Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY,GA— DeKalb County Government announces the official launch of DeKalbAlert, an emergency notification system that delivers real-time alerts directly to the mobile phones of enrolled DeKalb County residents.  Owned and operated by the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the new system is designed to ensure that every resident,business owner, and visitor in the county can receive timely, accurate information during emergencies, severe weather events, public safety incidents, and other critical situations. “The safety of our residents is my administration’s highest priority,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “DeKalbAlert is our direct line to every household in this county during their most vulnerable moments. I am personally…

 DEKALB COUNTY, GA— A positive rabies case was reported in the Lithonia area involving a deceased cat. The racoon tested positive for rabies on May 3, 2026. Georgia is a rabies endemic state, and the virus is present all year long. It is not unusual for the county to report several rabies cases each year.  Residents should make sure pets are up to date for preventative vaccination and should eliminate outdoor feeding stations and access to garbage cans. Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal should seek medical attention immediately.  Additionally, residents are advised to watch pets and contact…

ATLANTA—Rep. Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District in metro Atlanta, is inviting constituents to share how their daily lives are being impacted by the rising costs and increasing cuts to services and programs by the Trump Administration.  Johnson is hosting a virtual town hall to discuss how pocketbook issues—the costs for gas, groceries, childcare, housing, and healthcare—are disrupting lives. “I need to hear from you. Please join my virtual town hall on affordability or the lack thereof – we’re calling it the Cost of Chaos: Get Your Hands Out of My Pockets! on Thursday, May 7 from 7-8 p.m.,” Johnson…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County School District (DCSD), in partnership with Intuit for Education, will unveil a new student-operated food truck program on Friday, May 8, at 12 p.m., at the district’s Administration and Instructional Complex in Stone Mountain.  This innovative initiative—Rolling Flavors of DeKalb—marks the first student-run food truck program within a school district in Georgia and will include 12 schools across DeKalb during its inaugural year. District officials say middle and high school students will learn how to run a business from start to finish, including planning, operations and customer service. The rolling classroom on wheels will offer students hands-on experience…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Parks & Recreation is partnering  with the Atlanta Dream to bring the “Power Her Dreams” Girls Basketball Clinic to the community this summer.  Registration is underway now for the free clinic, which will be held on Tuesday., July 8, at 1 p.m., at Johnson Park Recreation Center, 1781 Ebenezer Road S.W., Conyers. Designed for girls ages 6–14 of all skill levels, the Power Her Dreams initiative focuses on building confidence, courage, and community through the game of basketball. Participants will engage in high-energy skills sessions, fun drills, and teamwork challenges led by experienced coaches and staff.…

DECATUR, GA — DeKalb County employees will see an increase in their paychecks this spring as the county’s minimum wage rises from $17.68 to $19.00 per hour, an adjustment that takes effect April 11, 2026, and will appear in paychecks dated May 1. Approved as part of the FY2026 Annual Budget, the new wage floor positions DeKalb County among the highest-paying public employers in the metro Atlanta region. Comparable jurisdictions surveyed in February 2026 came in below or just slightly above the new DeKalb rate: Cobb County at $17.34, the City of Atlanta at $17.50, Fulton County at $18.27, and Gwinnett County…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA–– A Gwinnett County Police officer has been arrested following a domestic dispute. On May 1, Gwinnett County Police responded to a domestic dispute and identified one of the involved parties as Gwinnett County Police Officer Renee Downer. Officers determined Downer and the victim were formerly in a relationship, had recently separated, and were still living together as the victim prepared to move out. Officers found that during an argument the night before, Downer pushed the victim onto a couch. During the call, officers also learned that in a prior separate incident, Downer had used law enforcement resources available…

Stonecrest, GA – The DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with the City of Stonecrest and other state and federal partners to offer a free feral hog control educational workshop and trap demonstration on Tuesday, June 2. at 5:30 p.m . at Stonecrest City Hall Annex Room at 3120 Stonecrest Blvd.  Feral hogs cause millions of dollars of damage to property, farmland and wildlife habitat across Georgia annually.  Community members, urban farmers conservationists and anyone interested are invited to attend the workshop and learn from experts with the University of Georgia, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division,  and others…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb County Police Department continues its enforcement efforts targeting illegal street takeovers, resulting in five arrests early Sunday morning. Officers responded to reports of a street takeover around 1:30 a.m. on May 3 in the 2600 block of Bouldercrest Road. As officers arrived, participants attempted to flee the scene. One vehicle struck a police vehicle while attempting to leave. That vehicle was subsequently stopped by officers at a nearby gas station. Five occupants of the vehicle were arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail on the following charges: Isaac Ayes, 18: Fleeing and Eluding, Hit and…