AI in Public Safety: Rock Bridge High School students in Columbia were named national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge for tools developed with the Columbia Police Department, showing how local schools are turning AI into real-world public safety use. Agriculture Research: Early University of Missouri wheat variety trials in southeast Missouri are already showing strong, triple-digit yields at some sites, with MU Extension also flagging pests like stink bugs and corn leafhopper ahead of the July 8 field day. Wildlife & Weather Impacts: A bear was spotted outside a Columbia gym, with experts pointing to recent flooding as a likely driver of animal movement. Historic Preservation: The Carver Birthplace Association has started restoring a historic schoolhouse in Neosho that George Washington Carver attended briefly, aiming to return the interior to its 1912 look. Public Transit Tech: St. Louis-area Metro Transit will activate a new fare collection system and automated security gates at MetroLink stations starting July 6, rolling out in phases across dozens of platforms. Healthcare Policy: Republican attorneys general, including Missouri’s, are urging the EPA to classify mifepristone as a water contaminant—an effort experts say lacks support in current science. Agritech & Biosecurity: The New World screwworm is back in the U.S. conversation, with Missouri Extension noting it’s not a threat through meat and pointing to sterile fly control efforts.