Author: On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department(GCPD) has charged three officers and terminated their employment as part of an ongoing investigation into the misuse of the Flock license plate reader system. Renee Downer was arrested and charged in May with Simple Battery and Stalking. Derric Holmes has been charged with six counts of Misuse of License Plate Data. Matthew Lau has been charged with one count of Misuse of License Plate Data. These investigations remain active and additional charges may follow. Since implementing Flock in 2019, the County has continually explored ways to improve its use and increase safeguards to prevent abuse,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Registration is underway now for the 2026 DeKalb County Small Business Summit and Pitch Competition, which will be held on Oct. 14 at the Emory Conference Center Hotel, 1615 Clifton Road, Decatur.  The 2026 Small Business Summit  is sponsored by the Office of the CEO, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, and the Decide DeKalb Development Authority. Small business owners are invited for a full day built around access to capital, a way into county contracting, tools that save time, and straight answers about running a legitimate business. Business owners will spend the day with the people who make those…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Education will consider the approval of Dr. Norman C. Sauce III as the finalist for Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) during its monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 14 The item is included on the Board’s meeting agenda for consideration and a vote. If approved, Sauce would be named the finalist in the Board’s search for the next Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District. The Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(11), requires that the name of the finalist be made public “at least 14 calendar days prior to the…

ATLANTA- Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 9, county election officials in all six counties in the Aug. 25 Special Runoff for U.S. House of Representatives District 13 hand counted randomly selected ballots as part of a risk limiting audit (RLA). The purpose of the audit was to confirm the accuracy of the results. The audit confirmed that Democrat Everton “E.J.” Blair defeated fellow Democrat Marcye Scott in the runoff to fill the unexpired term of long-time Congressman David Scott, who passed away on April 22, 2026 at the age of 80. Marcye Scott is the daughter of David Scott.   A risk limit of…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Both, the head coach from Heritage High School and Rockdale County High School, have been suspended from their teams’ next scheduled football game after an on-field pregame brawl that broke out on Aug. 28.  The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) issued the disciplinary actions against the two coaches following its investigation. Additionally, 11 student-athletes from Heritage High and 28 student-athletes from Rockdale County High also have been suspended from their next scheduled game and the schools also will face fines.   Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) said the GHSA determined the teams demonstrated unsportsmanlike conduct during the pregame activities. The…

TUCKER, GA – DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson joined members of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, public safety officials and community leaders on Thursday to break ground on the $10.5 million Fire Station No. 5, marking another major investment in the County’s public safety infrastructure. The new two-story, 14,600-square-foot facility will be constructed at 4329 Cowan Road in Tucker and will replace the existing Fire Station No. 5 at 4013 Lawrenceville Highway. Built in 1955, the current station is one of the oldest fire stations still operating in DeKalb County. “Public safety is my number one priority as CEO, and…

DECATUR, GA– The Zone DeKalb project is currently undergoing active community engagement and community members are invited to participate in the upcoming Community Design Workshop. The DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability Department is hosting the Zone DeKalb Community Design Workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the DeKalb Government Service Center, 178 Sams Street, Decatur.   What is Zone DeKalb? As DeKalb County continues to grow and evolve, now is the time to take a fresh look at the regulations that shape the county’s communities. The Zoning and Sign Ordinance Update will help ensure these regulations reflect the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 9, through Friday, Sept.11, Clifford Road will be closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Oxford Road N.E and Dyson Drive NE to facilitate sewer installation at 1000 Clifton Road NE.       Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area to advise motorists of construction work in the area and of local traffic restrictions. Motorists should follow posted detour signage and allow additional travel time. If you have questions regarding the road closure, contact Lee Hannah, Supervisor, Mizutek, Inc., at 404-915-8122

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– The Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) will host its annual National Preparedness Day Event on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. The event will take place at Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers, GA. This free, family-friendly event aims to educate the community on the importance of being proactive and prepared for all types of emergencies—including natural, man-made, and technological disasters. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore information booths, watch live demonstrations, and participate in interactive presentations throughout the day. Partnering organizations include Rockdale County Fire Rescue, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office,…