Author: On Common Ground News

  OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE DeKalb County, GA – Larry Johnson, a seasoned and dedicated public servant, continues to gain momentum in his bid for DeKalb Chief Executive Officer. With an unparalleled history of electoral success, Johnson is the only candidate in the race to have won six consecutive elections in DeKalb County, demonstrating his unwavering commitment and effective leadership. Endorsements from Georgia’s Democratic leaders Larry Johnson’s political strength is underscored by the endorsements from prominent Georgia Democratic leaders. His supporters include Congressman Hank Johnson, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, former Atlanta…

ATLANTA—With temperatures expected to soar to 100 degrees this weekend in the metro Atlanta area, officials are announcing the opening of cooling shelters to help people beat the heat.  They’re providing water to ensure people stay hydrated. The City of Atlanta will open a cooling center on Saturday, June 15, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.  and Sunday, June 16, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. The cooling center will be located at Selena Butler Park and Recreation Center, 98 WM Holmes Borders Drive SE, Atlanta. Water will be provided to residents while in the cooling center. Rockdale County officials also are opening cooling centers  this weekend. A cooling center will…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA-The DeKalb County Schools District (DCSD) today announced a new partnership with the Georgia Aquarium to  provide K-12 students the opportunity to explore marine science. The Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics  (STEM) initiative is one that also will help students better understand socio-environmental issues affecting their communities. The DeKalb Board of Education approved a Memorandum of Understanding(  MOU) with the Georgia Aquarium at the board’s June 10 meeting. The MOU partnership runs July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Officials stated that DCSD’s investment in this initiative will not exceed $487,900. Officials say the partnership supports the district’s mission to…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA –Approximately 20 acres of I-20 and I-85 interchanges, including Chamblee Tucker and Flat Shoals Roads, have or will receive multi-million dollar facelifts. The interchanges and roadways are among the most highly traveled highways in DeKalb County, officials said. “These enhanced gateways will create positive first impressions of our county for tens of thousands of travelers,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. “No matter where you enter or leave DeKalb—north, south, east or west—these beautified gateways will send a message that DeKalb County is a beautiful place to live, work and play.” The Gateway Beautification Project is designed to…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County Governing Authority announced its intention to increase 2024 property taxes this year by 11.08 percent over the rollback millage rate. DeKalb County has six separate tax levies. Two of those levies (the general and hospital funds) are used in the required calculation for the rollback rate. The other tax levies (police, fire, designated, and the special tax district bond fund), when combined with the general and hospital levies, produce the same benchmark millage rate of 20.810 mills from last year. The combined millage rate for the general and hospital funds will exceed the rollback millage…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA—Albert White will take the stage in Stone Mountain Village on Friday, June 14. The free concert, which continues the 2024 Spring Tunes by the Tracks series, takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. The outdoor concerts are held rain or shine (unless severe weather) and features local indie artists, performing on a stage in the municipal parking lot on Main Street. The series kicked off on May 3 and the last performance in the series will be Rae & the Royal Peacocks on Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair. There will be beer, wine, and sodas available for purchase.…

 LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Gwinnett County jury on Wednesday found a former Doraville Police officer guilty of killing a 16-year-old girl and dumping her body in the Dacula woods after abducting her as she walked to her home.  Miles Bryant, 23, was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and misdemeanor false report of a crime for the July 2022 death of Susana Morales. Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Tamela Adkins sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 12 months.  “We are profoundly sad for the Morales family,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “The despicable…

Image of a Gwinnett County transit bus via Gwinnett County(not the actual bus involved in the hijacking. ATLANTA, GA—Transit union officials are blasting the Gwinnett County Transit agency after a passenger was fatally shot on Tuesday (June 11) during a terrifying bus hijacking by an armed gunman who forced the bus driver to cross Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties. Authorities have identified the hijacker as Joseph Grier, 39, a felon with 19 previous arrests. The identity of the passenger, who died after being taken to a hospital, has not been released.  The hijacking started around 4:30 p.m. in downtown Atlanta and spanned…

CEO candidate unites local leaders on a platform of good government, public safety, economic development and delivering for all DeKalb residents by focusing on people and not politics.   DEKALB COUNTY, GA – DeKalb County CEO Candidate Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is proud to formally release a distinguished list of enthusiastic local leaders united in support of her campaign for DeKalb County CEO. This list comes on the first day of early voting in the run-off election, where she seeks to become only the second woman to lead DeKalb County as CEO. Cochran-Johnson distinguished herself as the front-runner in a three-way-race against two fellow…