Today (Saturday): mostly sunny, high near 100°F with heat index values as high as 106°F, south wind around 5 mph. Tonight: mostly clear, low around 75°F, heat index still up to 104°F. Sunday: mostly sunny, high near 97°F, heat index up to 103°F, with a slight chance (20%) of showers/thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Labor Day: mostly sunny, high near 95°F. Tuesday: sunny, high near 99°F. Expect little overnight relief all weekend — hydrate, stay in the A/C, and check on pets and neighbors.
Tens of thousands of people are expected at SantaCaliGon Days on Independence Square this weekend, and organizers are emphasizing heat safety during the record-hot stretch: cooling and first-aid stations and shaded rest tents with medical staff are being added, and an American Medical Response crew is on site with med carts and an ambulance. Organizers urge attendees to hydrate before arriving. Metro
The new curfew for unaccompanied minors (6 p.m. to 6 a.m., anyone under 18 in the festival district downtown) made its debut Thursday night, the first night of SantaCaliGon Days. Independence Police Department PIO Allyx McCoy said officers logged roughly 30–40 curfew violations but no arrests, and those in violation left without incident. The rule continues through the weekend, ending at noon on Labor Day; minors accompanied by a parent or guardian are exempt. One adult can have up to four minors and must stay with them.
The council holds a closed executive session at 4 p.m. followed by its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, on the first floor of Independence Municipal Commons (20201 E. Jackson Dr.). Note: most city facilities are closed Monday, Sept. 7 for Labor Day.
— City of Independence, Regular City Council meeting · Closed Executive Session
The Independence Police Department took part in the statewide "Saturation Saturday" DWI patrol. Separately, Richard Kemple is serving as interim director of Independence Power & Light following Joe Hegendeffer's Aug. 7 departure. And on National 988 Day, the city is highlighting local mental-health and suicide-prevention resources.
— City of Independence, Sep 1 · City of Independence, Aug 6 · City of Independence, mental health
The Independence School District board meets Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Central Office (201 N. Forest Ave.), preceded by a 5:45 p.m. Public Hearing on the property-tax rate. Key items published in the agenda packet:
Forward-looking item summarizing the published Sept. 8 agenda packet.
— ISD Sept. 8 regular board meeting packet · Public hearing (tax rate) packet
The Nebius data center — its tax incentives approved in March — remains tied to the district's finances: the ISD school board passed a resolution backing the project, and the district stands to gain more than $463 million over two decades, per earlier KCUR reporting. The recall vote that followed remains the clearest consumer-facing signal of local sentiment about the deal.
New filing: BLEU HOUSE BISTRO (Retail by Drink and Sunday by Drink) at 15800 US 24, filed 09/01/2026, from licensee Bleu House Bistro, Inc. (Corporation) — the most recent local liquor filings.
New filing: BINGHAM WAGGONER ESTATE (Caterer - Retail by Drink), filed 08/25/2026; and (Picnic - Retail by Drink), filed 08/20/2026, both at 313 Pacific. Licensees: J Creek, LLC (Limited Liability Company) and 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 recalled Councilman John Perkins in Tuesday's special election, with 68.05% "yes" (unofficial, 100% of precincts). It's the first time an Independence City Council member has been recalled. Perkins, one of five members who voted in March to approve tax incentives for the Nebius AI data center ($150B project, ~400 acres near Highway 78 and Little Blue Parkway), said he stands by the vote and won't fight the recall. The result becomes official once the Jackson County Election Board hand-counts the 1,650 ballots on Sept. 8 and the City Clerk confirms. What's next: City Manager Troy Anderson recommends a Feb. 2, 2027 primary and April 6, 2027 general to fill the seat (first reading Sept. 21); Leigh Phillips has announced her candidacy (Examiner, Sept. 3).
The 5–2 March vote approved roughly $6 billion in tax breaks for Dutch AI firm Nebius, which is building a ~2.1-million-sq-ft "AI factory" on the city's eastern flank. Construction is underway; a group of Bly Road residents and the Independence GUARD Alliance have filed a 16-count, 52-page lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court seeking to halt construction, alleging zoning, Sunshine-law, and charter violations — which the city denies. Three of the five council members who backed the project have now been voted out.
The free Labor Day weekend festival runs through Monday on Historic Independence Square — carnival rides, live music, vendors, beer gardens and frontier-history activities (including "Main Street 1849"). Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m.–11 p.m.; Monday (Labor Day): 10 a.m.–5 p.m. New this year: the minor curfew and extra heat-safety measures. Note the city's Truman Memorial Building, Palmer Center and National Frontier Trails Museum are closed through the festival.
Hummingbird Festival — Day 3 is today, Saturday, Sept. 5, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at George Owens Nature Park (1601 S. Speck Rd.) — a free celebration of the ruby-throated hummingbird as it prepares to migrate. Also today: the city's Community Electronics Recycling Drive-Thru, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Cable Dahmer Arena satellite parking lot (19100 E. Valley View Pkwy.) — nearly anything with a cord or battery is accepted; fees apply to TVs and CRT monitors.
— City of Independence, Hummingbird Day 3 · City of Independence, Electronics Recycling
Independence police are investigating a homicide reported Tuesday, Sept. 1, around 6:40 p.m. on North Geronimo Drive near East Fifth Street North, off East Salisbury Road. A police spokesperson said Wednesday that a person was detained for questioning, but no further details — including the victim's identity or the circumstances — have been released. The investigation is open; anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
A free Special Presentation: Fort Osage History meets Thursday, Sept. 10, 2–3 p.m. at the Truman Memorial Building (416 W. Maple Ave.). The same day, a Homeschool Recreation nature program for ages 6–18 runs at 2 p.m. at George Owens Nature Park.
— City of Independence, Fort Osage History · City of Independence, Homeschool Recreation
| Sat 9/5 | Extreme Heat Warning (through Sept. 8) · Mostly sunny, high ~100°, heat index ~106° · SantaCaliGon Day 2 (10 a.m.–11 p.m.) · Hummingbird Day 3 (9 a.m.) · Electronics Recycling Drive-Thru 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Cable Dahmer Arena |
| Sun 9/6 | Mostly sunny, high ~97° (heat index ~103°), slight chance storms after 3 p.m. · SantaCaliGon Day 3 |
| Mon 9/7 | Labor Day · Most city facilities closed · Mostly sunny, high ~95° · SantaCaliGon final day (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) · Heat warning through 8 p.m. |
| Tue 9/8 | Closed Executive Session 4 p.m. · City Council regular meeting 6 p.m., Municipal Commons · ISD public hearing on tax rate 5:45 p.m. & board meeting 6 p.m. · Jackson County certifies recall (hand count) |
| Thu 9/10 | Homeschool Recreation, 2 p.m., George Owens Nature Park · Fort Osage History presentation, 2 p.m., Truman Memorial Building |
| Sep 21 | City Council first reading on replacement-election schedule (Feb. 2 primary / April 6 general) |