# Morning Brief: Jul 10 · Data Center Moratorium Heads to Council Vote; Hinds Special Election Tuesday

> The Jackson City Council will consider a six-month moratorium on data center projects at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, as Hinds County voters in District 2 head to the polls the same day for a supervisor special election.

*General News · By Jackson Wire Staff · July 10, 2026*

## 1. Data center moratorium heads to council vote

The Jackson City Council will consider a six-month moratorium on new data center development and expansion at its next regular meeting Tuesday, July 14, at 10 a.m. Council President Brian Grizzell said the pause would give the city time to pass zoning regulations before any construction is approved, telling Mississippi Today that neighboring cities “put the cart before the horse” by approving projects first and regulating later. The draft ordinance includes definitions, zoning rules, and council review provisions. The Monday Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting and a special public hearing drew packed crowds, with residents pressing for a ban rather than a temporary pause. Clinton and Ridgeland recently amended zoning codes after data center construction had already begun within those cities.

## 2. Hinds District 2 special election set for Tuesday

Voters in Hinds County’s District 2 will head to the polls July 14 for a special election between incumbent Supervisor Tony Smith and former Supervisor David Archie. Judge Barry Ford ordered the new election after voiding the 2023 Democratic primary results, citing missing election materials that made it impossible to determine the will of voters. Twenty-six precincts across parts of Jackson, Bolton, Clinton, Utica, and Edwards will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The race is the only item on the ballot. The Hinds County Election Commission’s July 14 meeting was canceled, according to the county website, as staff focus on election operations.

## 3. JPS board approves teacher raises, new drug policy

The Jackson Public School Board of Trustees approved Mississippi’s state-mandated teacher pay raise and a revised salary schedule including a $2,000 increase during its July 7 meeting, the Clarion Ledger reported. The board also raised the minimum salary for assistant teachers to $19,000 per year and approved a first-time drug policy violation program that offers substance abuse education and mental health support instead of automatic suspension. Superintendent Errick Greene warned that even if test scores improve, schools may receive lower accountability ratings this year because the Mississippi Department of Education raised the performance thresholds required for each letter grade. The first day of school is July 29.

## 4. New water tests show improvement, lingering concerns

The Clarion Ledger tested tap water from 16 sites across Jackson nearly four years after the 2022 water crisis and found no widespread contamination, but results showed what comes out of the tap still depends on the pipes inside each home. Unlike the 2022 testing, one sample tested positive for total coliform bacteria, though a follow-up sample came back clean. E. coli was not detected in any sample. JXN Water, the court-appointed interim utility manager, continues to issue localized boil-water notices for small areas; the most recent, for Highland Circle and surrounding streets, affected about 22 connections and was issued July 7. JXN Water reported it has reduced system water demand by more than 30 percent through leak repairs and conservation efforts.

## 5. Smart Start Wellness Bash kicks off today in south Jackson

The Magnolia Medical Foundation is hosting the Smart Start Wellness Bash today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3311 Terry Road, offering free health screenings, back-to-school bookbags and supplies, teacher resources, school uniforms, fresh produce, and games. The event is one of several community back-to-school efforts ahead of JPS’s July 29 start date. The district’s annual Beautification Day is set for July 17, and a ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Brinkley Middle School (formerly Powell Middle School) is scheduled for July 27. The National Weather Service forecasts a high near 95 today with a heat index up to 105, so organizers advised attendees to bring water and plan for the heat.

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[The Jackson Wire](https://www.thejacksonwire.com/) · [Read on the web](https://www.thejacksonwire.com/article/morning-brief-2026-07-10)