Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) released its list today recognizing 18 graduating seniors in the DeKalb County School District(DCSD) as 2025 Georgia Scholars.   The exceptional high school seniors are among 145 honorees statewide. As part of this prestigious distinction, each Georgia Scholar receives a special seal for their diploma and a commemorative graduation cord. “We are absolutely thrilled to see our students shine at the state level,” DCSD Superintendent Devon Q. Horton said. “These 18 young leaders have shown remarkable academic ability, dedication to their communities, and exemplary character throughout their high school journeys. They embody the best of…

DECATUR, GA—Congressman Hank Johnson’s Office is reminding constituents that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has changed its login system for online services, effective March 29, 2025. SSA is now requiring users to migrate their credentials to Login.gov  in order to access online services. Users will receive an option to sign in with an existing Login.gov or ID.me account. According to SSA, if the user opts to create a Login.gov account, they will be transferred to , where they will select the ‘create account’ option. After successfully creating their Login.gov account, their SSA account and Login.gov account will be linked, and they must use their Login.gov account to…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA –MARTA will temporarily close the bus loop at Indian Creek Station and relocate all buses to the Kiss & Ride starting Wednesday, April 2, for station improvement work. Bus and rail service will operate as scheduled. NEED TO KNOW: Bus and rail service schedules are not affected. The bus loop will be barricaded for safety and to prevent access. Faregates and the elevator will remain open. Clear signage and updates through MARTA’s website, app, and social media channels will provide guidance. The bus loop improvements are part of a broader effort to enhance the station, including platform,…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections meeting for the purpose of conducting its normal monthly business and to consider voter challenges will be held on Thursday, April 10, at 4:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted in person at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, and is open to the public. Public comments may be made in person or submitted by sending an email of one printed page or less at a minimum font size of 12 to: electionspubliccmnt@dekalbcountyga.gov .  The email must be received between 35 and 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the…

DECATUR, GA—Evariuel Martez Billings, 44, of Atlanta has been sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping a 20-year-old woman, sexually assaulting her and leading police on a chase.   DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the conviction by jury trial on Monday, March 31.  Jurors found Billings, 44, guilty of Kidnapping, Aggravated Sexual Battery, Aggravated Sodomy, Sexual Battery, and Fleeing Or Attempting To Elude A Police Officer For A Felony Offense in connection with the abduction and sexual assault on Aug.1, 2023.  According to the investigation, Billings approached the victim as she was sitting in a parked Volkswagen Jetta with the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb Police Department (DKPD) and other law enforcement agencies joined forces in conducting an Illegal Street Racing Enforcement Operation this past weekend.  The operation was conducted in various locations throughout DeKalb County and resulted in more than 11 arrests, 40 traffic citations and several weapons being seized. There were also 10 vehicles impounded.  DKPD is partnering with other state and local police departments in an ongoing effort to aggressively enforce traffic laws and address street racing. These efforts are being done to keep the streets safe from these dangerous violators, the DeKalb Police stated in a news…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A Norcross couple was convicted of manslaughter for the death of the woman’s 10-month-old son. Dennisa Mary Vega and Jahlin Javante Corey, both 33, were each found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and battery (two counts for Vega, the child’s mother, and one count for Corey) for the September 2019 death of young Amir Vega. A Gwinnett County jury also found Vega guilty of second-degree cruelty to children and found Corey guilty of two counts of aggravated battery. Corey received a sentence of 50 years, with 15 to serve in confinement, while Vega received a 21-year sentence with…

ATLANTA – Today, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1, the Riley Gaines Act of 2025, banning biological males from participating in women’s sports across the state. A top priority of House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) and Lt. Governor Burt Jones, the bill is rooted in legislative findings on protecting female athletics and ensuring fairness in sports for women. It follows the work of the Senate Special Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports, established by Lt. Governor Jones.   Both, Burns and Jones applauded the passage of the bill.  “Today, the General Assembly sent a clear message—biological men are not welcome in…

CONYERS, GA—Three local elected officials united to celebrate Women’s History Month with their inaugural event, “Women on Purpose,” honoring the contributions of several outstanding women in the Rockdale County community. Hosted by State Rep. Rhonda Taylor (District 92), Rockdale County Commissioner Tuwanya Smith (Post 1), and Conyers Councilmember Connie Alsobrook (District 2-Post 2), the March 16 celebration paid tribute to the resilience, leadership, and impact of women throughout Rockdale County. The evening opened with a warm welcome from Charlotte Booker and an invocation by Sandra Jackson-Lett, setting a tone of gratitude and celebration. The Rev. Darlene Smith served as the…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A major drug dealer was convicted of trafficking more than 17 kilograms of methamphetamine. A Gwinnett County jury on Friday, March 28, found Jose Luis Sandoval guilty of trafficking methamphetamine, after he was arrested with a cache of the illegal narcotic in June 2023 “Dangerous drugs like this are not tolerated in Gwinnett County,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “We are pleased with this result. Thank you to the jury for this verdict and to our team for closing this case.” Sandoval was sentenced to 30 years to serve 25 years in prison custody. On June 26,…