Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Rockdale County Commissioner Sherri Washington of Rockdale County has been appointed to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Local Leadership Housing Action Committee (LLHAC), a group of local leaders committed to addressing housing affordability issues. Washington joins the committee for the upcoming 2024 season after two years of successful initiatives. ARC’s LLHAC comprises city and county commissioners and mayors dedicated to enhancing housing affordability in metro Atlanta. Committee members will convene monthly, both virtually and in person, engaging in the following activities: Open and detailed discussions about the challenges of addressing housing issues within their local jurisdictions Deepening…

DECATUR,GA—DeKalb County has launched a new, modern customer water billing system. With the new implementation, customers will need to register for the new customer payment portal with their new account number at:  myaccount.dekalbcountyga.gov. An added benefit of the new system is that there are no customer fees for submitting payments online or via phone. New water bills include the updated account numbers and payment instructions. New water billing account numbers are also being mailed to all water customers. Customers who were registered for the previous portal will receive an email from Invoice Cloud (welcome@invoicecloud.com) containing their new account numbers. If customers wish…

DUNWOODY, GA – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) presented Dunwoody High School senior Annie Peng with the Congressional Award Bronze and Silver Medals on Jan. 26. Peng earned the recognition by achieving personal goals focused on volunteerism, character development, and fitness. Peng is this year’s only recipient of the Congressional Award in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District. “I believe the Congressional Award is particularly important because it encourages commitment to public service in our young people,” said Johnson. “Generation Z has spent a better part of their adolescent and young adult years engaging politically to ensure that all people have a right…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–  Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Terry Oatts, with support from the Rockdale County Board of Education, extended a $1,000 retention supplement provided by the state for educators to cover all full-time RCPS employees.  The recent $1,000 retention supplement provided by the state for educators was a welcome development for the district. However, the funding did not cover all full-time employees. This decision made by Oatts with the support of the Board of Education remedied the situation.    “I generally commend the Governor for his commitment to increasing teacher compensation, and specifically commend him for extending funds for…

ATLANTA—Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said on Thursday, Jan. 25, that Atlanta recorded an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent in November, down three-tenths from a revised 3.1 percent in November. A year ago, the rate was 2.6 percent.  “Georgia’s success story is nothing short of phenomenal, boasting a blockbuster year with over 5.1 million hardworking Georgians driving our state forward,” said Thompson. “As existing businesses scale new heights and a steady influx of new enterprises proudly choose Georgia as their home, the Peach State appears headed toward continued economic success.”  The labor force decreased in Atlanta by 15,762 and ended the month with 3,258,356.…

DECATUR, GA–DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is partnering with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to support Soldiers’ Angels food distributions for veterans, active military, guards, and reservists in 2024. The DeKalb County-sponsored food distributions will take place on Jan. 26 and Feb. 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Atlanta VA Arcadia Clinic, 250 North Arcadia Avenue, Decatur.  Registration for the Jan. 26 event is closed. Each recipient will receive approximately 75 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and non-perishable food items packed by volunteers and loaded into cars, pushcarts, or backpacks to 200 pre-registered veteran and military-connected families. “Veterans…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA–Gwinnett County Police detectives need the public’s help in identifying the suspect and the victim in a shooting that took place in the parking lot of the Shell Gas Station at 5260 Stone Mountain Highway. The shooting occurred on Jan. 16, around 8 p.m. Officers at the South Precinct responded to an aggravated domestic call of a suspect firing multiple rounds in gas station parking lot. Police said that a witness called 911 stating that someone was shooting in the parking lot of the Shell Gas Station. Officers arrived and spoke to a witness who stated a male got…

ATLANTA – State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale), Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta), Edna Jackson (D-Savannah) and Terry Cummings (D-Mableton) recently introduced House Resolution 817, which recognizes Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Day—Delta Day—at the Capitol. The group of legislators also issued the following statement: “Today, as we gather to celebrate ‘Delta Day’ at the Capitol, we stand united as Delta sisters, carrying forward the torch of academic excellence and service to our communities. Let us honor the remarkable women who laid the foundation of our sisterhood and continue their legacy with pride and purpose.” The…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will partner with Georgia State University’s College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) to help reduce the teacher shortage in Georgia. The Pathways to Teacher Credentialing Project will give provisionally licensed teachers who are currently in the classroom and paraprofessionals with bachelor’s degrees in RCPS the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, which will prepare them to become certified teachers of record. At the same time, licensed and certified classroom teachers will earn a Master of Education degree to enhance their skills and advance in their careers. RCPS teachers…