A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. (20%), then partly sunny with a high near 97°F and heat index values as high as 106°F. South wind around 10 mph, gusting to 18 mph. Tonight: a slight chance of storms after 7 p.m., partly cloudy, low around 77°, heat index values still up to 107°.
A slight chance of showers/thunderstorms before 7 a.m. (20%), then partly sunny with a high near 97°F and heat index values up to 104°F. South-southwest wind around 9 mph. Sunday turns cloudier with a slight chance of storms after 1 p.m. and a high near 90°; Monday clears to mostly sunny near 84°.
Residents filed a 16-count, 52-page lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court asking a judge to halt construction of the Nebius hyperscale AI data center in the Little Blue Valley. The suit, announced Thursday by the Independence GUARD (Guardians United Against Reckless Development) Alliance, names the City of Independence, developer Missouri ADC Holdings LLC, and Independence Power Partners LP. It alleges the city violated zoning and sunshine laws and its own charter, and failed to enforce city laws — including claims the property was quietly rezoned from residential to industrial in 2022 without notifying neighbors and that the city signed non-disclosure agreements for a massive power deal. Plaintiffs seek a temporary restraining order and injunction. The city denies wrongdoing and says it will respond through the legal process; Nebius says it is reviewing the claims. Defendants have 30 days to respond.
— KSHB, Aug 13 · KCTV5, Aug 13 · Examiner, Aug 14 (paywalled)
Independence lists a Regular City Council Meeting and a Closed Executive Session on its city events calendar. Agendas were not captured with dates in the public feed; check the linked pages for details.
— Regular City Council Meeting · Closed Executive Session · City events
City Manager Troy Anderson named Richard Kemple interim director of Independence Power & Light, effective Aug. 8, following the departure of director Joe Hegendeffer, who left Aug. 7 for a new professional opportunity. The city says the interim appointment ensures continuity of IPL operations and reliable service.
The city's nationwide recruitment for the next Chief of Police remains open; applications are accepted through Monday, Aug. 17. Police are also seeking the public's help locating fugitive Dustin D. Phegley, 42, wanted on an active Independence warrant.
— City of Independence, Jul 20 · City of Independence, Aug 5
The Independence School District Board of Education's most recent meeting on file is Tuesday, Aug. 11; no agenda has been published yet for the next meeting (the board typically meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m., 201 N. Forest Ave.).
The ISD Board of Education approved a resolution July 14 expressing opposition to Missouri's proposed Amendment 5, citing concerns about long-term funding and stability of public education; it encouraged community members to participate in the Aug. 4 election.
New filing: BLEU HOUSE BISTRO (Retail by Drink) at 15800 US 24, filed 08/06/2026 — the most recent local liquor filing, from licensee Bleu House Bistro, Inc.
An Independence man is now one of four people facing felony charges connected to the remains of a missing Kansas City woman, whose remains found in June were burned in rural Saline County, The Examiner reports.
A Jackson County judge dismissed a lawsuit aimed at blocking the Sept. 1 recall election for First District Council Member John Perkins. Perkins and three supporters had argued the recall should be canceled because he hasn't been accused of anything illegal. The decision lets First District voters decide his fate. The recall stems from Perkins' vote approving incentives for the Nebius AI data center — a 2.1-million-square-foot project expected to receive billions in public bonds and incentives.
With the Sept. 1 special election confirmed to move forward, letters regarding the recall are due 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 (The Examiner).
The city events calendar lists Basics of Improv, Farmers Market at the Uptown Market, a Nature Walk With a Naturalist, Chess Club, and the City Council regular meeting and closed executive session.
An upgrade plan for University Health Lakewood, the hospital serving Independence and eastern Jackson County, is moving forward, The Examiner reports.
With the SantaCaliGon Days festival a few weeks off, the annual SantaCaliGon Medallion Hunt has begun — first clue now, with more in the coming weeks.
— Examiner
| Fri 14 | ⚠️ Extreme Heat Warning (through Sat 9 p.m.) · slight chance AM storms, then partly sunny, high 97°, heat index to 106° · Farmers Market at Uptown Market |
| Sat 15 | Extreme Heat Warning ends 9 p.m. · slight chance morning storms, high 97°, heat index to 104° |
| Sun 16 | Cloudier; slight chance of storms after 1 p.m., high near 90° |
| Mon 17 | Mostly sunny, high near 84° · Police-chief applications close |
| Later | Recall-election letters due Thu, Aug 20, 5 p.m. · Sept. 1 recall election |