News – Wednesday, January 7th 2026

The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) is issuing this advisory to correct inaccurate information being circulated through some media outlets, most likely generated from artificial intelligence (AI) sources regarding changes to Missouri vehicle registration requirements. Several outlets have released information reporting Missouri, beginning January 1, 2026, will no longer require vehicle inspections and will expand vehicle registration options allowing drivers to select longer registration periods for vehicles. This information is incorrect. Missouri law has not changed regarding these issues. Vehicle registration and safety requirements remain unaltered. For clarity, similar proposals have been introduced in recent legislative sessions but never became law. When misinformation is circulated it causes confusion and inconvenience. The Missouri Department of Revenue encourages the public and media to rely on official Missouri DOR communications and website resources for accurate and up-to-date information regarding motor vehicle laws and requirements. For resources pertaining to vehicle inspections, titling, and registration, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue’s official website at dor.mo.gov.

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, provides the following preliminary statistics related to the New Year’s holiday. Five people died and 87 were injured in 187 traffic crashes during the 2026 New Year’s holiday counting period, which began at 6:00 Wednesday evening, December 31st, 2025, and ended at 11:59 Sunday night, January 4th, 2026. The Highway Patrol made 112 arrests for DWI. There were 0 boating crashes and 0 drownings over the 2026 New Year’s holiday counting period. During the 2024-2025 New Year’s holiday counting period one person was killed and 118 injured in 264 traffic crashes in Missouri. Further details related to the traffic crashes and arrests can be found on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s website. These fatality statistics could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release is sent to the media. Please note that the New Year’s holiday counting period varies from 1.25 to 4.25 days in length each year, depending on which day of the week the holiday is on. Follow the Missouri State Highway Patrol on X @MSHPTrooperGHQ.

With funding from the Delta Regional Authority’s State Economic Development Assistance Program, the city of Edgar Springs will begin improvements to Broadway Street, which is the main street in town that accesses small businesses and organizations serving the community and surrounding rural areas. Broadway Street connects Highway 63 to routes ZZ and H. The project will address drainage issues that causes localized flooding, repave the driving surface, install storm boxes and storm pipes, add concrete and granular paving and complete asphalt repair with a chip and seal. These improvements will decrease flooding and create a more resilient surface to withstand local and truck traffic. The total project will cost approximately $272,680 of which $267,500 will be covered by the Delta Regional Authority’s grant, which includes administrative costs. There are 27 Missouri counties in the Delta Regional Authorities eight-state service area, including Dent, Crawford, Phelps and Washington counties within the Meramec Region. Meramec Regional Planning Commission is the designated Local Development District for the four Meramec counties in the regional authority. To learn more about the Delta Regional Authority’s programs and initiatives, visit www.dra.gov. 

The Missouri Department of Conservation will host a prescribed fire demonstration program January 16 from 9:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon on private property in Phelps County. Participants must complete an online course before attending the field demonstration. The demonstration burn will be held at 11887 County Road 3000 in Rolla. Attendees will receive hands-on experience on how to execute a prescribed burn. MDC Private Land Conservationist Luke Anderson will discuss equipment needed for a burn, burn line installation, safe weather parameters, ignition operations and other aspects needed to conduct a safe and successful prescribed burn. Participants must register on MDC’s website and complete the online portion of the class, which takes two to four hours. The online course requires a $25 fee paid to a third-party host. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate that must be brought to the January 16 demonstration. For more information, contact Luke Anderson at Lucas.Anderson@mdc.mo.gov. Additional MDC programs are available on MDC’s website.