Author: On Common Ground News

CONYERS, GA– A 55-year-old Covington man is facing numerous charges after driving off and dragging a Conyers Police Department officer who was attempting to arrest him while the officer was conducting a traffic stop. The driver who was arrested was identified as William Cornelius. The incident occurred on Dec. 31 around 4:17 p.m., as the CPD Traffic Unit officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that had a brake light not functioning and a tinted tag cover. During the traffic stop investigation, the officer suspected the driver was under the influence and was attempting to further the investigation when…

  Notice is given that the Rockdale Board of Elections will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 5:00 pm as indicated below (agenda attached).   THIS MEETING WILL BE AVAILABLE VIRTUALLY – SEE DETAILS BELOW WHEN:           Wednesday, January 14, 2026 TIME:              5:00 pm   WHERE:        IN-PERSON:    BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE            1115 WEST AVENUE, SW                                                 CONYERS, GA 30012 – Phone (770) 278-7333       VIRTUAL:            Online Via Zoom – Join Zoom Meeting – Please text (470) 902-0976, if you have problems accessing the meeting. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7049887949 Meeting ID: 704 988 7949 One tap mobile +13126266799,,7049887949# US (Chicago) +16465588656,,7049887949# US (New York) AGENDA JAN 14 2026 REVIEW VOTER…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct its regular public meeting on Thursday, Jan.15, 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at 178 Sams Street, Room A1201 – A & B, Decatur, GA. Agenda Call to Order Adoption of Agenda Administrative Items Approval of the Minutes Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting of December 18, 2025 Report of Committees Legislative Items Chair’s Statement Regarding a Settlement Matter Ethics Officer’s Monthly Report Preliminary Cases Miles Dillard v. Brandon White and Juliana Njoku, Case No. 2025-14 Lexi Morgan v. Juliana Njoku, Travis Cherry, and Vanessa Collins, Case No. 2025-20 Public…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) was recently awarded more than $1.5 million by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to  increase access for students to participate in athletics at the middle school and high school level. RCPS was one of only six districts selected by the Foundation for thegrant, awarded over three years. The grant will alleviate the cost for students to participate – including transportation costs – in boys and girls soccer, girls flag football, tackle football and volleyball at the middle school level, and in boys and girls golf, swimming, tennis and wrestling at the…

DECATUR, GA — DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) announced the release of its 2026 Deputy Registrar Training Schedule, reinforcing the county’s commitment to civic engagement, voter access, and accurate voter registration as preparation begins for the upcoming election year. The 2026 election cycle includes a statewide Gubernatorial Election on May 19, 2026, along with contests for major federal, state, and local offices. Deputy Registrars play a critical role in ensuring eligible citizens are properly registered to vote and able to participate fully in the democratic process. “As we prepare for a significant election year, it is essential that…

CONYERS, GA—Connie Alsobrook will be sworn in as the first black mayor of the City of Conyers on Jan. 7, 6 p.m. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Cherokee Run Golf Club, 1595 Centennial Olympic Parkway N.E., Conyers.  Alsobrook, who served on the City Council for five years before winning the election on Nov. 4, 2025, succeeds Vince Evans, who did not seek re-election after serving on the City Council for 26 years (8 as mayor). Evans became the city’s first new mayor elected in 20 years when he won in 2017.  The swearing-in ceremony will mark the second…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— On Sunday, Jan, 4, at approximately 6:53 p.m., officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the 300 block of North Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road. When officers arrived, they found a young child suffering from a gunshot wound. That child was immediately transported to the hospital and remains in critical condition. “What we know at this point is deeply troubling. A verbal altercation between several individuals outside a nearby gas station escalated into gunfire,” said DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Padrick. “During that exchange, a vehicle stopped in traffic was struck…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–The Rockdale County Branch of the NAACP is inviting the community to its  annual MLK Breakfast. The breakfast will be held on Monday, Jan. 19, at 8 a.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy. “As we kick off our year of service, we hope that you will consider purchasing a table for our community breakfast. The cost of the table is $320 and includes eight tickets to the event. Individual tickets may be purchased for $40 each. Join us as we bring together community members, leaders, and organizations to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” the…

ATLANTA — Several items were introduced during the Jan. 5 organizational meeting of the City Council that will be considered in committee next week, including: An ordinance requiring primary, street-fronting pedestrian entrances of all buildings, except for single-family and two-family structures, to provide push-button activators that enable easy access to buildings and public spaces for people with disabilities and mobility aids. An ordinance amending the Atlanta Sign Ordinance to change the definition of “public entertainment district” and allow, under certain circumstances, the use of projection and wrap signs upon Council activation of a public entertainment district in conjunction with large…