The Examiner

08/07/2026

Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota says he and County Legislator DaRon McGee discussed the possibility of McGee taking a position in the LeVota administration but said no deal was made and that McGee earlier this year dropped out of the race for county executive on his own. Link to our full story is in the comments.

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota on Thursday pleaded not guilty to a five-count federal indictment that includes fraud.

08/05/2026

The Fort Osage School District wants a judge to block Jackson County's plan for tax credits to make up for overcharges in 2023 and 2024. Story link in the comments.

08/05/2026

LAKE EASILY WINS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR COUNTY EXEC RACE
By The Examiner staff
Stacy Lake of Kansas City sailed to victory Tuesday in a field of six in the Democratic primary, aiming to become the next Jackson County executive.
Lake, who ran in Democratic primary against County Executive Frank White Jr. in 2022, got more votes Tuesday that her two nearest rivals combined. More than 77,000 votes cast. Lake won with 35,314 (45.72%), followed by former Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird with 16,569 (21.42%), former County Legislator Dan Tarwater of Kansas City with 14,465 (18.23%), County Legislator Manny Abarca IV of Kansas City with 7,326 (9.48%), Ryan Meyer of Kansas City with 2,006 (2.6%) and Holmes Osborne of Independence with 1,560 (2.01%).
Lake is running to replace County Executive Phil LeVota, who county legislators named to fill out the White’s term when the voters recalled him in September 2025. LeVota’s term ends at the end of the year.
On Nov. 3, Lake faces Republican Alan Rohlfing of Lee’s Summit in the general election. Rohfling was unopposed in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
The county executive serves a term of four years.

07/29/2026

A road diet for a short piece of Noland south of William Chrisman High School? It's being discussed. Story link in the comments.

07/29/2026

The annual Missouri River 340 race for paddlers and paddleboats started Tuesday morning at Kaw Point in Kansas City, with more than 660 paddlers aiming to reach St. Charles this week. Shown in the four-person boat of team Hale Fire pulling away from an early pit stop at Sugar Creek’s LaBenite Park to make a pedal repair.

07/23/2026

Independence attorney Ken McClain discusses the class-action lawsuit over 2023 Jackson County property assessments.

07/23/2026

The three-year-old class-action lawsuit over 2023 Jackson County property assessments is headed toward a settlement. County Executive Phil LeVota and Independence attorney Ken McClain on Thursday discussed how taxpayers will get their overpayments back, Story link in the comments.

07/22/2026

These cousins played against each other in high school but remain close friends as they head off to start their college baseball careers after earning all-state honors and being part of the last three Missouri Class 6 state championship teams.

When Cooper Callahan and Conor McElligott were growing up in Blue Springs, the second cousins shared the same dream.