🌱 Two Officers Shot In Standoff + Mississippi 19th In Infrastructure

Hello, friends! I'm back with your new edition of the Jackson Patch newsletter. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening in town today.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 90 Low: 68.

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Here are the top three stories today in Jackson:

1. A hostage situation turned into a standoff in nearby Brandon, claiming the life of one officer and critically injuring another. Upon the officer's arrival, the suspect barricaded himself inside also taking a woman hostage. The suspect agreed to let his hostage go around 6:00 a.m. but did not surrender himself, resulting in an exchange of gunfire where an officer was shot. The shooting claimed the life of the suspect and Horren Randy Tyler, a seven-year veteran of the Madison police department. (WLBT)
2. QuoteWizard states that Mississippi is the 19th in poor infrastructure with 26 percent of roads in unacceptable condition which equates to 1,500 bridges and 5,800 miles of roadways. The average Mississippian spends $637 fixing their vehicles per year due to the poor infrastructure. The governor hopes this can change with two bills that were signed in April that will allocate $2 billion for improvements to roadways, bridges, railways, airports, and transit systems across the state. (WJTV)
3. The only direct flight from Jackson to Washington, D.C. is at risk of being permanently canceled due to a proposal to eliminate the perimeter rule at Reagan International Airport. This rule currently restricts flights to a certain area of the country. The potential removal of the rule has raised concerns about the economic impact on both the city and the smaller airports, as direct flights serve as important attractions for businesses and potential residents. (WLBT)

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Today in and around Jackson:

• Hip Hop Dance Fitness Class At Central Mississippi Dance, Brandon (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Cathead Jam music festival returns to cathead distillery after three years. The two-day festival starts tonight (Jun. 2) and features various artists from around the country. Food vendors will be at the concert to serve visitors and cocktails from the distillery will be flowing. (Clarion Ledger)
• If your home could use a little repair, send an application to the City of Jackson. The City's Healthy Homes Production Grant could help you pay for minor repairs or rehab that need to be done to your home. Applications will begin to be accepted on Jul. 10. (City of Jackson - Government via Facebook)
• The Mississippi Childrens Museum has extended its playground hours for the summer! Take advantage of the golden hour at the playground, just before sunset. The new hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00-7:00 p.m. (Mississippi Childrens Museum via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll see you around.

— 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.