Author: On Common Ground News

With heavy hearts, we share that our beloved father, Dr. Thomas L. Coleman, passed away peacefully this morning. “The memory of the righteous is a blessing.” Proverbs 10:7 Our father lived a life defined by service, integrity, and love for his family and community. From his military service to his work with the Department of Juvenile Justice and his community leadership,  he was deeply committed to helping others and leaving every place better than he found it. The values he instilled in us, faith, discipline, compassion, and justice, shaped who we are, both personally and professionally. Any good we have…

ATLANTA – As a winter storm continues to move across the state, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is actively responding to changing conditions and monitoring impacts statewide.  Snow is currently falling in several north and northeast Georgia counties, and additional bands of snow are expected to move farther south and east as the storm continues to evolve. Updated forecasts suggest that some locations previously expected to receive heavier snowfall may see little to no snow or reduced accumulations, while other areas remain at risk for winter weather impacts. Georgians are urged to remain apprised of local conditions and not assume roads are clear in…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA — The Rockdale County Clerk of Courts Janice Morris will host a free public program on Real Estate Law as part of the 2026 Law Library Speaker Series on Saturday, Feb. 7, 10:30 a.m. to noon, at the Rockdale County Auditorium, 903 North Main St. N.W., Conyers. The event will feature Attorney Karen Scott, founder of The Scott Law Firm, as the guest speaker. Scott will discuss common legal issues related to real estate and answer questions during this interactive session. The program is designed for homeowners, renters, buyers, sellers, and anyone interested in learning more about real…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—  The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office has released a forensic facial image of a deceased child believed to be about  years old and is seeking the public’s help in its investigation.  On Nov. 14, 2025, the Sheriff’s Office responded to a wooded area near Honey Creek Road and Tucker Mill Road after receiving a call from an individual who discovered skeletal remains. Upon arrival, deputies confirmed the skeletal remains to be human. It has been determined that the skeletal remains belong to a child no older than 8 years old. A forensic facial approximation was conducted to create a photo of the…

STONECREST, GA—Dozens of Arabia Mountain High School students held an anti-ICE demonstration on the school’s football field on Friday, Jan. 30, showing solidarity with nationwide protests following two recent fatal shootings involving federal  immigration agents in Minneapolis Minnesota. Arabia’s students chanted “No more ICE,”as they rallied on Friday around 11:30 a.m. Students had planned a walkout, according to social media posts. School, officials, however, permitted the peaceful demonstration on campus.  The high school protest followed growing public outrage in the wake of the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good, 37,  on Jan. 7 and that of Minneapolis resident Alex Pratt on…

ATLANTA – Gov.Brian P. Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency today ahead of this weekend’s winter storm. This is a separate executive order from the one issued on January 22 ahead of Winter Storm Fern. Governor Kemp also directed the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC), beginning at noon today. The current State of Emergency will run through February 6 and can be found here. “While Mother Nature may not be giving us a break with these back-to-back storms, the good news is we don’t take any days off when it comes to…

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson attended the Georgia Trend Influential Leaders Luncheon at the Georgia Aquarium to receive her award as one of the 2026 100 Most Influential Georgians. The annual event honors leaders from across Georgia representing a range of industries and sectors, including government, business, education, healthcare, and nonprofit service. The recognition highlights individuals whose leadership and impact are shaping communities and driving progress statewide. “I’m grateful to be recognized by Georgia Trend as one of the 2026 100 Most Influential Georgians,” CEO Cochran-Johnson shared.

UPDATE: DeKalb County warming centers to extend operations through the Feb. 8  Due to continued  freezing temperatures and hazardous wind chills, DeKalb County will activate warming centers beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, continuing through Sunday, Feb. 8, releasing individuals at 10:00 a.m. UPDATE: DeKalb County warming centers extend opening through Tuesday, Feb. 3  DECATUR, GA – Due to forecasted freezing temperatures and hazardous wind chills, DeKalb County will activate warming centers beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, continuing through Monday, Feb. 2. The following locations will be open for the 24-hour activation:   Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Road SE, Atlanta St.…

Livestream: https://www.conyersga.com/government/city-government/council-meetings/ CONYERS, GA– Conyers  City Council is moving to a new meeting format beginning in February 2026 and will be introducing work sessions as part of its meeting schedule once a month. The City Council will hold a work session on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. Work sessions will offer the mayor and all council members the opportunity to weigh in and collaboratively discuss various topics or projects prior to being introduced at the regular city council meeting, which will occur on the third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will cancel/reschedule all weekend activities for January 31-February 1, 2026, due to the potential for winter weather and hazardous road conditions. Friday activities will continue as planned except for those held out-of-town with an expected late Friday night return. Please check with your coach, teacher advisor, or school administrator with questions about specific Friday night activities. Weather experts advise there will be extreme cold temperatures below freezing for an extended period. Please prepare now to protect your family and pets during these extreme conditions.  Todas las actividades de RCPS programadas para el sábado…