Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA — Several items were introduced during the Jan. 5 organizational meeting of the City Council that will be considered in committee next week, including: An ordinance requiring primary, street-fronting pedestrian entrances of all buildings, except for single-family and two-family structures, to provide push-button activators that enable easy access to buildings and public spaces for people with disabilities and mobility aids. An ordinance amending the Atlanta Sign Ordinance to change the definition of “public entertainment district” and allow, under certain circumstances, the use of projection and wrap signs upon Council activation of a public entertainment district in conjunction with large…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Darro C. Willey–Administrative Center, 3560 Kensington Road, Decatur. To listen in on the meeting,  request the link from weissingera@dekalblibrary.org no later than Jan. 12 at noon. For more details and the agenda, click here.

ATLANTA — Council President Marci Collier Overstreet announced the 2026 committee chairpersons and appointments during the first organizational meeting of the full Council on Monday. City Utilities Committee: Dustin Hillis – Chair Jason Dozier Liliana Bakhtiari Mary Norwood Kelsea Bond Alex Wan Andrea L. Boone City Utilities has jurisdiction over the following matters: Solid waste, sanitation, and recycling matters pertaining to the city’s cable service; city franchise agreements; the Metropolitan Atlanta River Protection Act; the Department of Watershed Management; the Department of Public Works; and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience. Community Development/Human Services: Matt Westmoreland – Chair Eshé…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into a police-involved fatal shooting that took place on Oct. 30 as authorities   seek  to identify the deceased suspect.   The Gwinnett County Police Department responded to a pursuit around 11:30 p.m. in the area of the 5700 block of Peachtree Industrial Blvd. regarding a vehicle that was involved in an incident in another jurisdiction. During the encounter, the suspect rammed a marked patrol vehicle, disabling it, and fled the area. Additional officers located the vehicle and initiated a pursuit. The pursuit came to an end when the suspect’s…

Homeowners encouraged to check their exemption status DECATUR,GA – DeKalb County homeowners who do not have a homestead exemption, or who may qualify for a senior, disabled veteran or disabled resident exemption, are encouraged to apply online before the April 1 deadline Homestead exemptions provide a reduction in annual property taxes and are available to individuals who own and occupy the home in the county, including the City of Atlanta portion in DeKalb. Special exemptions are also available for eligible senior citizens ages 62 and older, disabled residents, disabled veterans or surviving spouse, surviving spouse of a U.S. service member,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — On Dec. 30, DeKalb County was transformed into a place of reflection, reverence, and unity as Buddhist monks traveling on a historic peace pilgrimage journeyed through the county, drawing thousands of residents from all walks of life to witness and participate in a moment of collective calm and purpose. The monks are on a months-long pilgrimage across the United States, traveling by foot from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C., with a mission centered on peace, compassion, forgiveness, and global unity. Their journey through Georgia marked a powerful chapter in that mission. The monks entered…

SAVANAH, GA – Savannah will take center stage in Georgia politics on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, as the Democratic Party of Chatham County hosts the Georgia Democratic Gubernatorial Forum, the first major forum of the election cycle featuring Democratic candidates seeking the state’s highest office. There are eleven declared Democratic candidates vying for Georgia’s top elected office. As of Tuesday, Dec. 30, the Georgia Campaign Finance System lists the following declared Democratic candidates: Akhenaten Hotep Amun Keisha Lance Bottoms Olujimi Wesley Brown Geoff Duncan Jason Esteves Derrick Lamarr Jackson Lucy McBath Justin Dekota Laster Michael Thurmond Benjamin Turner…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Buddhist monks will be coming to Snellville as part of the International Walk for Peace on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 1:30 p.m., continuing a global journey that promotes peace, reflection, and unity. Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson will formally welcome the monks and recognize the significance of the Walk for Peace during a public event at Wat Lao Buddha Khanti, located at 4052 Ozora Church Road SW. Chairwoman Hendrickson will be joined by state and local officials, along with spiritual leaders, who are expected to offer remarks emphasizing the importance of peace and cross-cultural understanding.…

DECATUR, GA – The City of Decatur invites community members, neighbors, and partners to attend a Peace Gathering on Tuesday, December 30 at 3 p.m. As part of the gathering, the City of Decatur will welcome 19 Buddhist monks who are currently walking more than 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. Their journey began on October 26 with a shared mission to promote peace, compassion, and connection. Decatur has been selected as a site of the group’s Peace Gathering for the state of Georgia. The event is open to the public and will include remarks, a moment…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has announced that the DeKalb County Police Department has received a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) grant for the 2026 grant year with an award total of $120,779.36. The DeKalb County Police Department’s HEAT Unit will use the grant to develop and implement strategies to reduce local traffic crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors.  “With the increase in the number of persons killed in traffic crashes in Georgia and across the nation over the last year, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with partners like DeKalb…