Morning Brief: Jul 13 · JTRAN Strike Begins; Council to Vote on Data Center Moratorium Tuesday
Jackson's bus system shuts down at 4 a.m. as more than 60 JTRAN workers walk off the job, and the City Council prepares to vote on a six-month data center moratorium Tuesday.
JTRAN strike shuts down city buses
More than 60 JTRAN union workers walked off the job at 4 a.m. Monday after failing to reach a contract deal with MV Transportation, the Texas-based contractor that runs Jackson's public bus system. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1208 said the contractor has engaged in unfair labor practices and refused to address wage and working condition concerns. Negotiations have been stalled since the workers' contract expired on Dec. 31, 2025. "MV and JTRAN have left us with no other choice but to walk off the job," Local President Charles Tornes Jr. said in a statement. Jackson's last JTRAN strike, in 2024, lasted 14 days. Riders are left without bus service indefinitely with no announced contingency plan from the city.
Data center moratorium vote set for Tuesday
The Jackson City Council will consider a six-month moratorium on new data center construction at its regular meeting Tuesday at 10 a.m. at City Hall. Council President Brian Grizzell introduced the proposal in May, saying the city needs time to study and draft regulations before any projects move forward. A draft ordinance change from City Attorney Drew Martin includes definitions, zoning rules, and council review provisions. Neighboring cities Clinton and Ridgeland recently amended their zoning codes to regulate data centers after construction had already begun. No data centers are currently under development in Jackson proper, but cheap vacant land and proximity to active projects make the city a potential target.
Mayor Horhn appoints Crudup to airport board, names five judges
Mayor John Horhn appointed Bishop Ronnie Crudup to the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Board of Commissioners and named five judges to the Jackson Municipal Court, city officials announced Thursday. Crudup, founder of New Horizon Church, will serve on the board that oversees Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. Horhn said he wanted someone "who knows this community, who asks the right questions, and who will stand up for the people of Jackson." The appointments come as U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves weighs a ruling on the city's challenge to a 2016 state law that would replace the current airport board with a regional authority. Lily Bass was named chief municipal judge as the court launches a technology modernization plan.
JPS beautification day set for Friday as school year nears
Jackson Public Schools is calling for volunteers this Friday, July 17, from 7 a.m. to noon for "All Hands on Deck" Beautification Day at all JPS campuses. The district is asking community members to help teachers set up classrooms, refresh entrances, and clean up school grounds ahead of the first day of school on July 29. Superintendent Errick Greene announced the completion of renovations at Brinkley Middle School, formerly Powell Middle School, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for July 27. The district also faces higher state accountability thresholds this year, meaning schools may receive lower letter grades even if test scores improve, Greene told the board earlier this month.
Jackson home values jump 32%, outpacing metro neighbors
Home values in Jackson surged 32.4% over the past year, the largest increase in the metro area, according to RedFin and Zillow data reported by WLBT in May. Ridgeland posted the second-highest gain at 23%, while Clinton values dropped 2.2% and Madison remained flat. The median sale price in Jackson now sits around $145,000, up nearly 12% from the same period last year, with homes selling in an average of 35 days. The sharp appreciation marks a reversal for a city that has long struggled with population loss and depressed property values, though the median remains well below the national average and keeps Jackson among the most affordable housing markets in Mississippi.