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[Local Stories | Local Business | Community]

It's been a big week in Lee's Summit — and not all of it for the right reasons. Downtown Days is done, at least as we've known it, after what became an all-too-familiar Saturday night in the heart of our city. But this community doesn't sit still, and there's plenty of good work happening alongside the hard conversations. From a $7 million street project to a milestone scholarship moment to an event that genuinely makes this place worth living in — it's all in this week's NewsLink.

— Nick Parker, Link 2 Lee's Summit publisher

Top of the news in Lee's Summit

[Local Stories]

Downtown Days festival coming to an end after safety incidents

It's official. Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street has confirmed that Downtown Days will not return, ending a nearly 40-year tradition that became the centerpiece of summer in our downtown. For the third straight year, safety incidents during the Saturday night of the festival — including fights, bear spray and a recovered 3D-printed ghost gun — made a continuation impossible to justify. The announcement came during the City Council session Tuesday as Mayor Pro Tem Hillary Shields, the council liaison to DLSMS, disclosed the decision publicly.

[Local Stories]

Lee's Summit City Council approves FY 2027 budget, authorizes World Cup police mutual aid

In a session that wrapped up in 31 minutes, the Lee's Summit City Council passed the FY 2027 city budget 7-1 and signed off on a mutual aid agreement sending LSPD officers to assist Kansas City police during FIFA World Cup 2026 activities. Mayor Beto Lopez opened the meeting with a prepared statement on the Downtown Days incidents and praised the response of police and fire. Council member Mia Prier said she's heard from residents interested in a downtown curfew and is open to the conversation.

[Local Stories]

Council to take up $6.9M street project on Tuesday

The Lee's Summit City Council meets tonight with a significant agenda. The big-ticket item is a nearly $7 million contract to reconstruct Douglas Street from SE 2nd Street to NE Chipman Road — brought as an emergency measure, which means it needs six yes votes to pass in a single meeting. Also on the docket: a $5.4 million water main replacement, two airport grant agreements, a public hearing on a proposed senior living facility, and a presentation on the city's communications plan through 2028. Meeting starts at 6 p.m.

[Community]

Wings 4 Water founder to headline next Nonprofit Spotlight lunch

Chris Turney turned a trash-talk moment at a neighborhood wings competition into a community event that has now delivered clean water to more than 11,000 people worldwide. He brings that story to the next Nonprofit Spotlight lunch — noon on Tuesday, July 7 at Bridge Space. This series is about connecting local nonprofits with business and community leaders, and Turney's combination of local roots and global impact makes him a natural fit. Tickets are available now — get yours before they're gone.

[Community]

Truman Heartland Community Foundation surpasses $1 million in scholarships for first time

For the first time in its history, Truman Heartland Community Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships in a single year. The 2026-27 cycle sent $1,000,125 to 360 students across Eastern Jackson County through 483 individual awards, funded by 184 named scholarship funds. More than 520 community volunteers reviewed 3,329 applications to select recipients. Since 1982, the foundation has put more than $9.5 million toward local students pursuing higher education and career training.

Sponsored Content

A bi-weekly look into the homes and market that make Lee's Summit a community

Local Moves: LS Insights

More than headlines: Why people choose Lee's Summit

A recent event drew some unwanted attention to Lee's Summit. But for Realtor and longtime resident Mike Maksin, it raised a bigger question: what actually defines a community? In this week's Local Moves, Maksin steps back from the market to reflect on what keeps people here — and what makes Lee's Summit worth talking about for the right reasons.

Sponsored content presented by Mike Maksin, The Hern Group/KW.

Local Sports

It's a must-win week in Kansas City hockey and a history-making moment for college baseball. The Mavericks came home from Florida down 3-2 in the Kelly Cup Finals after dropping all three road games to the Everblades — but the good news is that every game in this series has been won by the home team, and Game 6 is tonight at T-Mobile Center. Meanwhile, Fred was in Omaha as the College Baseball Foundation handed out seven national awards for the first time ever at the College World Series, with KC ties throughout the ceremony.

Local Events

[Local Stories | Local Business | Community]

There's a packed week ahead in Lee's Summit. On Monday you can kick things off with Lorcana League & Wilds Unknown Sealed Tournament at Pulp Fiction Comics & Games (5 p.m.) or catch Silent Book Club Lee's Summit at International Tap House (6 p.m.). Love Island fans have a Watch Party at Johnny's Tavern (8 p.m.), and Summit Waves hosts Family Fun Night (8:30 p.m., $11). Tuesday brings Karaoke at The Black Rabbit (8 p.m.). Wednesday brings The Purple Bench Project @ Green Street at the Downtown Lee's Summit Farmers Market (9:30 a.m.) and Wednesday Night Casual Commander Night at Mindgames and Magic (4 p.m.). Thursday offers the Bluzboys Thursday Night Jam at VFW Post 5789 (7 p.m.) and Shaun Munday live at Iron Horse Bar & Grill (7:30 p.m.). Friday is packed: Pineapple Galaxy Milkshake IPA Tapping at Grains & Taps (2 p.m.), USA vs. Australia Watch Party at Johnny's Tavern (2 p.m. — it's the World Cup, people), Discord and Rhyme at Konrad's (8 p.m.), and Ladies Night at The Black Rabbit (8 p.m.). Father's Day weekend brings the Arturo Fuente Rare & Limited Cigar Showcase at Cigar Room (through Saturday), Books & Breews Book Swap at The Goat Brewing (Saturday noon), Toy Story 5 Pack Rush Event at Pulp Fiction Comics (Saturday 2 p.m.), Supermatics Live in Concert at VFW Post 5789 (Saturday 7 p.m.), Live Music with Asher Brown at The Goat Brewing (Saturday 7 p.m.), and Father's Day Brunch at Wally's (Sunday 10 a.m.).

If you, or your organization, have an event you'd like listed in Lee's Summit's only community calendar reaching more than 20,000 people, just click here and hit the "CREATE AN EVENT" button.

— Nick Parker, Link 2 Lee's Summit publisher

Your local events listing is brought to you by Bridge Space, a local coworking and event space helping make local news possible in Lee's Summit.

What Lee's Summit readers have been clicking

• COMMENTARY: Downtown Days may be gone, and that should matter to all of us
• Downtown Days marred by fights, ghost gun recovery for third straight year
• Roby Little, Hall of Fame educator and Lee's Summit CARES pioneer, has died
• Downtown Days festival coming to an end after safety incidents
• COMMENTARY: Is Amendment 5 good for Missouri?

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Nick Parker / Link 2 Lee's Summit