Thursday, January 8, 2026
SMALL RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER LATE TODAY AND FRIDAY FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas are under a small risk of severe weather this evening and for Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, there is at least some risk for severe thunderstorms for Thursday night through Friday.
Officials say that if instability can form, it would be favorable for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.
The risk is for all of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas this evening. On Friday, the risk will shift to cover more of the southeastern portion of our listening area.
STATE OFFICIALS ADVISING MOTORISTS TO BE AWARE OF INACCURATE INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS THAT IS CIRCULATING
A new year often brings new law changes, but one law that hasn’t changed in Missouri is regarding vehicle registrations.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Revenue tell us that information that is spreading online saying that the state will no longer require vehicle inspections and will expand vehicle registration options allowing drivers to select longer registration periods for vehicles 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.
The officials say that the inaccurate information is most likely generated from artificial intelligence sources.
For resources pertaining to vehicle inspections, titling, and registration, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue’s official website at dor.mo.gov.
ROAD WORK TO CONTINUE TODAY ON ROUTE AA IN BUTLER COUNTY
Route AA in Butler County will be closed again today so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can replace a culvert under the roadway.
Today, the section of roadway being closed is located from County Road 629 to Route 51 near Broseley.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO ELK POACHING CASE IN CARTER COUNTY
An investigation is ongoing in connection to a poaching case in Carter County.
The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking the public for help in finding who illegally shot and left an adult bull elk as waste at Peck Ranch Conservation Area in southern Missouri the night of November 25, 2025.
Agents noted the animal was lying in an open field about 40 yards off of Trail 1 and had a bullet hole in its left shoulder. Tire tracks were also visible entering the field toward the elk, then circling back to the gravel trail and aggressively spinning away from the scene.
Conservation agents say that this was not a case of someone hunting legally and somehow mistaking the elk for a deer.
Missouri’s Operation Game Thief is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the poacher(s) who shot the elk. Call the OGT hotline at 1-800-392-1111 with any information related to this investigation. Callers may remain anonymous.
NEW TURF TO BE INSTALLED AT POPLAR BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD
A new football field turf is coming to Poplar Bluff High School.
The Poplar Bluff R-1 School District has selected ATG-RamTurf Industries as the contractor for the replacement of the high school football field turf.
The project includes removal of the existing turf and replacement with new RamTurf FF Pro, which has an anticipated life span of 12 to 16 years.
According to a press release, after a decade of heavy use, the district determined that the existing turf system had reached the end of its intended lifespan. Increasing maintenance needs and more frequent repairs signaled the need for a full replacement to ensure a safe, consistent playing surface for student‑athletes across multiple programs.
The new field will feature updated safety and performance technology, refreshed branding, and integrated in‑field advertising designed to support future replacement cycles.
Construction is scheduled to begin soon, with completion planned ahead of upcoming athletic seasons.
CREWS TO BE WORKING THIS WEEK ON ROUTE 114 NEAR ESSEX
Route 114 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane this week so crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation can replace a culvert under the roadway.
The section of roadway being reduced is located from County Road 731 to Route KK near Essex.
Weather permitting, work is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. both today and tomorrow.