Today (Tuesday): sunny, high near 99°F, heat index as high as 101°F, south-southwest wind 7–10 mph. Tonight: mostly clear, low around 79°F, heat index as high as 99°F. Wednesday: sunny, high near 98°F, heat index up to 101°F — a dangerous stretch of heat for Election Day and the start of festival week.
Thursday: sunny, high near 97°F. Friday: sunny, high near 97°F, with lows in the upper 70s to around 80°F each night. Hydrate, take breaks in the A/C, and check on neighbors — especially with the outdoor Santa-Cali-Gon Days festival coming this weekend.
First District voters head to the polls today, Tuesday, Sept. 1 to decide whether to recall Councilman John Perkins over his March 2 vote (passed 5–2) approving more than $6 billion in tax incentives for the Nebius AI data center. It's the only question on the ballot. KCTV calls it likely the first recall of its kind in the U.S. over a data-center vote; UMKC political scientist Debra Leiter said it's being watched as the first of roughly 25 data-center-centered recall efforts across the country. Results are expected tonight. If Perkins is recalled, replacing him via a primary + general could add up to about $500,000 in election costs; the special election itself is estimated at roughly $164,400. Two other council members who voted yes — Jared Fears and Bridget McCandless — were already voted out in April.
— KCTV5, Aug 26 · KSHB · Kansas City Star, Aug 14 · Jackson County Election Board
The Planning Commission voted to rezone the abandoned 120,000-sq.-ft. former JCPenney at 17610 E. Bolger Road (about 10 acres) back to commercial and approved special signage, clearing the way for a Dillons grocery with a drive-through pharmacy, online-pickup area, convenience store and seven fuel stations. It would be the fifth Dillons in the KC metro. The Council is expected to vote on final site plans, with a first reading scheduled for Sept. 21.
Independence GUARD Alliance neighbors along Bly Road have filed complaints alleging Nebius construction is happening before sunrise and after sunset, when city rules require notification for rare cases. The city says many of the allegations are part of the residents' pending lawsuit and will be handled in legal process, and that it "believes the approvals and processes related to this project are being handled properly." The council earlier passed a 180-day moratorium on new data-center and battery-energy-storage applications.
The Examiner is reporting plans are in the works for a long-sought hotel on the Independence Square. Summarized from the headline/snippet — the full Examiner article is paywalled/geo-blocked from this environment.
The police chief search continues (applications closed Aug. 17) with Interim Chief Doug Brinkley leading the department; Richard Kemple is interim director of Independence Power & Light following Joe Hegendeffer's departure in early August. Both are ongoing personnel threads.
— City of Independence, Jul 20 · City of Independence, Aug 6
No agenda has been published for the upcoming Independence School District board meeting (the most recent posted meeting date is August 28), so there's nothing concrete to preview. Check the ISD board meetings page for the next posted agenda.
The Independence School District dismissed its part of the lawsuit against Jackson County over the county's property-tax credit plan, agreeing with county leadership while still anticipating a financial hit; the Fort Osage district remains in the suit. Ongoing thread from late July.
New filing: BINGHAM WAGGONER ESTATE (Caterer - Retail by Drink) at 313 Pacific, filed 08/25/2026, from licensee J Creek, LLC (Limited Liability Company) — the most recent local liquor filing.
New filing: BINGHAM WAGGONER ESTATE (Picnic - Retail by Drink) at 313 Pacific, filed 08/20/2026, from licensee Bingham Waggoner Historical Society (Corporation).
New filings: SMOKE 4 LESS & CONVENIENCE STORE (Original Package Liquor / Original Package Tasting / Sunday Original Package) at 1701 S Noland Rd, filed 08/19/2026 — three filings from licensee Light Liquor LLC (Limited Liability Company).
Only First District voters decide today, Tuesday, Sept. 1 whether to recall Perkins, who has represented the district since 2016, over his vote approving 90% tax abatements for the Nebius data center. The Jackson County Election Board certified 1,214 valid petition signatures, clearing the threshold, after a circuit judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block the vote. Perkins says he doesn't regret the vote; recall organizer McKenna Cobb says residents are frustrated with infrastructure and transparency. In-person absentee voting was held at the JCEB main office, 215 N. Liberty St. Results come in tonight.
— KCTV5, Aug 26 · KSHB · Ballotpedia · JCEB
The City Council voted unanimously to place a $19.9 million general obligation bond on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot for maintenance of five city-owned historic sites — Bingham-Waggoner Estate, Vaile Mansion, Truman Memorial Building, Old Fire Station One, and the 1827 Log Courthouse — with free admission to all five for the bond's 20-year life. It's a second attempt after a similar measure narrowly failed in 2025. Estimated first-year levy: about 14.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. Forward-looking item summarizing the published council action.
The city's Heritage Commission meets Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. at Independence Municipal Commons (20201 E. Jackson Dr.); the agenda posts at least 24 hours in advance.
The city's annual Hummingbird Festival at George Owens Nature Park (1601 S. Speck Rd.) is listed on the event calendar this week — Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3, as ruby-throated hummingbirds prepare to migrate. See the linked city pages for exact dates/times.
The Labor Day weekend festival on Independence Square (Fri. Sept. 4–Mon. Sept. 7) enforces a 6 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors (under 18 must be with a parent/guardian), after the City Council passed it unanimously in response to this summer's unrest at Lee's Summit's Downtown Days. Officers will patrol and "escort them outside" or call a parent; the Chamber provides overnight security. The festival typically draws about 30,000 visitors.
The city is holding a Community Electronics Recycling Event — listed on the city calendar this week. Recycling
| Tue 9/1 | Sunny, high 99°, heat index ~101° · Heat Advisory · Recall election — 1st District Councilman John Perkins · Heritage Commission 6 p.m., Municipal Commons |
| Wed 9/2 | Sunny, high 98°, heat index ~101° |
| Thu 9/3 | Sunny, high 97° · Hummingbird Festival listed on the city calendar |
| Fri 9/4 | Sunny, high 97° · SantaCaliGon Days begins (6 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors) · Hummingbird Festival continues |
| Sep 5–7 | SantaCaliGon Days continues through Monday, Sept. 7 |