Economic Development

The city of Independence blocked residents from starting a petition that could force a citywide vote after city council approved more than $6 billion in tax breaks. Now opponents are suing to force the process to move forward.

A group of Independence residents opposed to a massive data center is gearing up to force a public vote on it. But the city argues approving their petition would violate its governing rules.

The city approved massive tax breaks because they say the money and protections city will receive make it a good deal. Opponents want to put the incentives on the ballot so residents can weigh in.

The hyperscale data center would go in eastern Independence, near schools and an ammunition plant. A growing number of residents are trying to stop city officials from providing any tax incentives to the company to keep it from being built.

Federal officials first toured the building in January, sparking speculation over whether the owners had sold the building to the U.S. government. Media reports suggested the sale was part of a push to use warehouses across the country as immigration detention centers.

The Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council wants the Port Authority of Kansas City to pass rules that ensure workers on projects funded by the port will earn a good wage and be part of work training programs.

Port KC commissioners voted to terminate and refrain from any negotiations with Platform Ventures. The company owns a south Kansas City warehouse rumored to be part of a federal plan to convert such spaces into immigration detention facilities.

In ongoing debates over the NFL team’s planned move to Kansas, Republicans and Democrats are forming rare alliances on both sides of the issue.

A data center in the Crossroads is one of the first in the country to get a loan for clean energy. Plus: Scientists across the central U.S. say they have experienced a year of change and uncertainty under the second Trump administration.

A data center in the Crossroads is using the clean energy loan for its chilling equipment. Supporters hope that the loans will encourage the projects to be more environmentally friendly. Critics want the city to do more to regulate the developments.

The Chiefs want to build a nearly $1 billion headquarters in Olathe, but the project still needs the city council's approval — because Olathe must chip in a portion of local sales tax revenues to help fund it.

Bonner Springs is giving more than $200 million of tax incentives for Mattel Adventure Park. City officials say it will boost the local tax revenues. But a public finance expert says the deal will mostly cost the state.