Today (Saturday): showers and thunderstorms likely before 9 a.m., then a chance of showers and storms between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.; mostly sunny, high near 87°F, west-northwest wind around 6 mph, 60% chance of precipitation, less than a tenth of an inch of new rain. Tonight: a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7 p.m., mostly cloudy, low around 66°F, northeast wind ~6 mph, a quarter to half inch possible. Sunday: a 50% chance of showers and storms, mostly cloudy, high near 78°F, east wind 5–9 mph, half to three-quarters of an inch possible. Sunday night: 40% chance, low around 64°F, east wind ~10 mph. Monday: a chance of showers and storms before 7 a.m., then mostly sunny, high near 90°F, southeast wind 10–15 mph with gusts as high as 26 mph. Monday night: mostly clear, low ~73°F. Tuesday: 40% chance of storms after 7 a.m., mostly sunny, high near 89°F; Tuesday night a 60% chance of showers and storms, low ~69°F. No heat-index values appear in this forecast — highs stay in the upper 70s to low 90s all week.
— NWS forecast & alerts for Independence (39.0911,-94.4155), office NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill (CWA EAX), fetched 6:01 a.m. Sept 12
The Examiner reported Friday that the Independence City Council continues to mull proposed code changes for data centers and battery energy storage facilities, with council members still working through the changes. That follows Tuesday's (Sept. 8) council discussion of city staff's first round of stricter rules — limits on siting and size, water and energy use, buffers from homes, more developer disclosure, and possibly stripping special use permits for ordinance violations — which bogged down in confusion from residents and councilmembers and was pushed back by at least another month. Mayor Kevin King said he'd 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; and City Manager Troy Anderson said the 180-day moratorium is not affected by the delayed vote and that the Planning Commission was “split” on advancing the ordinance. Independence is roughly halfway through the moratorium. Paywalled — summarized from the published report
— The Examiner, Sept 11 · The Kansas City Star, Sept 9 · City of Independence, moratorium (July 6)
Three days after the city named its four police chief finalists, The Examiner picked up the notice Friday — the field includes one former IPD commander and two candidates from the metro area. The city's own announcement invites residents to a community open house Thursday, Sept. 24, 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the Midwest Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee's Summit Road, to meet the candidates, ask questions and provide feedback. The department has been led by interim Chief Doug Brinkley since Adam Dustman resigned Aug. 15, 2025. Public safety
— The Examiner, Sept 11 · City of Independence, Sept 10 · KCTV5, Sept 10
Saturday's published city calendar shows no board or commission sessions. Coming up: the Planning Commission meets Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m. at Independence Municipal Commons, 20201 E. Jackson Drive (agenda posted at least 24 hours ahead), and the Southwest 353 Board of Directors meets Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 5 p.m. The next full City Council meeting is Monday, Sept. 21. City government
— City, Planning Commission Sept 15 · City, Southwest 353 Board Sept 16
IPD released photos Friday of a white male in a light-blue shirt and shorts at what appears to be a QuikTrip, plus a photo of an Acura SUV, saying the man may have information about a sex offense that occurred in Independence. Anyone with information is asked to call 816-325-7300. Public safety
City Manager Troy Anderson named Richard Kemple interim director of Independence Power & Light, effective Aug. 8 following the departure of IPL Director Joe Hegendeffer. And on National 988 Day (Sept. 8) the city highlighted local mental-health and suicide-prevention programs and services. City government
— City, IPL interim director (Aug 6) · City, mental health programs (Sept 8)
The Independence School District Board of Education met Tuesday, Sept. 8 after a public hearing on the tax rate. The board approved the 2026-2027 tax rate levy — the operating levy moves to $4.5891 per $100 of assessed value while the debt-service levy stays at $0.9118, bringing the total rate to $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. The meeting included presentations on district finances, internet safety and the first week of school. The district previously settled and dropped its lawsuit against Jackson County over the county's 2023 property-tax-credit plan. Recap
— MyTownView, ISD board Sept 8 · KSHB 41, Sept 8 · KSHB 41, settlement
No agenda packet is posted for the next ISD board meeting — the district's posted meeting list runs no further forward than Sept. 8 — so there is no “What to Watch” list to verify in this edition. This section covers the district via public records and press only.
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.) hosting today's Independence Uncorked Wine Festival; the filing predates the event and is listed here as a public record, not as an event license.
First District voters recalled Councilman John Perkins on Sept. 1 with about 68% in favor — the first recall of an Independence city councilmember in city history and, per KSHB 41, believed to be the first of 25 data center-related recall efforts nationwide to reach a ballot. Roughly 1,650 people, about 11.5% of the district's registered voters, cast ballots across three polling places. 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 to be available in early October. Under the city charter, a vacancy with more than 15 months left in the term must be filled by special election rather than appointment. The First District has no representation in the meantime. Ongoing
— KMBC, election process (Sept 2) · KSHB 41, what comes next (Sept 2) · KC Star, what happens next · Ballotpedia · Independence City Charter, §2.8 vacancies
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 tax breaks valued at 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 now 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 and failure to enforce city ordinances. Ongoing
— KC Star, lawsuit inside look · KSHB 41, 16-count lawsuit · Newsweek, Sept 2
8 a.m. — Independence Farmers Market at the Uptown Market, 211 W. Truman Rd.: growers-only, everything produced within 100 miles, with SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks accepted. 8 a.m.–3 p.m. — free tree-limb drop-off at the Drop-Off Depot, 875 Vista Ave., for Independence residents still clearing debris from the Aug. 30 storm (residents only, bring proof of ID or a recent utility bill; limbs and tree debris free, normal fees for other items). 10 a.m. — Second Saturdays Autumn Architecture Walking Tour, led by local historian Mike Calvert from the north (Maple Avenue) side of the Truman Courthouse, 112 W. Lexington Ave. — one hour, rain or shine. 1–6 p.m. — Independence Uncorked Wine Festival at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 313 W. Pacific Ave.: the 13th annual edition with 20-plus Missouri wineries (the estate lists 25), a guest spirits distiller, and art, music, beer and food vendors; $35 in advance / $45 at the door, 21 and over, rain or shine, benefiting Rotary Club of Eastern Independence charities.
— Farmers Market · Drop-Off Depot 9/12/26 · The Examiner, limb drop-off (Sept 10) · Second Saturdays walking tour · Visit Independence / Uncorked · Bingham-Waggoner Estate
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 evening brought a community memorial service at the Uptown Market, with the presentation of colors, a wreath presentation, remarks from King and Missouri State Rep. Will Jobe, a moment of silence, the ringing of the bell, Taps and “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes; 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 · The Examiner, Sept 11 · City of Independence, 9/11 Memorial Service · Truman Library
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 are encouraging residents to support the out-of-town vendors whose weekend was cut short. Recap
| Sat 9/12 | Storms likely before 9 a.m., then clearing, high ~87° · Farmers Market 8 a.m., Uptown Market · Free limb drop-off 8 a.m.–3 p.m., 875 Vista Ave. · Second Saturdays walking tour 10 a.m., Truman Courthouse · Independence Uncorked Wine Festival 1–6 p.m., Bingham-Waggoner Estate (21+) |
| Sun 9/13 | 50% chance of showers and storms, mostly cloudy, high ~78° |
| Mon 9/14 | Storms possible before 7 a.m., then mostly sunny, high ~90° (gusts to 26 mph) |
| Tue 9/15 | 40% storm chance, high ~89° · Planning Commission 6 p.m., Independence Municipal Commons, 20201 E. Jackson Drive |
| Wed 9/16 | Southwest 353 Board of Directors 5 p.m. |
| Mon 9/21 | City Council: first reading on the post-recall special election schedule (recommended Feb. 2 primary / April 6 general) |
| 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%) |