Independence Missouri

The special investigation examined thousands of hours of overtime incurred by police officers to fix up the city jail.

Independence Mayor Rory Rowland signed an ordinance Wednesday approving the development of a 1,200 acre industrial park in eastern Jackson County. Construction is expected to begin in August.

Records show that two Independence police employees reported working more than 1,000 hours of overtime in 2021, raising questions about safety and who's watching extra pay at City Hall.

More buses coming to bus stops more frequently makes public transit more appealing.

The project, which would cost nearly $70 million, was criticized by some residents for its use of fossil fuels.

Weir squeaked out a second-place finish in last week’s primary election, trailing behind Missouri Rep. Rory Rowland, who is set to become Independence’s next mayor.

Independence has hired a former prosecutor to examine potential overtime abuse in its police department. In 2020, an audit of a separate city department found weaknesses in timekeeping practices.

Independence is revisiting its policies after discovering that a police officer made close to $170,000 in overtime pay in 2021, making him the highest paid city employee that year.

The Missouri school district says teachers must have parental permission before referring to their students by names or pronouns that don’t match their gender assigned at birth.

Banned Book Week is an annual celebration meant to highlight intellectual freedom and freedom of expression, but some say the content crosses a line.

After three board trustees posted disapproving comments on Facebook about a library display during Banned Books Week, some current and former employees want to see them dropped from leadership.

An arts district is emerging in Independence, and Jackson County is looking to develop a strategic arts and culture plan for the entire county.