Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA– The city of Stonecrest has launched a new marketing campaign celebrating the people, progress, and spirit of DeKalb County’s most populated city, home to an estimated 60,000 residents, officials announced on Tuesday, March 31.  The “Stonecrest PROUD!” campaign features a new 2:59-minute city rap song that hypes up Stonecrest’s assets—including the Browns Mill Aquatic Center, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, the Mall at Stonecrest and the mega New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.  City officials say the four-month civic pride initiative, which run April-August, will be driven by a series of social media videos spotlighting Stonecrest residents, businesses, city…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Nicole M. Golden has released her office’s 2025 annual report to taxpayers. The report details the important work done by the tax commissioner’s office in collecting and disbursing nearly $2 billion in revenue for county services. “I am proud to share the achievements and fiscal responsibility this office consistently shows in motor vehicle and property tax collections,” saidGolden. “It is important for the residents of DeKalb to understand the office’s commitment to delivering excellent customer service, responsibly collecting and distributing revenue, and serving our community by creating informed and satisfied taxpayers.” The report includes…

GWINETT COUNTY, GA–Two new inclusive playgrounds at Baggett Elementary School and Ferguson Elementary School are creating more opportunities for all students to play. At Baggett Elementary, the playground idea grew out of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Project-Based Learning experience with some of its 4th-grade students. The students stepped into the role of project managers and used simple machines to design the playground they envisioned. The school also received donations from Regions Bank and two local families, the Hansens and the Dorfmans, for the playground. As a result, the money the students originally raised will now go toward creating a new playground for the…

STONECREST, GA— New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will welcome thousands of worshippers and community members for its highly anticipated Resurrection Weekend, a multi-day experience blending powerful worship, economic empowerment, and community outreach.  Throughout the holiday weekend, the church also will activate a series of surprise pop-up outreach moments across metro Atlanta, designed to randomly bless individuals and families in need and extend the spirit of Easter beyond the sanctuary walls. Anchored in both faith and culture, this year’s theme, Sinners: Three Days That Changed Everything, reflects the redemptive message at the heart of the Easter story while also offering a contemporary lens…

ATLANTA— Metro-Atlanta elected officials and members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus will hold a joint press conference on Tuesday, March 31, at 9:30 a.m., at the state Capitol to voice opposition to House Bill 369. The controversial bill, which mandates nonpartisan elections for district attorneys, solicitors general, county commissioners, tax commissioners, superior court clerks, and school board members, targets Georgia’s “big five” counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton and Gwinnett. Under the bill, candidates seeking election for the said offices would run without party labels (Democrat or Republican).  Critics say that the legislation raises serious concerns about voter transparency and local…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– This year, five students from Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) have been selected as finalists and one student has been selected as an alternate to attend the 2026 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) hosted at Georgia Southern University this summer.  The students selected are: Laila Coleman (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology) – Science, Biology/Environmental Science. Macyn Frazier (Heritage High School) – Communicative Arts. Wyatt Howell (HHS) – Music, Voice: Tenor. Francisco Rodriguez (RMSST) – Mathematics. Gabrielle Thomson (Rockdale County High School) – Visual Arts. Alternate: Madison Reese (HHS) – Dance. RCPS Superintendent Shirley Chesser congratulated the…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, at 2 p.m., 178 Sams Street, Decatur. The meeting will be held in the conference room (third floor). The public also can attend the meeting virtually. Join Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81020464767?pwd=viAQ85iuujAGmr64keBGzGgsEARddE.1 Meeting ID: 810 2046 4767 Passcode: 2Q5Ny0  One tap mobile +13126266799,,81020464767#,,,,*442036# US (Chicago)  +16469313860,,81020464767#,,,,*442036# US  Join instructions https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/81020464767/invitations?signature=MqhSv_oCUxVNrOnK1t7xt1YCRa0Vo7gO69bStuPo4tc The meeting agenda is as follows: Approval of April Meeting Minutes Treasurer’s Report III. Attorney’s Property Title Status Report Chairman’s Report  Executive Director’s Report – Tamika Churchill Staff Update Project Applications Community Outreach and Training Other VII. Adjournment…

In celebration of Women’s History Month, DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran-Johnson hosted an evening forum at the Fernbank Museum on Wednesday, bringing together the Chairwomen of Cobb, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Henry counties for a conversation on leadership, public service, and the future of local communities across metro Atlanta. The forum featured Chairwoman Lisa Cupid of Cobb County, Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry of Clayton County, Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson of Gwinnett County, and Chairwoman Carlotta Harrell of Henry County, joining DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson for what proved to be an inspiring and candid evening of conversation. The event was…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners(BOC) got an earful from community members this week about a proposal for a lithium-ion battery storage system near the massive DC Blox data center campus that is under construction at the intersection of Rockbridge and Farmer roads. BOC Chairwoman JaNice Van Ness and Commissioners Tuwanya Smith and Doreen Williams have come under fire as construction crews move full steam ahead with the data center project and mull a proposal for the battery storage system.   At the board’s March 26 zoning meeting, residents described how blasting from the construction of data centers is…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Jonesboro man was sentenced to life in prison for killing a man during an illegal gun deal. A Gwinnett County jury on Friday, March 27, found Righteous Love Williams, 23, guilty of felony murder, armed robbery, reckless conduct, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the September 2023 shooting death of 19-year-old Michael Paul Maddox II. Williams was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus five years. “We grieve with the family of Mr. Maddox,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “Our hope is that this outcome gives his…