Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA, GA—Keisha Sean Waites and Peter Hubbard are headed to a run-off in the Democratic primary for Georgia’s Public Service Commission District 3 seat, after emerging as the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s three-way race.   Waites, a former Atlanta City Council member and former state legislator, led the June 17 race with 57,926 votes (46.05%), while Hubbard, founder of the nonprofit, Georgia Center for Energy Solutions, came in second with 41,879 votes (33.29%), according to unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s web site. Robert Jones, a former utility executive, placed third in the race with 25,996 votes (20.66%). …

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA—Gwinnett County officials are celebrating the grand opening of the Hooper-Renwick Themed Library, a project honoring Black history and community legacy through a partnership with the city of Lawrenceville, Hooper-Renwick Legacy Preservation Committee, and the Gwinnett County Public Library Board of Trustees. The facility, located at 56 Neal Boulevard in Lawrenceville, officially opened to the public on Tuesday, June 17, and is the first themed library in the Southeast. The long-awaited project brings new life to the historic Hooper-Renwick School, which once served as the only public high school for Black students in Gwinnett County.  The vision of the…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Rockdale County government is embarking on its first-ever Housing Assessment, a major initiative to evaluate local housing needs, challenges, and opportunities — and community voices are essential to guide the process. The County is seeking volunteers to serve on a steering committee that will assist in shaping the direction and priorities of the assessment. Committee members will work alongside planning staff to provide insight, feedback, and guidance throughout the project. Committee responsibilities include: Attending regular meetings Reviewing and discussing data and findings Help identify housing priorities and goals Supporting community engagement The steering committee will reflect the diversity of Rockdale and…

Gwinnett County Commissioner Jasper Watkins to host “District 3 Talks Fentanyl: A Youth Town Hall” LAWRENCEVILLE, GA—Join District 3 Commissioner Jasper Watkins, III for a candid conversation about the rise of fentanyl in the community and how it’s impacting young lives.  The event will be held on June 21, 10 a.m.—11:30 a.m., at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Auditorium, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.  The event will feature a screening of the Emmy Award-winning docuseries, Upfront Gwinnett: Fighting Fentanyl, followed by a youth-led discussion with a panel of experts in public health and safety. Bring your questions, your voice and your…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) announced the unofficial and incomplete results for the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) race following the June 17 contest.  To view the election summary report, click here. Any accepted provisional ballots will also be factored into the final certified results.  “Throughout this election cycle, we’ve strived to provide a seamless and efficient voting experience for DeKalb County residents,” said Keisha Smith, executive director of DeKalb VRE. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated poll workers, employees and the members of our Board of Registration and Elections whose collective tireless efforts…

Story Updated June 18, 8:24 a.m. Conyers, GA—The Conyers Police Department has announced  a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect involved in a shooting on June 14 at 1160 Forest Villa Drive in Conyers.  That incident is connected to a June 13 shooting on Janice Lane that claimed the life of Dearrious Davenport, 30, of Conyers. Davenport, a father of three children, was at a house party with cousins when an argument escalated into gun violence at 1290 Janice Lane.  Police were dispatched around 10:50 p.m. to the short, dead-end street where they found Davenport lying…

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will implement the use of Yondr pouches to secure cell phones and personal devices in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade for the upcoming school year. The move follows Georgia’s Distraction Free Education Act (HB 340), signed into law this year. The new law requires all public schools in Georgia to enact a policy and procedure for the use of personal electronic devices at school and school-sponsored events for students in kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8). “Our classrooms aim to foster an environment where every student can focus, engage, and thrive,” said Superintendent Shirley Chesser. “By…