Independence

Independence City Council Approves Tax Breaks for $150 Data Center Campus

Posted March 3, 2026 The Independence City Council voted to approve a tax incentive plan for a proposed $150 billion data center. On Monday, the City Council voted 5-2 to approve two series of taxable industrial development revenue bonds for… more

Centerpoint Medical Center Names Robyn Miller as Chief Nursing Officer

Posted February 10, 2026 Centerpoint Medical Center announced it has appointed Robyn Miller as chief nursing officer. Miller brings over 20 years of healthcare experience and 13 years within the HCA Midwest Health system to his new role. She most… more

Centerpoint Medical Center Appoints New CMO and CFO

Posted January 28, 2026 HCA Midwest Health has announced two new executive-level leadership changes at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence. Centerpoint Medical Center named Dr. Sabrina Kidd as chief medical officer and Justin Inglett as the new chief financial officer… more

Centerpoint Medical Center Welcomes New CEO Patrick Rafferty

Posted August 27, 2025 HCA Midwest Health announced Patrick Rafferty is the new chief executive officer at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence. Rafferty took on his new role effective in July. He most recently served as the CEO of Overland… more

Mahomes Co-Owned KMO Burger Acquires 16 Whataburger Restaurants

Posted May 15, 2025 Fast food franchise Whataburger and KMO Burger, LLC, have announced a joint venture, allowing the latter to own and operate all restaurant locations in the Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri markets. The new partnership will see… more

City of Independence to Buy $20M Vacant GEHA Building

Posted December 19, 2023 Independence hopes to enter a $20 million lease-purchase agreement for the vacant Government Employees Health Association Inc. building. The property is located at 20201 and 20221 E. Jackson Drive, off Interstate 70. The agreement would see… more

Park University Cuts Faculty and Degrees Following Low Enrollment

November 20, 2023 Park University is laying off faculty, cutting majors and closing campuses due to low enrollment numbers. In an emailed statement, the private university informed staff members it would be laying off 16 faculty positions in areas with… more

HCA Data Breach Affects These KS and MO Hospitals

Hospital company HCA Healthcare reported Monday that personal information for potentially tens of millions of HCA patients was breached and placed on an online data forum. The breach affected patients from 171 hospitals in the U.S. including facilities in Kansas… more

Jackson County Public Health Relocates to Lee’s Summit

Jackson County Public Health (JCPH), formally Jackson County Health Department, has decided to relocate Independence to a building in Lee’s Summit. The department made the announcement Monday stating the new location will better suit the agency’s service.  This strategy stems… more

Clay County follows KCMO, eases dining and gathering restrictions

Restaurants and bars in Clay County no longer have limited hours due to COVID-19 guidelines, according to a recently updated health order. The updated emergency order went into effect at 5 p.m. Sunday. The Clay County Public Health Center announced… more