Author: On Common Ground News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), announced June 2 that he received an “A” from the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) for consistently introducing and supporting bills and policies that strengthen America’s IP framework. “Intellectual property laws protect the rights of inventors and creators by granting them patents, trademarks, and copyrights,” said Johnson.  “In doing so, these laws boost America’s competitiveness and export growth, create millions of jobs, and affect virtually every segment of the U.S. economy. In many ways, IP laws are the drivers of the American Dream. I will continue to focus on intellectual property policies that…

ATLANTA—Daniel Blackman, Democratic candidate for Georgia’s Public Service Commission District 3 seat, is officially back on the ballot after a Fulton County Superior Court judge issued an injunction on Friday, May 30, against the Secretary of State for disqualifying him.  Blackman has bounced on and off the ballot since Early Voting for the primary got underway this week. Blackman, one of four Democrats running in the June 17 Special Primary Election, initially was removed from the ballot after an administrative judge ruled on May 27—the first day of Early Voting—that he failed to meet the state’s 12-month residency requirement for…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Daquan Rashad Clarke, 37, and Troy Anthony Hunt, 44, will spend the rest of their lives in prison for targeting and killing the owner of a DeKalb County check cashing store.  Clarke was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 80 years, and Hunt was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 30 years.  A Gwinnett County jury on Friday found the two men guilty of two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, and four counts of violation of Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act for the…

STONECREST, GA– The City of Stonecrest has announced its intention to increase the 2025 property taxes it will levy this year by 1.53 percent over the rollback rate millage rate.  Each year, the board of tax accessors is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county. When the trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the board of tax assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA-The Rotary Club of Stone Mountain (RCSM) invites the community to its 60th Diamond Anniversary Jazz Brunch. The event will be held on June 7, 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., at Smoke Rise Country Club, 4900 Cheddar Drive, Stone Mountain. The celebration will honor the Rotary Club’s rich history of service and provide an exciting opportunity for community residents to join with the club in honoring and celebrating the Rotary Club’s past and present members, while welcoming future members of the club. The brunch will feature live music by the Toni Byrd Quartet in partnership with the Unity…

DECATUR, GA—Robert Olsen, an ex-DeKalb County Police Officer, has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in a negotiated  deal in the shooting death of unarmed Air Force veteran Anthony Hill, 26, closing a decade-long legal battle including appeals that reached the Georgia Supreme Court.  On  May 28, Olsen, 63, entered the guilty plea to the charge of Aggravated Assault in connection with the 2015 death of Hill, who was in the midst of a mental health crisis when Olsen shot him outside of the Chamblee Tucker Road apartment complex where Hill lived.    “It has been more than a decade since Anthony Hill’s…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) Class of 2025 earned $200,807,198 in college scholarship offers, shattering previous records with a whopping 378 percent increase ($42 million) over last year.  Superintendent Devon Q. Horton announced the achievement during DCSD’s graduation ceremonies last week at Georgia State University’s Convocation Center. “We are incredibly proud of our DeKalb County Schools Class of 2025 graduates and their impressive scholarship earnings,” Horton said. “Their success shows what’s possible when adults create Intentional systems that empower students to thrive. Being purposeful truly makes all the difference.” Under Horton’s leadership, DCSD introduced the Post-Secondary P.U.S.H. Plan to increase…

The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold the 1st public budget presentation and 1st millage rate hearing to solicit feedback from the public regarding the 2025-2026 school system’s budget on Friday, May 30, 2025. The public presentation and hearing is in-person and will be held in the J. David Williamson Board Room, Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083. 10:00 am     1st PUBLIC BUDGET PRESENTATION                      1st MILLAGE RATE HEARING                     COMMUNITY INPUT – BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATE                        The meeting agenda…

LITHONIA, GA—The DeKalb County Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect wanted in connection with fatality at a residence on Rock Springs Road. Police said the incident occurred on May 16 at 5410 Rock Springs Road. The male pictured entered the home around 7:15 p.m. armed with an assault rifle.  Surveillance video shows this male and another suspect exit the house several times and place property into a silver SUV. They left the scene and, a few minutes later, the home’s resident went outside with a gunshot wound to his back. He collapsed and died on…