Independence

After violent winds toppled tents and booths Sunday night, officials told vendors to clean up and go home for everyone's safety. But visitors still hit the carnival rides, without cotton candy and kettle corn.

Bad news for attendees at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Irish Fest, SantaCaliGon and other local events this weekend: High temperatures are prolonging their stay across the metro. Here's how you can stay safe.

The Independence School District has agreed to drop a lawsuit against Jackson County over its plan to give homeowners relief after skyrocketing property tax assessments. The school district still anticipates it will take a financial hit.

The settlement would include more than 200,000 people who paid property taxes in 2023 and 2024, and would return all the money Jackson County charged in assessments that was over the state-mandated 15% cap.

Independence resident Alisa Ramdial Shahib is the latest case of the Trump administration attempting to deport an immigrant to a country where they have no ties. She’s been detained in Kansas since March, with no criminal charges against her.

These offbeat Kansas City museums and attractions offer interactive experiences for adults and families to explore.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains hopes to offer abortion services at all of its Missouri health centers, including Independence. They’re also expanding other sexual and reproductive health care into Louisiana.

Illustrator Kamilla Sims has created murals for the Wichita Public Library, Exploration Place and local businesses. A July 4th chalk work in Independence, Missouri, will be her largest yet.

The city settled with the parents of Maria Pike, who was the mother of 12-week-old Destinii Hope, and with Destinii's father. Their attorney says it's the largest settlement in a police brutality case ever in Missouri.

The size of the settlement has not been made public.

Anger over the data center boom has spilled into politics with voters unseating local politicians who support them — most recently in Independence, Missouri. It's become an issue hard to ignore in the midterm elections.

Kevin King, a former union leader, was elected as mayor of Independence on Tuesday over a city council member who supported an AI data center deal. King has never held political office before, and says he wants residents to be engaged and feel heard in city government.