Teen in ICU after Pleasant Hill shooting, Boilermakers trial update: Top KC stories
From a Memorial Day shooting at a Pleasant Hill grocery store to ongoing testimony in the Boilermakers union racketeering trial, here’s a roundup of what’s making news in the Kansas City region. These are the top stories from The Kansas City Star.
Here are the key takeaways:
Pleasant Hill shooting
A 16-year-old Cosentino’s Price Chopper employee identified as Ayden is in stable condition after he was shot twice while retrieving carts in the Pleasant Hill store’s parking lot on Memorial Day. Allen T. Prince, 27, faces first-degree murder and assault charges, and 45-year-old shopper Amy Coon was struck and killed at the scene.
Boilermakers trial
A banking executive testified Tuesday that former Boilermakers International President Newton Jones was instrumental in growing the union-owned Bank of Labor’s total assets from $570 million in 2008 to $1.1 billion in 2025. Jones and three other ex-Boilermakers are accused of conspiring to embezzle millions through no-show jobs, luxury travel and unauthorized loans.
Independence population numbers
Independence, Jackson County’s largest suburb, lost about 1% of its population between 2020 and 2025, dropping from 122,866 residents to 121,675. Raytown declined 2.3%, while Grain Valley grew 7.9% and Oak Grove expanded 14.4%.
Fresh Market of Northtown
Plans for a brand new, full-service grocery store in North Kansas City moved forward Tuesday evening, making the city one step closer to accomplishing a years-long goal of bringing a new grocer to the area.
The North Kansas City Council approved development plans this week to build the more than 51,000-square-foot grocery store, named Fresh Market of Northtown, equipped with meat counters, fresh produce and a small restaurant, within the city’s One North development area near Diamond Parkway.
Huey Magoo’s in the Kansas City area
Florida-based chicken tender chain Huey Magoo’s plans to open 10 locations across the Kansas City area over five years. The first restaurant debuts in Independence in September, followed by a Harrisonville location at the end of the year.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.