Author: On Common Ground News

CONYERS, GA – Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) invites the best and the brightest to meet the district’s  forward-thinking team at the RCPS Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m,. at the RCPS Board Room, 960 Pine Street NE, Conyers. Participants must pre-register by visiting www.rockdaleschools.org/jobfair. The school district is seeking outstanding candidates for teaching positions in the 2026-2027 school year. All 22 RCPS schools will be represented and interviews will be held during the Teacher Job Fair. RCPS has 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three traditional high schools, a virtual campus for grades 6-12 and five…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–The Gwinnett County Police Department will host a police officer hiring event Friday, Feb. 20, from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturday Feb. 21, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prior to attending the event, candidates must submit an application. Once an application has been received, an investigator will call to set up an appointment time for the event. Those who have submitted applications but do not have an appointment are still welcome, although wait times will be longer. You are not required to attend both days of the hiring event. The process can take several hours, so…

LILBURN, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department Homicide Unit has charged Shermarcus Cockran, 31, of Lilburn, in connection with the death of a 17-year-old male. On Feb. 5, at approximately 11 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 4300 block of Stone Mountain Highway in reference to a person shot call in unincorporated Lilburn. Upon arrival, officers found a juvenile male deceased from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. Cockran told detectives that he had returned to the location after going to a gun range.  He began to clean his firearm, and it discharged a round into the wall of…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County Police Department officials plan to hold the final meeting in a series of Town Halls looking at the results of 2025 crimefighting efforts and DKPD’s goals for 2026.  The Town Hall for South Precinct is scheduled for Feb. 12, 6-8 p.m., at Columbia Drive United Methodist Church, 2067 Columbia Drive, Decatur.  “We hope the community can join us to learn about how DeKalb County Police are working to keep their neighborhoods safe,” officials said in a statement. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced today, Feb. 5,  that more than $11 million in Community Project Funding he secured for Georgia’s 4th District is in the final FY2026 spending bills approved by Congress and signed into law by the president this week. The funding will directly address some of the most pressing needs across the district, which encompasses most of DeKalb County and parts of Gwinnett County. Cities within the Fourth District include Stonecrest, Lithonia, Stone Mountain, Clarkston, Tucker, Doraville, Chamblee and Dunwoody in DeKalb County and Peachtree Corners, Norcross, and Duluth in Gwinnett County.  “Taking care…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA —The suspect connected to a shooting that occurred inside the Decatur Library on Monday, February. 2, afternoon has been taken into custody, ccording to the Decatur Police Department. Medicus Brown, 44, has been taken into custody and faces charges of aggravated assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Authorities located Brown at the Live Long Hotel, located near Memorial Drive and Rockbridge Road. Brown was wanted on charges of aggravated assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He is currently being…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of its new Teen Tech Center on Thursday, Feb.19, at 10 a.m. at the Hamilton Recreation Center, 3262 Chapel Street, Scottdale, GA. The Teen Tech Center is designed to provide teens with hands-on access to technology creative tools that support academic success, career exploration, and digital literacy. Programming at the center will include coding, 3D printing, music production, and podcasting, along with opportunities for digital media creation. “This center gives teens a platform to create, innovate, and express themselves”, said Paige…

DECATUR, GA— The DeKalb County Board of Registration & Elections (DeKalb BRE) will hold its scheduled meeting on Thursday, Feb., 12, at 4:30 p.m. for the purpose of conducting normal business. This meeting will be conducted in person at 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Public comments may be made in person or submitted by sending an email of one printed page or less at a minimum font of 12 to electionspubliccmnt@dekalbcountyga.gov . The e-mail must be received between 35 and 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting. The body of the email must include your first and last name.

DECATUR, GA – On Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m., Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is holding his 7th Annual Unsung Heroes Awards program, honoring 16 residents for their positive contributions to Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District. Since 2019, Congressman Johnson has recognized nearly 120 constituents who go above and beyond to volunteer their time and energy in service to their community.  The honorees include community leaders in five categories: Diamond of the District: Individuals, entities and/or organizations that serve the district through advocating on behalf of faith-based organizations, schools, municipalities or disadvantaged communities. Ms. Nadine Ali is the founder and executive director of…

BROOKHAVEN, GA — A Compassionate Police Department Award is on the way to the Brookhaven Police Department from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA).  The nonprofit organization is honoring Brookhaven police officers for their swift action in rescuing a 3-month-old puppy that reportedly was beaten on a livestream social media post by rapper Aspen Easternling.  In the video, the 19-year-old Easterling, a Twitch streamer also known as Aspen Kartier, appears to strike the wailing puppy repeatedly and then grabs the pup by the skin on its back. After receiving information from PETA, the police department searched Easterling’s home on Jan. 30 and booked…