🌱 Liquor Store Defies City Council + 13-Year-Old Arrested For Robbery

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Jackson Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what's happening around town.

But first, today's weather:

Humid; a p.m. t-storm or two. High: 87 Low: 73.

Here are the top three stories in Jackson today:

1. A Jackson liquor store is refusing to close its doors, despite an order from the city council for the business to shut down. The Jackson City Council voted to close the liquor store on Woodrow Wilson Avenue a year ago, following the council's move to prohibit stores selling whiskey and wine from being located adjacent to gas stations or convenience stores. Councilman Kenneth Stokes has spoken out, saying that liquor stores near churches and schools are damaging the Black community. The liquor store's owner has filed an appeal with the Hinds County Circuit Court to stop the business from being closed. (WAPT)
2. Jackson police have arrested a 13-year-old on charges of armed robbery and individual aggravated assault. The arrest stems from a Jun. 17 incident on Clinton Boulevard where a woman was approached by a young man who was armed with a gun. The suspect demanded the woman's car keys, and after she relinquished them, the suspect shot her in the leg. The woman had non-life-threatening injuries, and the suspect fled on foot before being arrested on Jul. 4. (WAPT)
3. The Clarion Ledger has rounded up some exciting events happening in Jackson this weekend! Food Truck Friday is happening at Smith Park today from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. with a variety of local food truck offerings. Tomorrow, Jul. 8, the BTC Market will take place at Bellhaven Town Center. This event will include vendors, live music, and a variety of pop-up shopping options. (Clarion Ledger)

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Today in Jackson:

Friday, July 7

• Fun Friday: Permian Plants At Mississippi Museum Of Natural Science (10:00 AM)
• Lazy Lightning Band Live At Martin's Downtown (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Mississippi Children's Museum will be celebrating Harry Potter's birthday on Jul. 29! The party will run from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and attendees will experience the magic of science as they're sorted into their Hogwarts houses and photographed with a special invisibility cloak. (Mississippi Children's Museum via Facebook)
• World Snake Day is coming up at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. On Jul. 14 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., museum attendees will get an up-close view of native snakes. (Mississippi Museum of Natural Science via Facebook)
• The Jackson/Hinds Library System announced an End of Summer Reading Pizza & Ice Cream Party happening on Friday, Jul. 14 at Quisenberry Library at 11:00 a.m. After the party, participants can stay for popcorn and family-friendly movies. (Jackson/Hinds Library System via Facebook)

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• Hip Hop Dance Fitness Classes- Four Classes Each Week! (July 9)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you soon with another update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.