born out of a lot of parental feedback. We were having parents approach us about helping limit access for their kids during the day so we could focus on classroom learning.”

CELLPHONES IN SCHOOLS

Andi Osborne, a junior at LEAD Innovation Studio in Park Hill, said she was more than willing to give up her cellphone during the school day, but she acknowledged she has a different relationship to her phone than many of her peers.

She didn’t join social media until last year.

For other students, Osborne said limiting phone usage in schools would be a challenge.

“It seemed like the only solution was we have to take (phones) away in some sort of way,” she said. “I think the students kind of realized that and we’re like, okay, if they’re gonna get taken away at least let me give a solution to what that could look like.”

Osborne, among the students who were part of the district’s process to craft a new policy, was surprised that several fellow students admitted in a survey conducted by the district’s task force that their phones were a distraction during school.

Through the survey and its 3,000 responses, the district found that 71 percent of students said they use their phones daily during instructional time for non-academic purposes.

The top four things students reported using their device for were:

Texting/messaging
Streaming/listening to music
Checking social media apps
Watching videos

Nikki Helling, a fifth-year English teacher at Park Hill South High School, said she’s noticed some of her younger students are affected by their phones, even outside of class.

As the student council sponsor, she sees students of all different grade levels interact. She’s noticed that when her younger students are in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation, they tend to use their cellphones as a crutch to comfort themselves.

As a younger teacher born in 1998, Helling said she’s not oblivious to the impacts of cellphones, but the research from the task force was able to help her make that connection clearer to her students.

“I don’t think I really made that connection that phone usage decreased the amount of face-to-face, emotional connection and time that students are having with their friends,” she said.

PHONE POLICIES IN OTHER DISTRICTS

During the 2024-2025 school year, Liberty Public Schools “expected” students to have phones silenced during the school day and asked students to “refrain from texting during instructional time, as cellphone etiquette is an expectation,” according to the district’s handbook.

While the district’s handbook does not explicitly ban cellphones, it does say that cellphone usage that is disruptive or interferes with the learning environment is prohibited.

North Kansas City Schools currently has a “bell-to-bell” cellphone policy that restricts students from using their cellphones during class time.

The student handbook says that students’ cellphones should not be seen, heard or accessed for any reason during class time. If electronic devices are needed for academic purposes, students should use their district-issued Macbook.

If Kehoe signs the legislation, schools will be expected to enact the total cellphone ban for the 2025-2026 school year.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for April 18, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at April 18, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from April 18 drawing

24-25-39-46-61, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 5

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 18 drawing

Midday: 5-8-2

Midday Wild: 3

Evening: 3-8-5

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 18 drawing

Midday: 0-1-6-1

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 4-7-6-9

Evening Wild: 5

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 18 drawing

Early Bird: 08

Morning: 01

Matinee: 05

Prime Time: 04

Night Owl: 05

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from April 18 drawing

07-10-21-27-33

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 18 drawing

02-38-45-53-63, Powerball: 21

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for April 17, 2026

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at April 17, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 17 drawing

38-43-44-49-62, Mega Ball: 08

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 17 drawing

Midday: 4-8-6

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 8-8-2

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 17 drawing

Midday: 3-9-4-2

Midday Wild: 4

Evening: 7-3-7-7

Evening Wild: 7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 17 drawing

Early Bird: 07

Morning: 06

Matinee: 08

Prime Time: 05

Night Owl: 07

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from April 17 drawing

04-06-25-37-39

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

Will Missouri incarcerate its economic future?

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Will Missouri incarcerate its economic future?

Missouri has hastily passed a sweeping crime bill that moves the state in the wrong direction. The law — signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe — bundles together expanded pathways for certifying adolescents ages 14 to 18 as adults and the expansion and standardization of mandatory minimum sentences. This legislation will push more teenagers into the […]

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