Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA- DeKalb County Government invites residents to a series of Water Rate Town Hall Meetings hosted and moderated by DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. The meetings will provide an opportunity for the community to discuss the proposed water rate increase and gain insights directly from county leadership. Cochran-Johnson, along with an expert Water Discussion Panel, will guide the conversation, address community questions, and provide clarity on the future of water services in DeKalb County. The panel will include: Maria Houser, Esq., Director – CIP and Environmental Compliance Zach Williams, Chief Operating Officer Robert Ryall, VP & Director of Financial Services, Arcadis…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office recently began mailing more than 29,400 letters to homeowners about homestead exemptions for the 2025 tax year. “We’re informing homeowners who may be eligible for a senior exemption, as well as new homeowners who do not have a basic homestead exemption, to apply before the April 1 deadline,” said DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson. “Now is the time to check your exemption status and apply to avoid delays.” A homestead exemption significantly reduces the amount of annual property taxes homeowners owe on their legal residence. Special exemptions are additional tax savings…

STONECREST, GA—On Sunday, Feb. 2, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Jamal H. Bryant delivered a passionate sermon calling on the “conscientious Christian community” across the country to join a 40-day fast from Target. The fast,  coincides with Lent, which begins on March 4 and will last until April 16, marking a period of prayer and fasting in the Christian church.  The nationally-known pastor blasted several corporations that have announced their stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, particularly Target, which he said is backing away from its commitment DEI. DEI programs, which were introduced in 1965 under President…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—The Gwinnett County Board of Education (BOE) has decided to cut ties with Superintendent Calvin J. Watts, who became the first black superintendent of Georgia’s largest school district when he was appointed in July 2021.  The decision to end Watts’ contract, effective April 1, 2025, came after a special executive session on Friday, Jan. 31, in which the board voted 3-2 to terminate his leadership early. His contract was set to expire in July 2026.  The board did not state a reason for Watts’ termination with  BOE Chair Adrienne Simmons only  saying that new leadership is needed to move the school district forward.  Simmons and board…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Gwinnett County jury found a Lilburn man guilty of sexually assaulting an acquaintance at gunpoint after a jealous encounter. Santos Edgardo Amaya-Bonilla, 52, was convicted of three counts of rape, five counts of aggravated sodomy, and two counts of aggravated assault for incidents that occurred in March 2020. He was sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms.  “The victim of the defendant’s criminal acts received justice,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “The jury returned a verdict in under an hour to give this victim the justice she deserves.” On March 24, 2020, Santos Edgardo Amaya-Bonilla went to the victim’s…

STONECREST, GA – As corporations and federal agencies scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Senior Pastor  Jamal Harrison Bryant is stepping forward with a bold national response. On Sunday, Feb. 2, at 9:30 a.m., Dr. Bryant will deliver a high-impact announcement outlining a strategic push to counteract these rollbacks and protect resources for historically marginalized communities. This critical address will take place during New Birth’s widely viewed Sunday service, available for live streaming on YouTube (@newbirthmbc1).  New Birth is located at 6400 Woodrow Rd. in Stonecrest.

CONYERS, GA—The city of Conyers plans  to opt-in to House Bill 581, commonly known as the “Save the Homes” Act. This legislative measure was passed by the Georgia General Assembly and subsequently approved by a majority of Georgia voters in a statewide referendum held in November 2024. The majority of Conyers and Rockdale County residents also voted in favor of the bill’s tenets. “The Conyers City Council and its staff have long been committed to the most fiscally conservative use of taxpayers funds and opting-in to support House Bill 581 is the best course of action for our community at…

ATLANTA – Members of the DeKalb County House Legislative Delegation recently elected its  leadership team for the 2025-2026 legislative term. State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) was elected Chair of the delegation. State Representative Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) was elected Vice Chair and State Representative Long Tran (D-Dunwoody) was elected Secretary.  “It is a privilege to continue serving as Chair of this outstanding delegation,” said Rep. Drenner. “DeKalb County is home to some of Georgia’s most diverse and dynamic communities, and our delegation remains committed to advancing policies that promote equity, economic growth and quality of life for all residents.…

STONECREST, GA– As food prices continue to soar, The King’s Table at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is stepping up to support families in need.   On Saturday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m., New Birth will host its first free food distribution at 6400 Woodrow Rd. in Stonecrest, GA, providing 1,000 families with essential groceries on a first-come, first-serve basis. The distribution, organized in a drive-thru format, will include fresh produce, protein, and shelf-stable pantry items to help households struggling to keep up with rising grocery costs.  “Food insecurity continues to grip families across our region as inflation outpaces wages…

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr has filed a brief opposing taxpayer-funded sex change operations for state prisoners. Joining Carr in filing the brief are 23 other states’ attorney generals: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.  In addition to the brief concerning state prisoners, Carr has taken roughly 50 legal actions to prevent taxpayer-funded gender reassignment surgeries of Georgia’s children, his office stated.  “Taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill for sex changes,” said Carr. “We’re proud to stand…