— NWS alert feed for Independence (39.0911,-94.4155), office CWA EAX, zone MOZ037, fetched 6:00 a.m. Sept 23
Today: sunny, high near 74°F, east-northeast wind around 7 mph. No heat-index concerns. Tonight: mostly clear, low around 55°. Thursday: partly sunny, high near 77°; mostly cloudy overnight (low ~60°). Friday: a chance of rain showers between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. (30%), partly sunny, high near 77°; showers and thunderstorms likely overnight (50%). Saturday: showers and thunderstorms likely (60%), high near 80°. A good window for tonight's town hall — grab it before the weekend rain arrives. Weather
— NWS forecast for Independence (39.0911,-94.4155), NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill (CWA EAX), zone MOZ037, fetched 6:00 a.m. Sept 23
The town hall with Mayor Kevin King and Councilmember Brice Stewart is on tonight (Wed., Sept. 23, 6 p.m., Santa Fe Room at Independence Municipal Commons) — the venue for public input after the council delayed its vote on stricter data center/BESS zoning rules at least another month, with staff and residents confused by the draft and a planning-commission vote to recommend it failing 1–6 back in August. Stewart introduced thirteen amendments and says more are coming. The police chief finalists open house follows tomorrow night (5:30–7:30 p.m., Midwest Genealogy Center). City government
— City, town hall Sept 23 · Kansas City Star (rules vote delayed) · SueDataCenters (planning commission 1–6, per Aug 25 vote)
From Monday night's regular meeting: The Examiner reports the city of Independence property tax levy for 2026 will be slightly lower than last year, as voted by the council Monday. (Summarized from the published report; full details in the story.) Meanwhile, MoDOT has daily lane closures on U.S. 24 in northeast Independence through Oct. 31 for ADA improvements — also posted Tuesday by the Examiner. City government
— The Examiner, Sept 22 (city levy) · The Examiner, Sept 22 (U.S. 24 lane closures)
Yesterday's developments on both investigations: KCTV5 reports police identified Allison Ortegano, 31, as the pregnant woman killed with her unborn child Saturday when a Jeep lost control and struck her and her toddler near Walnut and Dodgion; the driver stayed and is cooperating, no charges yet. On the Sept. 17–18 homicide in the 500 block of N. Dover Drive (Hawthorne Apartments), prosecutors charged William Adams, 25, with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful firearm possession over the death of Dane Pace, 41; a bond review hearing is set for Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m. Public safety
— KCTV5, Sept 22 (victim ID) · KCTV5, Sept 22 (murder charges) · FOX4, Sept 22 (charges detail) · City official statement, Sept 20
The ISD board meeting list shows nothing scheduled past Sept. 8, so there is no forward agenda to preview this cycle; the next regular meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 13. On the levy itself: the district plans to raise its property tax levy slightly for 2026 (to no higher than $5.5009 per $100), aiming for steady revenue after a projected ~6.3% drop in aggregate assessed values inside the district — the Examiner's Sept. 15 story is paywalled and summarized from the published report. The data-center PILOTs remain the district's long-term revenue story: under the bond plan, ISD is the main beneficiary, projected to average about $23.2 million a year in PILOT payments (per The Star's coverage). ISD
— ISD board meeting list · The Examiner, Sept 15 (paywalled — summarized from headline/lede) · Kansas City Star (PILOT/ISD figures)
The most recent batch on the ATC record is dated 09/11/2026: licensee Casey's Marketing Company filed Original Package Liquor, Sunday Original Package, and Permission–Employ Minors for five stores, all status Active. Headliner: New filing: CASEY'S #4347 (Sunday Original Package) at 11109 E 23RD ST S, filed 09/11/2026 — with the same three licenses that day for CASEY'S GENERAL STORE #2213 (1110 E. 23rd St.), CASEYS 4351 (4208 S Noland Rd.), GOODSTOP BY CASEY'S #4343 (11715 E US Hwy 24), and CASEY'S #4342 (17600 E 39th St S). Nothing newer has posted since. Public record
The ongoing thread: First District voters recalled Councilman John Perkins on Sept. 1 with roughly 68% in favor — the first recall of an Independence councilmember in city history — after his March vote for Nebius data-center tax breaks; the ballot question was certified after a hand count of the district's 1,650 votes on Sept. 8. He joins Bridget McCandless and Jared Fears, voted out in April — three of the five council members who approved the incentives are gone. The special-election schedule got its first reading Monday night; candidate packets are expected in early October. Ongoing
— Spectrum News, Sept 2 (recall official) · KCUR, Sept 3 · KMBC (next steps + Sept 21 first reading)
Context for tonight's town hall: neighbors near the Nebius site sued in mid-August over the 2022 rezoning and the 2024 zoning amendment that fast-tracked data centers, alleging zoning, Sunshine Law and city-charter violations and asking a judge to pause construction; a separate referendum case was decided against residents (Judge Jennifer Phillips: the bond ordinance took effect immediately and isn't referendable under the charter). The city's 180-day moratorium (adopted 7–0 July 6) covers only future applications. New zoning and energy-services ordinances were the subject of the delayed vote — expected back before council in October with a full public hearing. Ongoing
— Kansas City Star (lawsuit) · Kansas City Star (vote delayed) · SueDataCenters (court record summary)
Two city items tonight (both at Independence Municipal Commons): the data-center town hall at 6 p.m. in the Santa Fe Room and mobile mammography (see the city event page for the window). Also live today: Visit Independence launched yesterday the Paranormal Pursuit Passport, a free, self-guided digital tour of 13 haunted historic sites — Vaile Mansion, Bingham-Waggoner Estate, the 1859 Jail & Marshal's Home, Woodlawn Cemetery and more — running Sept. 23–Nov. 6 with points and prizes for check-ins. Community
— City, town hall Sept 23 · City, mobile mammography · KCTV5, Sept 22 (paranormal passport)
The police chief candidates open house runs Thursday, Sept. 24, 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the Midwest Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee's Summit Road — free and open to the public; resident feedback feeds the City Manager's selection after panel interviews. Homeschool recreation (Roger T. Sermon Community Center) and a Neon Nature Walk are also on the city calendar this week, per the events pages. Looking ahead: Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup runs Sept. 27–Oct. 4, and the Independence Square Christmas Market (Nov. 14) is offering SantaCaliGon vendors complimentary space after storms cut that festival short. Community
— City, chief finalists open house Sept 24 · City, homeschool rec · City, Neon Nature Walk · City, IndeCleanup Sept 27 · KSHB 41 (Christmas market) · City, farmers market at the Uptown Market
| Wed 9/23 | Town hall: data centers & BESS rules 6 p.m., Santa Fe Room, Municipal Commons · mobile mammography at Independence Municipal Commons · Paranormal Pursuit Passport trail begins (through Nov. 6) · sunny, high ~74°; low ~55° |
| Thu 9/24 | Police chief finalists open house 5:30–7:30 p.m., Midwest Genealogy Center · homeschool recreation · Neon Nature Walk on this week's calendar · partly sunny, high ~77° |
| Fri 9/25 | Chance of rain showers midday (30%), then storms likely overnight (50%), high ~77° |
| Sat 9/26 | Showers and thunderstorms likely (60%), high ~80°; farmers market at the Uptown Market on the city calendar (see city page for time) |
| Sep 27–Oct 4 | Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup — community-wide cleanup week · U.S. 24 ADA lane closures continue daily through Oct. 31 |
| Tue 9/29 | Bond review hearing for the N. Dover Drive homicide defendant, 1 p.m. (per FOX4) |
| Oct–Nov | Data-center rules vote returns to the council agenda in October · special-election candidate packets out in early October · ISD Board of Education next regular meeting Tue. Oct. 13 · Independence Square Christmas Market Nov. 14 |