Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA– The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) and the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) jointly announced today that more than $54 million has been secured through the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget to support ongoing Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® redetermination processing as part of a new, short-term “surge” effort. The funding will support the engagement of contracted staffing, process improvement, and financial support to state eligibility workers. Officials also announced the expansion of its Express Lane Eligibility, and implementation of 12 months of continuous eligibility and enrollment to help ensure access and continuity of coverage for…

ATLANTA—The 40th Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball, hosted by Mayor Andre Dickens, doubled the previous record set with nearly $4 million for the United Negro College Fund, with additional contributions continuing to add to the total, organizers announced today (Dec. 19). The event was held on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. Established by former Mayor Andrew Young and Mrs. Billye Aaron, the Masked Ball has provided dream-building scholarships to deserving students and critical support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for decades. “Atlanta is proudly home to four of the 37 UNCF member institutions and last…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—In 2023, DeKalb County implemented several initiatives designed to strengthen the healthcare service delivery network for its residents. “We are already seeing successes from these enhancements,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. “Fewer patients are being turned away. More patients are being treated and discharged and are receiving better health outcomes because of these innovative initiatives.” The closure of WellStar Atlanta Medical Center in October 2022, disenrollment of more than 320,000 Georgia residents from Medicaid coverage and rising costs of healthcare prompted DeKalb to address a looming healthcare crisis in the county. The healthcare service delivery network was…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee overseeing the courts, and seven House colleagues sent a letter to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas this weekend urging him to recuse himself in the Trump immunity case. The letter highlights his wife’s “intimate involvement in the effort to overturn the 2020 election and to obstruct its certification – the very conspiracies at issue in this case,” the lawmakers wrote. “Your wife’s activities raise serious questions about your ability to be or even to appear impartial in any cases before the Supreme Court involving the 2020…

CONYERS, GA— Gina Bernard has been appointed Circuit Public Defender for the Rockdale Judicial Circuit. She was sworn in today (Dec. 18). Bernard will be responsible for managing all indigent defense cases in Rockdale County’s Juvenile, State, and Superior courts. Prior to her appointment, Bernard served as managing attorney for the East Metro Regional Alternate Public Defender. Georgia Public Defender Council Executive Director Omotayo Alli expressed her gratitude to and confidence in Bernard. “I am so pleased that Ms. Bernard has accepted the challenge of this leadership role,” Alli said. “She is an experienced litigator and attorney manager with 25…

2023 election cycle ends and 2024 preparation begins  DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections (BRE) on Dec. 11 certified results of the Dec. 5 general municipal runoffs.   More than 9,200 people, amounting to 12 percent of the county’s active and eligible voters, participated in the year’s final election. The elections covered five races spanning from a position on the Atlanta Board of Education to the mayor of Brookhaven and city council posts in Brookhaven, Doraville, and Stonecrest.   “We anticipate high turnout throughout next year’s series of elections,” said Keisha Smith, executive director of DeKalb County…

DECATUR, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case of a Decatur-area mother and son accused of pimping a woman for sex.  On Thursday, Dec. 15, a jury found Vanessa Woods, 53, and her son, Allan Sanchez Woods, 30, guilty on charges of Pimping.   Additionally, Allan Woods was found guilty of Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault stemming from an incident on April 25, 2022.   According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a domestic assault call in the 2000 block of Candler Road in unincorporated Decatur and met…

ATLANTA, GA— Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) Commissioner Spencer R. Moore has announced the receipt of two grant awards totaling over $357K from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) to enhance highway safety efforts in Georgia. One grant will allow DDS to add a new Traffic Data Analyst position and the second grant helps to support and maintain the State of Georgia Electronic Conviction Processing System (GECPS). “We appreciate the support from GOHS that allows DDS to embrace innovation ensuring an increase in highway safety and a brighter journey for all,” Commissioner Moore said. “Utilizing a Traffic Data…