Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA– The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) will host Walmart’s Road to Open Call on Tuesday, June 23, bringing one of the nation’s leading opportunities for product-based entrepreneurs directly to Atlanta.  Walmart’s Road to Open Call is an 8-city tour across the U.S. that invites small business owners to pitch their products to Walmart executives for the opportunity to win “Fast Passes”–invitations to pitch at Walmart’s Open Call on Oct.6-7. Walmart executives and RICE coaches providing feedback to contestants at the 2025 Road to Open Call at the Russell Center.  Contestants at Road to Open Call showing off their Fast Passes, which serve as invitations…

DECATUR, GA- DeKalb County officials and development partners will celebrate the groundbreaking of a Publix grocery store and multi-tenant retail building on Thursday, June 11. The $28.9M Candler Crossing project, which will be located at 1842 Candler Road, is supported by a $3.82 million Tax Allocation District (TAD) grant approved by the Decide DeKalb Development Authority, in partnership with Venture South Investments (VSI),  DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said the groundbreaking represents a “full-circle moment,” after the project was delayed due to the global pandemic. “Six years ago, while serving as Commissioner for Super District 7, I initiated this project because I…

ATLANTA—The Atlanta Cultural Exchange invites residents and visitors alike to experience the city through the artists, storytellers, musicians, historians, and cultural visionaries who help shape Atlanta’s identity every day as the city welcomes the FIFA World Cup 2026. On June 14, from noon to 10 p.m., The Center(CTR) Atlanta, located at 190 Marietta St., will host its kickoff celebration as the 8th floor is  transformed into a cultural hub showcasing art, fashion, and immersive experiences. DJ Kicks will open the event with a high-energy 1-hour set  celebrating the sounds, culture, and musical influence of Atlanta. From classic hits to new generation records, this live set blends…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA—Gwinnett County Police detectives are requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing juvenile. London Henville,15, was reported missing by her father on June 2. It was learned that she left her residence in Lawrenceville between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on that morning.  After police received the report, the teen was entered into the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) databases, allowing law enforcement agencies throughout Georgia and the United States to identify and locate missing persons. Investigators have learned that London traveled to residences in Atlanta, DeKalb County, and Clayton County since…

Conyers, GA—Celebration Park, the newly renovated park and gathering space in Olde Town Conyers will open with a ribbon cutting and fun for the family on Wednesday, June 24, from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Mayor Connie Alsobrook, members of the Conyers City Council, and park contractors S.H. Creel Construction,  will be on hand for the official ribbon cutting and for  the festivities designed to showcase the new SPLOST-funded park. Formerly the Lewis Vaughn Botanical Garden, the designated park space has been a fixture in Olde Town Conyers since it was built and dedicated in 1994. The original garden was a result of…

ATLANTA—The Board of Directors, members, and staff of the Atlanta Business League(ABL) extend heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and countless admirers of Peabo Bryson. A two-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most celebrated voices in American music, the legendary R&B singer and two-time Grammy Award winner passed away on Tuesday, June 2, a hospital in Marietta, due to complications from a stroke he suffered several days prior. Mr. Bryson was surrounded by family when he passed away. He was 75. Mr. Bryson leaves behind a remarkable legacy of artistry, excellence, and inspiration. His timeless music touched generations, transcended boundaries, and brought joy…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A DeKalb County man has been found guilty of drug trafficking out of his Ellenwood home, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced.   Vincent Denard Simon, 41, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison and an additional 40 years on probation during a sentencing hearing on Thursday, June 4. DeKalb County Magistrate Judge Matthew McCoyd, who presided over the trial, also ordered Simon to pay a $1.1 million fine.  Simon was found guilty on Trafficking Methamphetamine, Trafficking Marijuana, and two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony stemming from a sting operation that…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) on Thursday, June 4, wrote to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, calling on the bank to immediately remove its recently added forced arbitration agreement, hamstringing consumers’ legal rights and denying them the ability to hold corporations accountable.  “The new forced arbitration provision will force Bank of America’s customers into a private and secretive system, rigged against their interests. During the arbitration process, corporations can write the rules and have no obligation to make proceedings public. Without access to the public court system,…

CONYERS, GA—Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) continues the annual “Be Bright, Eat Right Rockdale” Summer Meals Program, June 8 – July 16, Monday – Thursday, to ensure Rockdale County’s children receive healthy, balanced and delicious meals throughout the summer. RCPS will deliver bagged lunches via school buses to dozens of locations in neighborhoods across Rockdale County, Monday – Thursday, June 8 – July 16, 2026 (paused June 18 and June 29 – July 3, 2026). Meal route locations and times are listed at www.rockdaleschools.org/summermeals. Children (up to age 18) who live in one of the neighborhoods served can receive a meal…