Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— A nine-hour operation by DeKalb County Police led to the arrests of two suspects and the seizure of multiple weapons, drugs and cash during coordinated raids on three homes on Oct. 1. DeKalb County S.W.A.T., K9 and aerial support executed search warrants at the following locations: 1700 block of Mountain Industrial Boulevard 400 block of Chartley Trail 1700 block of Stoney Creek Inside, investigators found ecstasy, cocaine, fentanyl, meth, marijuana, two rifles, three handguns and thousands of dollars in cash. Police arrested Alexis Terrell, 42, and Matthew Diggs, 32, on multiple charges.  DKPD’s Narcotics and Gang Units led the…

ATLANTA —The City of Atlanta has announced the launch of ATL BIZ, a modern, user-friendly online platform that will replace ATL CORE as the city’s primary portal for business services. The updated system is designed to streamline processes and better support the needs of Atlanta’s business community. “We are proud to provide this new way of doing business with the City of Atlanta for our business community. ATL BIZ offers Atlanta businesses a modern, more user-friendly and intuitive way to meet their finance needs,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “This furthers our Administration’s mission of making it easier to connect with our business…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested a suspect in connection with the recent homicide of a Decatur, Georgia resident. Talisha Moore-Real, age 34, of College Park, Georgia, has been charged with Murder and Aggravated Assault, both felony offenses.  According to arrest warrants, on Sept. 29, Moore-Real allegedly struck 47-year-old Laquita Baker with a silver SUV and subsequently ran over her at the Gulf American Inns on Flat Shoals Road in Decatur, resulting in Baker’s death. Moore-Real was taken into custody without incident at a gas station located at 5022 Old National Highway in Atlanta. She…

CONYERS, GA—The Celebration of Life service for Judge Ronald B. Ramsey, Sr. will be held on Friday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Springfield Baptist Church, 1877 Iris Drive SE, Conyers, GA, the family announced in its online obituary published on Legacy.com on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Family, friends and colleagues are invited to gather in remembrance of Judge Ramsey’s impactful journey and to share in moments of reflection and gratitude. The Rev. Eric Wendel Lee, Sr. will deliver the eulogy. Arrangements entrusted to Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory South DeKalb Chapel.  Following the service, a repast will take…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Rockdale County Public Schools’ (RCPS) graduation rate rose to an all-time high of 89.52% with the Class of 2025, eclipsing last year’s rate as the highest ever since Georgia began calculating the federally-required four-year graduation cohort rate.  For the third year in a row, RCPS also topped the state average, which came in at 87.2 %. The Georgia Department of Education recently released the 2025 Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rates for the state and RCPS increased its rate by .77 percentage points over last year’s 88.75%. “We are committed to ensuring every student crosses the graduation stage prepared for…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is celebrating another year of academic progress as its Class of 2025 achieved an 85.4% graduation rate—the district’s highest rate in a decade for the second consecutive year.   According to the Georgia Department of Education, Gwinnett’s Class of 2025’s four-year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate rose from the district’s Class of 2024 from 84.1%.  Federal guidelines stipulate that the rates are based on the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class. From the beginning of…

TONE MOUNTAIN, GA – The DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) graduation rate rose to 81.4 percent in 2025, marking a 2.7 point increase from the previous year and its highest rate in more than a decade. Four schools—DeKalb Early College Academy, Arabia Mountain High School, DeKalb School of the Arts, and Tapestry Public Charter—celebrated a 100% graduation rate.  Eighteen of 23 high schools (78%) improved their rates, with six schools showing remarkable double-digit gains, officials said. Elizabeth Andrews High School led with a 28.8-point increase, while Lithonia High School (+12.1) and Cross Keys High School (+9.4) also made historic progress. This progress allows Cross Keys…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County Elections Supervisor Cynthia Willingham has released the sample ballots and key information for citizens in the City of Conyers and Rockdale County to prepare for upcoming elections.    The City of Conyers will have elections for the office of mayor,  and City Council District 2 and District 3 seats. Only registered voters in each district will be eligible to cast ballots for the Nov. 4 municipal elections.  City voters’ ballots also will include the statewide Public Service Commission(PSC) Districts 2 and 3 races. There are 12,356 eligible city voters, Willingham stated. City elections are decided by…