#JXNMS is in the news and we’ve got the good stuff! In case you missed it, here are a handful of positive, uplifting features from the past couple of weeks.

There’s an update on The Capri/bowling alley/ Ed’s Burger Joint project in Fondren. WLBT’s Wilson Stribling profiled the Robert St. John-helmed project, announced in late 2019, “a complex of multiple businesses (developers) hope will be just what people are looking for as they emerge from pandemic hibernation.”

Jackson has been noted by Matador Networks as one of the “Ten Most Artistic Towns in America.” Quoting from a CityLab article, it is said that “the artists here have a drive like no other, because we have to make something out of literally nothing.” Cities were selected based on criteria, including a relatively small art scene, low cost of living and the strength of the community of visual artists, musicians, and filmmakers.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced The Mississippi Children’s Museum as one of six recipients of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Selected from 30 national finalists, the 2021 winners represent institutions that provide dynamic programming and services that exceed expected levels of service. 

The Jackson State University class of 1970 finally got a graduation ceremony and received their diplomas on May 15. They also got an apology from local and state officials for an incident on May 15th, 1970 when police marched on campus and opened gunfire, killing 2 students and injuring 12 others. Watch coverage from NBC.

The International Museum of Muslim Cultures, the country’s first Muslim museum, was ranked 4th among the top 10 winners in the category of religious museums for USA Today’s 2020 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awardees. The top
10 winners were determined by popular vote on the USA Today 10Best.com website and social media platforms.

The first annual Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo will be held August 6-8, 2021, at the new Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson. The show will be hosted by the Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks (MDWFP) and presented by Southern AgCredit. The outdoor show will feature large displays of everything for fishing, hunting, agriculture and outdoor recreation, a Big Buck contest, and activities for the entire family including Fetch & Fish High Flying Dogs and Ax Women Loggers of Maine, plus a musical concert.

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