Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA— Advancing efforts to promote Black entrepreneurship and economic justice, Dr. Jamal Bryant is celebrating Juneteenth with a two-day pop-up marketplace spotlighting more than 100 Black-owned businesses.  The Juneteenth celebration will take place Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, June 22, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at New Birth’s Samson Family Life Center in Stonecrest. The event is open to the public and will feature a wide range of Black-owned businesses offering fashion, wellness, home goods, gourmet products, and more, alongside live entertainment, giveaways, and family-friendly activities. A limited number of vendor opportunities remain…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Following recent protests on Chamblee-Tucker Road and across the region, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has reaffirmed her commitment to protecting the right to lawful protest while announcing a comprehensive review of law enforcement actions taken during the demonstrations. She also urged caution and clarity in public discourse, recognizing the emotionally charged environment unfolding locally and nationwide. “We will always uphold the right to peacefully protest in DeKalb County,” said Cochran-Johnson. “At the same time, we have a responsibility to protect the safety of our residents, our officers, and the broader community. I stand firmly by my earlier…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA- DeKalb County is mourning the deaths of a woman and a young girl who were shot to death during a domestic disturbance at the Forest of Columbia Apartments in South DeKalb this past weekend.  The suspect, William Lewis Almond, 48, who is now in custody, is the estranged husband of Tomika Pullins, 29, and the uncle of Dior Scott, 7, who were gunned down inside an apartment on Friday, June 13.  DeKalb County Police responded to a call about a double shooting around 2:48 p.m. at the Forest of Columbia Apartments, located in the 2500 block of Columbia…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections will hold a Special Called Meeting on Wednesday, June 18, at 10 a.m. to conduct a pre-certification review of precinct results, as required by State Election Board Rule 183-1-12-.12. The meeting will take place in person at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur. The public may submit comments for consideration, which may be made in person during the meeting or submitted by email. Emails must be one printed page or less, in a minimum 12-point font, and include the sender’s first and last name in the body of the…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Voter Registrations and Elections is notifying voters of changes to several polling locations ahead of the 2025 Special Primary Election. These changes affect multiple precincts across the county and are effective immediately. Precinct cards with the new voting location were mailed to voters impacted by these updates. Residents can also find their assigned polling place at the Georgia Secretary of State’sMy Voter Page. Polling location changes are as follows: Precinct 003 Former Location: Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula New Location: Dacula United Methodist Church, 2655 Fence Road NE, Dacula Precinct 022 Former Location: Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church,…

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a finance committee meeting on Monday, June 23, at 4 p.m., followed by a regular meeting at 4:30 p.m. The meetings will be held at Darro C. Willey–Administrative Center, 3560 Kensington Rd., Decatur, GA 

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Atlanta rapper Silento–Ricky Lamar Hawk, 27—was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday (June 11) for the Jan. 21, 2021 shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III, 34.  Hawk, whose 2015 song, “Watch Me (Whip Nae Nae)” created a dance craze that went viral, was scheduled to stand trial this week but instead took a plea deal, downgrading his charges of malice murder charges.  Hawk pleaded guilty but mentally ill to Voluntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime,and Concealing the Death of Another in connection with the death, DeKalb…