Today (Sunday): a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7 a.m., mostly cloudy, high near 77°F, east wind 3–9 mph, 20% chance of precipitation, less than a tenth of an inch of new rain possible. Tonight: a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight, mostly cloudy, low around 64°F, east wind around 12 mph with gusts as high as 21 mph, 40% chance, with half to three-quarters of an inch possible. Monday: a chance of showers and storms before 8 a.m., then mostly sunny, high near 89°F — heat index values as high as 98° — southeast wind 10–16 mph with gusts as high as 28 mph, 40% chance. Monday night: mostly clear, low around 74°F, with heat index values still as high as 95° and south gusts to 25 mph. Tuesday: rain showers likely between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely, partly sunny, high near 85°F, 70% chance; Tuesday night showers and thunderstorms, low ~67°, 80% chance. Wednesday: storms likely before 7 a.m., then a chance of storms, partly sunny, high near 86°F, 70% chance. Monday is the day to plan around: it is the only day in this forecast with meaningful heat index values.
— NWS forecast & alerts for Independence (39.0911,-94.4155), office NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill (CWA EAX), fetched 6:00 a.m. Sept 13
Independence Police are investigating a fatal crash on eastbound I-70 at Sterling Avenue, reported around 8 p.m. Saturday. Investigators say the driver of a 2016 Harley-Davidson lost control on the wet highway, was ejected and was then struck by several oncoming vehicles; the rider was not wearing a DOT-approved helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers involved remained at the scene and are cooperating, and the victim's identity is being withheld pending family notification. Eastbound I-70 was closed at Highway 40 Saturday night with police urging drivers to use alternate routes. It is the second fatal motorcycle crash the department has investigated in under a week: IPD also reported a fatal crash on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at southbound Noland Road and I-70. Public safety
— KCTV5, Sept 12 (updated Sept 13) · City of Independence, Sept 12 · City of Independence, Sept 8 crash (Sept 9)
Three days after the city announced its finalist shortlist, the names are public: Chief Gregory Dull of the Excelsior Springs Police Department (chief since 2022, more than 30 years with KCPD); Chief Steven Hebbe of the Farmington, New Mexico Police Department (chief since 2014, previously deputy chief in Anchorage); Major Keith Kirchhoff of the Kansas City Police Department, who commands the Violent Crimes Division and has more than 32 years in law enforcement; and Chief Edward Turner of the Grain Valley Police Department (chief since 2023, 25 years with IPD before that). Three of the four come from the Kansas City metro and one from New Mexico. The city's community open house is Thursday, Sept. 24, 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the Midwest Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee's Summit Road — residents can ask questions and give feedback, which the city says will help inform City Manager Troy Anderson's pick; finalists also sit for panel interviews. Independence has said it expects to name and swear in a chief by October. The department has been led by interim Chief Doug Brinkley since Adam Dustman resigned Aug. 15, 2025. Public safety
— KSHB 41, finalists named · KCTV5, Sept 10 · City of Independence, Sept 10
A Jackson County judge ruled this week that the separation agreement with former Police Chief Adam Dustman can remain shielded from public view, citing exemptions in the Missouri Sunshine Law — a loss for The Kansas City Star, which sued to make the deal public. City records show Dustman has continued to be paid after his August 2025 resignation, an arrangement city officials have not explained publicly. The next chief inherits a department that has also lost two deputy chiefs this year, one of them not voluntarily. Paywalled — summarized from the published report
The council continues to work through proposed code changes for data centers and battery energy storage systems, with no vote taken at the Sept. 8 meeting. As of that meeting: city staff's first round of stricter rules — tighter limits on siting and size, water and energy use, buffers from homes, extra developer disclosure, and potentially stripping special use permits for ordinance violations — ran into confusion from residents and councilmembers and was pushed back by at least another month. Mayor Kevin King said he would look into organizing a public hearing before the council votes again in October; Second District Councilmember Brice Stewart introduced 13 amendments with more to come; City Manager Troy Anderson said the 180-day moratorium is unaffected by the delayed vote and that the Planning Commission was “split” on advancing the ordinance. Independence is roughly halfway through the moratorium, which runs only against applications not already submitted — it does not touch the Nebius project. Paywalled — summarized from the published reports
— The Examiner, Sept 11 · The Kansas City Star, Sept 9 · City of Independence, moratorium (July 6)
Sunday's published city calendar shows no board or commission sessions, and the Municipal Commons is closed Sundays. What's actually on the books: Planning Commission, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m. at Independence Municipal Commons, 20201 E. Jackson Drive (agenda posted at least 24 hours ahead) · Southwest 353 Board of Directors, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 5 p.m., same building · Board of Adjustment, Thursday, Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m. — CANCELED, per the city's public-meetings page · Staywell Committee, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2 p.m. · and the next regular City Council meeting, Monday, Sept. 21, 6 p.m. City government
— City of Independence, public meetings · Planning Commission Sept 15 · Southwest 353 Board Sept 16 · Board of Adjustment Sept 17 (canceled) · City Council Sept 21
City Manager Troy Anderson named Richard Kemple interim director of Independence Power & Light, effective Aug. 8 after IPL Director Joe Hegendeffer's departure. On National 988 Day (Sept. 8) the city highlighted local mental-health and suicide-prevention programs and services. And IPD participated in the statewide “Saturation Saturday” DWI saturation patrol. City government
— City, IPL interim director (Aug 6) · City, mental health programs (Sept 8) · City, DWI saturation (Sept 1)
No new Independence School District news broke over the weekend, and no agenda packet is posted for the next board meeting — the district's posted meeting list runs no further forward than Sept. 8 — so there is no “What to Watch” list that can be verified in this edition. The standing news: the board met Tuesday, Sept. 8 after a public hearing on the tax rate and approved the 2026-2027 tax rate levy — operating levy $4.5891 per $100 of assessed value, debt-service levy unchanged at $0.9118, total rate $5.5009, up from $5.2372 (a shade more than 5%) as aggregate assessed values inside the district are expected to fall 6.3%. The board also approved resolutions to issue refunding bonds for an estimated $1.1 million in interest savings, plus updated salary guides, transportation routes and a new tuition rate, and heard presentations on district finances, internet safety and the first week of school. The district settled and dropped its lawsuit against Jackson County in late July over the county's 2023 property-tax-credit plan, a plan the district has estimated will cost it about $19 million over 2026–2028; Fort Osage is still suing. Recap
— MyTownView, ISD board Sept 8 · KSHB 41, tax levy · KSHB 41, settlement · ISD board meeting list
New filing: BLEU HOUSE BISTRO (Retail by Drink and Sunday by Drink) at 15800 US 24, filed 09/01/2026 — licensee Bleu House Bistro, Inc. (Corporation), status Active. These two remain the most recent Independence filings in the state's new-liquor-license data; nothing new has posted since Sept. 1.
New filing: BINGHAM WAGGONER ESTATE (Caterer - Retail by Drink) at 313 Pacific, filed 08/25/2026 — licensee J Creek, LLC (Limited Liability Company), status Active. That is the same address (313 W. Pacific Ave.) as the estate that hosted Saturday's Independence Uncorked Wine Festival; the filing predates the event and is listed here as public record, not as an event license.
First District voters recalled Councilman John Perkins on Sept. 1 with 68.05% in favor (about 1,643–1,650 votes, roughly 11.5% turnout across three polling places) — the first recall of an Independence councilmember in city history and, per a UMKC political scientist cited by KCTV5, the first of 25 data center-related recall efforts nationwide to reach a ballot. City Manager Troy Anderson will recommend a Feb. 2 primary if more than two candidates file and an April 6 general election regardless, so the city can share costs with other jurisdictions; the council takes a first reading on the schedule Sept. 21, and candidate packets are expected in early October. The recall election itself cost about $164,000, and the two follow-on elections would likely cost the same, putting the total near $500,000, per the Jackson County Election Board. Under the city charter, a recalled official cannot work for the city for at least two years. The First District has no representation in the meantime, and the Independence Action Committee has not said whether it will endorse anyone. Ongoing
— KMBC, election process · KC Star, what happens next / $500K cost · KSHB 41, what comes next · Ballotpedia · KCTV5, first-of-its-kind
Leigh Phillips has announced a campaign for the recalled seat, describing herself as an Independence resident, community advocate and elected committeewoman (2024-2028); The Examiner first reported her candidacy Sept. 3. No other candidates for the seat have been publicly reported. Ongoing
Independence voters will decide Nov. 3 on a $19.9 million general-obligation bond to preserve five city-owned historic buildings — the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, Vaile Mansion, Truman Memorial Building, Old Fire Station One and the 1827 Log Courthouse — plus funding a 20-year business plan for the sites. As a municipal GO bond on a general-election date it needs a four-sevenths (57.14%) supermajority; a similar $12 million measure narrowly missed (55.4%) in 2025. Ongoing
The March 2 vote that triggered the recall granted Dutch AI firm Nebius a 90% tax abatement worth more than $6 billion for a $150 billion, roughly 400-acre “AI factory” near Missouri Route 78 and Little Blue Parkway, now under construction. Three of the five councilmembers who backed the package are out of office — two lost April reelection or mayoral bids, and Perkins was recalled Sept. 1. Activist group Independence GUARD Alliance and four Bly Road-area neighbors are pressing a 16-count lawsuit in Jackson County court seeking to halt construction, alleging zoning, Sunshine Law and city-charter violations (including a requirement that new power revenue lower residents' rates). The city says it handled the approvals lawfully; Nebius says it is complying with all applicable laws. Ongoing
— KC Star, lawsuit inside look · KMBC, 16-count lawsuit · KCUR, tax-break terms
9 a.m.–2 p.m. — ARC Coin Show at American Legion Tirey J. Ford Post 21, 16701 E. U.S. 40: multiple dealers buying and selling U.S. coins and silver bullion (April, July and September shows run on the second Sunday). 10 a.m.–2 p.m. — The 2nd Annual Pawmazing Race through Historic Independence Square, hosted by Mixed Mutt & Company with a vendor village, an adoption alley of rescue dogs, a “Flamingo Lounge” splash zone, photo booth and “Pawsonality Awards” — a race about fun rather than speed, dogs of all ages and abilities welcome. 2 p.m. — Perspectives: Shyla Craig and The Wanderlast at Lavender Studios, 12307 E. 47th St. S., an artist talk plus live music (weekly Sundays). 2–9 p.m. — Weekly Sunday McDonald's Cruise-in, 16235 E. Hwy 24, for classic and muscle cars. Community calendar listings
— ARC Coin Show (Sept 13) · Pawmazing Race (Sept 13) · Perspectives, Lavender Studios (Sept 13) · Sunday McDonald's Cruise-in (Sept 13)
Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. — Show Me 250: Paint Your Own Patriotic Flower Pot at the Bingham-Waggoner Mansion and Estate, 313 W. Pacific Ave.: paint a clay pot with a patriotic motif, free and first-come to all ages, with free tours of the property for everyone who paints. The event was rescheduled from the July 4 celebration on the Square because of excessive heat. Also Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. — Fellowship of the Field Picnic at George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S. Speck Rd.: a themed afternoon with a potato sack race, a nine-ring scavenger hunt, leaf pin crafting, fishing, face painting and a costume contest with KC Renaissance Festival tickets as prizes. $5 pre-registration / $10 at the door, and registration is due by Sept. 17; register online or call 816-325-7115. Family
— City of Independence, paint-a-pot Sept 19 · City of Independence, Fellowship of the Field · KC Parent listing
Independence marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks Friday morning at the Truman Library & Museum, 500 W. U.S. 24, with a ceremonial howitzer salute from Battery D — Capt. Harry Truman's World War I artillery unit. Mayor Kevin King told the crowd that remembering isn't enough: “we teach the generations that come after us … the extraordinary act of service, sacrifice and humanity that emerged on one of our nation's darkest days.” Fire Chief Jimmy Walker, who was in New Jersey 25 years ago and watched the smoke rise over the skyline as first responders ran toward the danger, said it's now up to him to make sure that sacrifice isn't forgotten. The Truman Library closed the day with a free 6 p.m. set by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's KCJO7. Recap
— KCTV5, Sept 11 · City of Independence, 9/11 Memorial Service
Sunday night's storms — 60 mph winds and penny-size hail — shredded tents and scattered merchandise on the Square, and organizers canceled the vendor portion of the Labor Day finale (the carnival stayed open) with safety cited as the priority. Vendors and volunteers spent Monday clearing debris; the city and chamber have been encouraging residents to support the out-of-town vendors whose weekend was cut short. Recap
| Sun 9/13 | Slight chance of showers and storms after 7 a.m., mostly cloudy, high ~77° (20%) · ARC Coin Show 9 a.m.–2 p.m., American Legion Post 21, 16701 E. U.S. 40 · Pawmazing Race 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Historic Square · Sunday McDonald's Cruise-in 2–9 p.m., 16235 E. Hwy 24 · No city meetings (Municipal Commons closed Sundays) |
| Mon 9/14 | Storms possible before 8 a.m., then mostly sunny, high ~89° with heat index to 98° |
| Tue 9/15 | Showers/storms likely, high ~85° (70%) · Planning Commission 6 p.m., Independence Municipal Commons, 20201 E. Jackson Drive |
| Wed 9/16 | Storms likely before 7 a.m., high ~86° · Southwest 353 Board of Directors 5 p.m., Municipal Commons |
| Thu 9/17 | Board of Adjustment 6:30 p.m. — canceled · Deadline to register for Saturday's Fellowship of the Field picnic |
| Sat 9/19 | Farmers Market at the Uptown Market 8 a.m., 211 W. Truman Rd. · Show Me 250 paint-a-pot 10 a.m., Bingham-Waggoner Estate (free) · Fellowship of the Field Picnic 11 a.m.–1 p.m., George Owens Nature Park |
| Mon 9/21 | City Council 6 p.m.: first reading on the post-recall special election schedule (recommended Feb. 2 primary / April 6 general) |
| Tue 9/22 | Staywell Committee 2 p.m., Municipal Commons |
| Thu 9/24 | Police chief finalists open house 5:30–7:30 p.m., Midwest Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee's Summit Road |
| Tue 11/3 | Election Day: $19.9M GO bond for five city-owned historic sites (needs 57.14%) |