Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA —The Atlanta City Council approved a resolution authorizing a $2 million donation to the nonprofit Star-C Corporation to support the continued administration of an eviction diversion program for low-income city residents. Since its launch in December 2023, Star-C has prevented the displacement of more than 220 families (24-R-3708). Other items that the Council adopted on July 1 include: An ordinance amending 23-O-1656 relating to “excess vacation” hours and “vacation extra carryover” hours occurring during and since the COVID-19 pandemic (24-O-1342). This item was sent to the Mayor post-haste. An ordinance ratifying the City’s application for $15 million from the U.S.…

DEKALB COUNTY–DeKalb County State Court, Division B, will host the Traffic Violators Impact Program(“TVIP”) on Thursday, July 11, 5:30 until 7 p.m. in courtroom B-8 of the DeKalb County State Court, Division B,  3630 Camp Circle, Decatur. The DeKalb County State Court hosts quarterly TVIP presentations for young drivers charged with traffic violations to raise awareness of the dangers of risky driving behaviors. Drivers charged with offenses including, but not limited to, high speeding tickets, texting while driving, or causing an accident by violating the rules of the road, will gather to hear and watch stories of young people who thought a serious crash would never happen to them, but learned the tragic consequences of taking risks and failing to pay attention while driving. Courts and prosecutors in many jurisdictions send attendees to complete TVIP for traffic citations in addition to Department of Driver Services-approved driver improvement courses. For more information, visit www.tvip.org. Participants may register online or in person at the event. There is a $50 fee for…

CONYERS, GA—Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) employees will see a range of salary increases in the 2024-2025 school year with the recently approved FY25 budget that focused on addressing student needs and remaining competitive with recruitment and retention of teachers and support staff. The Rockdale County Board of Education approved the FY25 budget of $221,929,321 at its June 27 meeting. In the state budget, the governor provided teachers with a $2,500 raise which RCPS extended to all certified staff. In addition, all certified staff will receive a step increase. This equates to a salary increase between 5% – 7% for…

ATLANTA—The Georgia Department of Transportation is reminding the public to plan travel to the July 4th fireworks shows accordingly to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday celebration. Motorists are encouraged to plan, as traffic and road closures are expected near fireworks displays. Be aware of alternative routes to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Many cities and towns throughout Georgia will host fireworks shows in the evening. The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Peachtree Road Race on July 4 also could cause delays.For detailed information on road closures for the Peachtree Road Race, please refer to the official race website. Plan your travels accordingly to ensure a…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is suspending lane closures on Georgia interstates and state routes for the upcoming July 4th holiday weekend. The suspension will begin at 12 p.m. (noon) on Wednesday, July 3, and continue until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 7. During this period, construction-related lane closures will be on hold to facilitate smoother travel. However, Georgia DOT urges travelers to remain cautious, as crews may still be working near highways, and some long-term lane closures may still be in place due to safety considerations. Additionally, lane closures for incident management or emergency maintenance may occur…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County Cooperative Extension 4-H has opened registration for its exciting summer Ag Camp, which will be held July 8-12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the E.M.B.A.R.C. Youth Farm, 1185 Rock Chapel Road, in unincorporated Lithonia. E.M.B.A.R.C. is the acronym for Education, Market, Botanicals, Agriculture and Recreational Center and is the former site of the Bransby Outdoor Y. The free camp is open to students in grades 4 – 12 and will offer an array of outdoor activities including arts and crafts, pollinator activities, hikes, gardening, seed dispersal contests, and Solar S’mores. Space is limited. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/DeKalbCounty4-HEMBARC2024.…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department has secured 54 warrants for two suspects who shoplifted from nine Mall of Georgia stores and is seeking the public’s help in locating the women. On June 22, officers assigned to the North precinct responded to the Dick’s Sporting Goods store located at 3333 Buford Drive inside the Mall of Georgia. A store representative called 911 and reported observing two female suspects shoplifting large quantities of merchandise. The suspects left the store on foot and headed towards a white passenger vehicle parked just outside the store. When confronted by the store representative,…

All offices closed July 4 in observance of Independence Day DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In observance of Independence Day, the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office will be closed for the holiday on Thursday, July 4 and will resume regular business hours on Friday, July 5. As residents prepare to travel this holiday, vehicle owners are reminded to plan ahead and renew their registration early to avoid delays. “Ensuring your vehicle registration is current should be on your travel checklist before any road trip, whether it’s local or long distance,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson. “Driving with an expired car tag,…