No active weather alerts for Independence per NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill. Sunny with a high near 87°F, southeast wind 1 to 5 mph. Tonight: mostly clear, low around 68°F, southeast wind around 8 mph.
Mostly sunny Saturday near 93°F with south winds around 12 mph, gusting to 21 mph (low 76°). Sunday is mostly sunny with a high near 97°F and a muggy low around 79°. Monday follows with sun and a high near 98°F — the hottest day of the stretch. Plan for sustained heat and muggy overnight lows across the Labor Day build-up.
Phillips Edison Group LLC has asked the city to rezone property including the former J.C. Penney near 39th Street and Bolger Road to convert it into a Dillons grocery with a drive-through pharmacy, online order pickup, and a c-store/fuel center. The sign details were on Tuesday night's (Aug. 25) Planning Commission agenda, city staff suggest approving, and KCTV reports the issue is expected to be scheduled for a first council reading around Sept. 21, with a possible public hearing at the first October council meeting. Dillons is separately planning returns in Johnson County, the Northland and Lee's Summit.
Applications for Independence's nationwide search for its next Chief of Police closed Aug. 17; the city has not yet announced finalists or a selection. The next chief will oversee the 200-plus employee department, which has been led by interim Chief Doug Brinkley since former Chief Adam Dustman's resignation. Once finalists are chosen, the city plans a public open house for residents and business leaders to meet candidates before a final decision.
The city's news page carries IPD's request for public assistance in locating Dustin D. Phegley, 42, wanted on an active Independence warrant (posted Aug. 5). The department has also been investigating a Monday-night (Aug. 24) shooting on Cedar Avenue that left one person dead, with tips requested via the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or the IPD Criminal Investigations Unit at 816-325-7330.
The Independence School District Board of Education holds a 4:30 p.m. open hearing for a personnel matter this afternoon at Central Office, 201 N. Forest Avenue, followed by a closed session on personnel and legal matters. Per the published agenda, the single public item is "Personnel Discussion: Open Hearing for Personnel Matter" — the district does not name individuals in advance. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The substitute teacher charged in federal court Monday (Caleb J. Eyde, 21) first appeared in court the same day the new school year began. KCTV reported it has asked the district questions about his employment; the district has not yet responded as of the latest reports. Charges are accusations, not evidence of guilt. (Covered in detail yesterday — the KSHB/Star/KMBC links below remain the best sources.)
ISD and interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota announced an agreement in late July that ended the district's lawsuit over tax credits tied to the 2023 property-assessment rollback; the district acknowledged a fiscal hit without releasing a specific number, while the Fort Osage portion of the case continues. (Ongoing thread from July 31.)
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).
First District voters decide Tuesday, Sept. 1 whether to recall Councilman John Perkins, whose March vote to approve the Nebius data-center tax-abatement package sparked the petition drive. A KCTV report out this week calls it the first recall of its kind in the country over a data-center vote, and says it is being watched nationally. Voting will be at three polling locations: Maywood Baptist Church (10505 E. Winner Rd.), the Mid-Continent Public Library North Independence Branch (317 W. U.S. 24), and the Roger T. Sermon Community Center (201 N. Dodgion St.) — only District 1 voters (mostly northeast Independence, west of 291 and north of 23rd Street) can vote. The Jackson County Election Board says the special election will cost taxpayers $164,400. Perkins says he "still stand[s] behind the vote"; recall organizer McKenna Cobb says opposition to the data center "fueled" the effort, along with district concerns like bridges and infrastructure. Examiner letters to the editor this week split sharply for and against the recall.
— KSHB 41 · KCTV5, Aug 26 · The Examiner
City council's final 7–0 adoption on Aug. 17 puts a $19.9 million general-obligation bond on the Nov. 3 ballot — a second shot at funding repairs at five city-owned historic sites (Bingham-Waggoner Estate, Vaile Mansion, Truman Memorial, Old Fire Station One, 1827 Log Courthouse) after a similar measure narrowly failed in 2025. If approved, it would include free admission to the five properties for the bond's 20-year life, with a first-year levy of about 14.5 cents per $100 of assessed value (dropping to ~7.6 cents over the remaining 19 years). FOX 4 reported on the measure this week.
The Independence GUARD Alliance, joined by Bly Road property owners, is suing the city, developer Missouri ADC Holdings and Independence Power Partners LP to invalidate the March 2 approvals for the Nebius hyperscale AI data center, alleging violations of zoning, sunshine law and the city charter. The city denies wrongdoing and will respond through the judicial process. Meanwhile the council's 180-day moratorium on new data center/BESS permits keeps already-approved projects like Nebius (and the pending Patmos application) moving. The Examiner also reports another data-center firm aiming for an Independence location is "stressing a different approach."
— KSHB 41 · FOX 4 · The Examiner, Aug 6
The Labor Day weekend festival on Independence Square — typically about 30,000 visitors — will enforce a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors, passed unanimously by council in August. Interim police chief Doug Brinkley called it "proactive"; the decision follows June's chaos at Lee's Summit's Downtown Days and social-media "youth takeover" trends. IPD will patrol with chamber-provided golf carts, and the chamber will run security from midnight to 8 a.m.
The Farmers Market at the Uptown Market (211 W. Truman Rd.) runs 8 a.m.–1 p.m. — growers-only, with local produce, meat, sweets and crafts; SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks accepted. And Dog Day at The Park hits George Owens Nature Park (1601 S. Speck Rd.) at 1 p.m. — free, leashed dogs, kiddie pools and treats from the Independence Animal Shelter.
Independence's annual Hummingbird Festival is back at the George Owens Nature Center (1601 S. Speck Rd.): 50+ feeders, presentations and activities as ruby-throated hummingbirds prepare to migrate. Hours: Thursday Sept. 3, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Friday Sept. 4, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday Sept. 5, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Free.
Twenty-three shops around Independence Square are participating in a new story trail built around "Lionel Messi: A Little Golden Book Biography," with pages displayed in shop windows to guide World Cup visitors into downtown stores. Square Association officials say soccer fans are already showing up, and local shops report jersey sales and extra foot traffic — part of the city's broader World Cup / America250 tourism push, including the rebranded Visit Independence site.
| Fri 28 | Sunny, high 87° (today) · ISD board open hearing for personnel matter, 4:30 p.m., Central Office |
| Sat 29 | Mostly sunny, high 93°, south winds gusting to 21 mph · Farmers Market at Uptown Market 8 a.m.–1 p.m. · Dog Day at the Park 1 p.m., George Owens Nature Park |
| Sun 30 | Mostly sunny, high 97°, muggy low ~79° |
| Mon 9/1 | Sunny, high 98° · Recall election — First District Councilman John Perkins (3 polling locations, District 1 only) · Heritage Commission meeting 6 p.m., Municipal Commons |
| Sep 3–5 | Hummingbird Festival, George Owens Nature Center (free) |
| Sep 4–7 | SantaCaliGon Days festival on Independence Square (6 p.m.–6 a.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors) |