Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced that 17 young adults have graduated from her office’s 2025 STRIDE pretrial diversion program. STRIDE, which stands for Stopping Trends of Repeat Incarceration with Diversion and Education, is a voluntary diversion program that holds young adults ages 17-24  accountable for serious non-violent crimes they have committed, while also ensuring their civic and career opportunities remain intact. Graduates successfully completed a 12-month program that encompassed several requirements including: cognitive behavioral counseling; monthly meetings; full-time work or school; community service; civic engagement; acts of restorative justice (restitution, letters of apology, etc.); and a book-based…

ATLANTA—Georgia’s Democratic Congressional delegation, led by Rep. Hank Johnson, Jr. (GA-04) and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, is pressing Republicans to reverse the Trump global tariffs that are hurting the purchasing power of families nationwide.  The delegation has urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring S.J. Res. 88 to the House floor.  The bill, which passed the U.S. Senate this fall in a bipartisan 51-47 vote would terminate the national emergency declared to impose global tariffs. Rep. Johnson and Sen. Ossoff are joined by Sen. Raphael Warnock and Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Lucy McBath (GA-06), and David Scott (GA-13). A recent report by…

DECATUR,GA – The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office, joined by the offices of the Solicitor-General, District Attorney and Sheriff, recently completed its food drive collecting more than 3,770 pounds of food to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank(ACFB) this holiday season.  The donation, including online contributions, will help provide more than 3,440 meals for families in DeKalb and neighboring communities. Customers visiting any tax office location were invited to drop off donations during the food drive from Nov. 1 through Dec. 5. “I am grateful to all who joined us to help our neighbors in need during our annual food drive. A special thank you to…

DECATUR,GA– Today, DeKalb County announced the retirement of Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Public Safety, Joseph H. “Jack” Lumpkin, Sr. Director Lumpkin has served DeKalb County since January 2018, bringing more than four decades of national law enforcement leadership, transformative community engagement strategies, and a steadfast commitment to public safety excellence. “Director Lumpkin has elevated the standard for public safety in DeKalb County,” said CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “His leadership, grounded in integrity, accountability, and innovation, has strengthened our departments, improved trust with the community, and positioned DeKalb as a model for modern, transparent, and responsive public safety operations.” As…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In observance of Christmas Day on Thursday, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Day on Thursday, Jan. 1, sanitation service for residential customers will run one day late for Thursday customers. The schedule will be revised as follows:  Monday, Dec. 22, and Monday, Dec. 29 – No change in collection service.  Tuesday, Dec. 23, and Tuesday, Dec. 30 – No change in collection service. Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 31 – No change in collection service. Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1 – Christmas Day and New Year’s Day observed. No collection service. Friday, Dec. 26, and Friday, Jan. 2 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection days are Thursday, Dec. 25, andThursday, Jan. 1, will be serviced on Friday, Dec. 26, and Friday, Jan.…

DEKAB COUNTYb, GA– – CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, county leaders and operational teams on Dec. 12 announced a crackdown on illegal tire dumping, after removing more than 37,000 tires dumped in neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and private property.  The CEO announced a new $250,00 initiative to clean up eight of the worst tire dumping sites in DeKalb, calling the acts “organized enviromental crime.”   “…Much of this dumping is not accidental — it is organized environmental crime. We have documented cases where a business drives into our county at night and dumps 3,000 tires in a single incident, leaving taxpayers and communities to…