Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Wesley Cooley, a 64-year-old serial rapist was sentenced to life on today (March 12), after pleading guilty to sexual assault cold cases spanning nearly two decades.  The unsolved rapes occurred in the metro Atlanta area from 1999 to 2017, District Attorney Sherry Boston said. Authorities got a break in the case from the April 2017 rape of a female in Tucker, GA.  DNA evidence from that case linked the same attacker to seven other unsolved sexual assault cases including four in DeKalb, two in Atlanta, and one in Conyers. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 38, authorities…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County Police announced today(March 12) that Jerome Grogan, 27, has been arrested on sexual battery charges after slapping and groping strangers at local grocery stores–attacks that occurred over several months.   According to the investigation, one of the victims, a 73-year-old great-grandmother, told police that she was traumatized after being slapped hard on her backside by the suspect, who was unknown to her while shopping at a Kroger grocery store.   Grogan was identified and arrested on March 10 in connection with four assaults at the following grocery stores in South DeKalb: ·      Kroger, 4919 Flat Shoals…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—The Gwinnett County Board of Education has announced that Dr. Alexandra Estrella has been named the sole finalist to serve as the next Superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools. Estrella was selected following a national search and rigorous evaluation of a strong pool of candidates, the Board said, stating that she was the most qualified candidate considered who is best prepared to guide Gwinnett County Public Schools. The Board partnered with Alma Advisory Group, a nationally recognized executive search firm, to lead a transparent process that included surveys, focus groups, student engagement opportunities, and community listening sessions across…

ATLANTA— Live Nation Urban (LNU) and Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) have announced a stacked lineup for the inaugural HBCU AWAREFEST.   The weeklong event, featuring a star-studded concert, panel discussions, small business fair, health and wellness events, and free food trucks, will be held March 21-26. The activities kicks off with the 2026 HBCU Impact Fest at the Atlanta University Center’s Robert W. Woodruff Library and Promenade with a number of panel discussions.  Students and the public are invited to attend the panels, which include “Building Wisdom, Not Debt: A Real Conversation About Money” with MC Lyte and Dr. Lynn Richardson, and “Health is Wealth: Protecting Your Power, Your Joy, & Your Future,”…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct its Regular Public Meeting on Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at 178 Sams Street, Room A1201 – A & B, Decatur. Agenda Callto Order Adoptionof Agenda  III.            Administrative Items Approval of the Minutes Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting of February 19, 2026 Report of Committees  Ethics Officer’s Monthly Report Probable Cause Hearing  Dianne C. Moore v. Johnny Mitchell, Case No. 2025-8 Dianne C. Moore v. Kimberly K. Washington, Case No. 2025-16 Public Comments Comments from the Board of Ethics VII.         Executive Session to Discuss Pending Litigation…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Democrats Venola Mason and Kelly Kautz appeared headed for a runoff in the Georgia House District 94 Special Election held on Tuesday, March 10, according to unofficial results.   Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger called for the special election to fill the unexpired term of long-time State Rep. Karen Bennett, who abruptly resigned in January. District 94 includes portions of DeKalb County and neighboring Gwinnett County.  Mason was leading the four-way race on Tuesday night with 44.23 percent (1,199 votes), while Kautz was trailing with 23.20 percent (629 votes), according to unofficial results at the Georgia Secretary of State’s…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office recently began mailing over 19,700 homeowners who may be eligible for a new senior exemption or a basic homestead exemption for the current tax year. “One of the most important things you can do as a homeowner in DeKalb is to makesure you’re not missing out on property tax savings. We’re here to help you understand all available exemptions and how they can help reduce your property taxes,” said Tax Commissioner Nicole M. Golden. “Whether you’re a new homeowner, a senior, disabled resident, disabled veteran, homeowners should check their exemption status and…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County State Court, Division B, will host the Traffic Violators Impact Program (“TVIP”) on Thursday, March 12, 5:30 to 7p.m., in Courtroom B-8 at the DeKalb County State Court, Division B, 3630 Camp Circle, Decatur.  The DeKalb County State Court hosts TVIP presentations for drivers charged with traffic violations to raise awareness of the dangers of risky driving behaviors. These presentations are held every month in Division B of the State Court of DeKalb. The remaining 9 session for 2026 will be held:  April 15  May 21  June 2  July 9  Aug. 4 Sept. 17  Oct. 6  Nov. 12  Dec. 1 Drivers charged with offenses including,…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) has named Monica Brown as the 2025-26 School Librarian of the Year. This award honors a K-12 school librarian whose exemplary library program promotes a culture of reading, fosters critical thinking through inquiry and research, and supports learning through collaborative partnerships.  Monica Brown, who works at Five Forks Middle School, is a champion for literacy. Brown encourages a culture of reading through “Book Talks with Mrs. Brown,” monthly contests, and Beanstack reading challenges. To create an immersive learning environment, Brown uses exhibit-style displays with artifacts, visuals, and interactive elements. These displays celebrate cultures, heritage months, and curriculum connections.  Beyond the…