Morning Brief: Jul 6 · Data Center Double-Header Tonight; Fourth Arrest in Triple Homicide
The City Council holds a Planning Committee meeting at 4 p.m. and a public hearing at 6 p.m., both on data centers, as the fourth suspect in the Queen Alexandria Lane triple homicide is extradited from Texas.
Data center double-header tonight
The Jackson City Council holds two meetings today on data centers, starting with the Planning and Economic Development Committee at 4 p.m. and a special public hearing at 6 p.m., both in Council Chambers at City Hall. The committee agenda, obtained by The Jackson Wire, lists a single item: "DISCUSSION: DATA CENTERS." The public hearing follows at 6 p.m., where the council is expected to take up the proposed six-month moratorium on new data center development that has drawn packed crowds and impassioned testimony since May. Council President Brian Grizzell has said the pause would give the city time to draft regulations before any construction is approved, as residents continue to raise concerns about water use, noise, and environmental impacts.
Fourth suspect extradited in triple homicide
Devone Modacure was arrested in Forney, Texas, by U.S. Marshals and faces a capital murder charge in the June 27 triple homicide on Queen Alexandria Lane that killed Keyana Weathersby, 25, her 2-year-old son Camari Givens, and her sister Erica Weathersby, court records show. Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced the arrest July 2, saying Modacure will be extradited to Mississippi. Three others Mikala Keyon Young, Cornelius Carter, and Jordan Carter were previously arrested. Brackney has called the killings a "targeted attack" and confirmed that a stolen JPD SWAT rifle was used in the shooting, a detail that has intensified scrutiny of department protocols.
JXN Water hits federal lead standard for first time
The court-appointed utility reached full compliance with the federal Lead and Copper Rule in 2026, the first time Jackson's water system has met that standard in recent history, according to JXN Water's quarterly report. Independent testing by the Clarion Ledger at 16 sites across the city found no E. coli in any sample and only one isolated total coliform detection that cleared on follow-up. Low-level lead was detected at four of 16 taps, which experts attributed to aging home plumbing rather than the treated water leaving the system. The results mark a significant improvement from the 2022 water crisis, though JXN Water remains exempt from Mississippi public records laws, drawing criticism from transparency advocates.
Flats at Fondren breaks ground in $55M project
Arlington Development has broken ground on the Flats at Fondren, a 234-unit apartment complex in Jackson's Fondren neighborhood, the company announced. The project spans roughly 293,800 square feet with one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans, a saltwater pool, fitness center, and coworking lounge, with initial units expected by fall 2027. It is Arlington's fourth investment in Jackson and the third Fondren groundbreaking in 2026 alone, according to WLBT. Parking will be supported by a new deck owned by Hinds County. The development sits near the Mississippi hospital district and within walking distance of Fondren's restaurants and retail, signaling continued private investment in the corridor despite broader city fiscal challenges.
National Folk Festival returns to Jackson in November
The 83rd National Folk Festival will take over downtown Jackson from Nov. 13 to 15, marking the second year of the city's three-year residency hosting the free Smithsonian-affiliated event. Organizers expect more than 300 tradition bearers across seven stages, with performances spanning blues, gospel, hip-hop, Cajun, mariachi, and HBCU culture, plus craft demonstrations and regional cuisine. The festival coincides with America's 250th anniversary celebration. Jackson beat out 41 other cities for the 2025-2027 hosting rights, and the city is expected to launch its own continuing festival once the National moves on. Vendor applications and volunteer sign-ups are open now.