A chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day (30% precipitation). Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87°F. North wind 2 to 7 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Tonight: partly cloudy, with a low around 68°F and north wind 3 to 8 mph.
Sunny with a high near 85°F. North northeast wind around 3 mph. Monday night: mostly clear, with a low around 68°F and southeast wind around 3 mph.
City Manager Troy Anderson has named Richard Kemple interim director of Independence Power & Light. Kemple will begin serving in the role on August 8, following the departure of IPL Director Joe Hegendeffer.
The Independence Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating Dustin D. Phlegley, 42, who is currently wanted on an active Independence warrant.
The City of Independence has opened a nationwide recruitment for the next Chief of Police. Applications will be accepted through Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. The city will host a public open house where residents can ask questions of finalists.
Independence Power & Light Director Joe Hegendeffer will leave his position with the City of Independence on Aug. 7 to pursue a new professional opportunity. The City will appoint an interim director to ensure continuity of IPL operations and reliable service to the community.
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.).
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.
A Jackson County judge dismissed a lawsuit aimed at blocking the Sept. 1 recall election. First District voters will decide his fate. The recall stems from Perkins' vote approving incentives for the Nebius AI data center.
With the Sept. 1 special election confirmed to move forward, letters regarding the recall are due 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 (The Examiner).
A group of citizens has filed a lawsuit against the City of Independence and ADC Holdings, LLC, over the Nebius hyperscale AI data center in the Little Blue Valley. The suit alleges the city quietly rezoned the property from residential to industrial use in 2022 without notifying nearby homeowners. KCTV5 and The Examiner report on the filing.
The Examiner reports on the long-planned exterior makeover of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library grounds in Independence — an update years in the making. The Truman Library Institute has broken ground on a $13 million outdoor landscape transformation, including a "Walk with Truman" trail, an outdoor classroom, and new lighting. (Paywalled; summarized from headline and Institute release.)
KSHB reports the Community Services League is constructing affordable homes in Independence while training the next generation of construction workers. New single-family homes built through the program sell for well below market rates.
| Sun 16 | Chance of showers/thunderstorms, high 87° · ON THIS DAY: recall election letters due Thu Aug 20 |
| Mon 17 | Sunny, high 85° · Police chief applications close (Aug 17) |
| Tue 18 | Slight chance rain showers, high 90° |
| Wed 19 | Chance showers/thunderstorms, high 86° |
| Thu 20 | Recall-election letters due 5 p.m. · Sept. 1 recall election |