Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has announced the appointment of Eugene McKinnie as Director of Sanitation, effective immediately. McKinnie brings more than three decades of public-sector leadership and operational experience in solid waste management and environmental services. His career reflects a deep understanding of sanitation operations, beginning on the back of a rear-loader and rising through the ranks to lead major municipal programs and departments across the country.  “Eugene McKinnie’s extensive experience and hands-on leadership style make him an exceptional addition to DeKalb County,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “His commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and employee development will help strengthen…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Jordan Anthony “Maniac” Moorman, 28, of Duluth has been sentenced to life for his part in the 2019 deadly armed robbery of a 62-year-old man. Moorman, 28, of Duluth, was sentenced to life plus 10 years in prison for the shooting death of Leslie Smith. Moorman, whose history of gang-related crime dates back to his youth, was found guilty on March 13 of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, armed robbery, and violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.  “We have zero tolerance for gang violence in Gwinnett County,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy…

ATLANTA—State legislators and housing advocates will gather at the Georgia State Capitol on Wednesday, March 18, to discuss ideas for expanding affordable housing including adaptive reuse of underutilized or vacant buildings.   Community Action NOW!, in partnership with the National Coalition for the Homeless and State Rep. Rhonda Taylor (House District 92), will host the “Georgia Adaptive Reuse Education Day.” Taylor is sponsoring the event to bring together housing advocates to share their thoughts and expertise in conversations around affordable housing, community revitalization, and economic development in Georgia. The program will include: A briefing on Georgia’s housing landscape • Discussion on affordable housing needs across the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Antioch AME Church in Stone Mountain will honor DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson  and all elected women in DeKalb during a special Women’s History Month celebration on Sunday, March 22, at 10 a.m.  The event, which will be held at Antioch AME, 765 S. Hairston St., will recognize Cochran-Johnson as the  church’s 2026 recipient of the “Elayne W. Hunter Woman on the Move” Award, while celebrating the contribution of women serving in elected leadership roles across DeKalb.   The program’s guest speaker will be Dr. Evelyn Bethune, granddaughter of the late civil  rights and human rights icon Mary McLeod Bethune.…

ROCKDALE, DEKALB, GWINNETT, COUNTIES: Due to forecasted severe winter weather, Rockdale County Public Schools will delay school openings by 2.5 hours on Monday, March 16.    The DeKalb County School District and Gwinnett County Public Schools announced they will be monitoring the weather, but had not announced delayed openings as of 10 p.m. Sunday, March 15. They’re urging parents to prepare and monitor the weather as they get ready for school in the morning.   The National Weather Service has alerted Central and North Georgia that a line of strong to severe storms, along with an associated cold front, are expected  to…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA— Tonya Bloodworth, a longtime distinguished educator and community leader, was sworn into office as the newest member of the Rockdale County Board of Education at the board’s work session. Bloodworth’s aunt, Mary McCrimmon, and her cousin, Jeffery Dinkins, stood beside her during the swearing-in ceremony administered by Rockdale Superior Court Judge Nancy N. Bills.  Bloodworth is completing the four-year term of Justin T. Kenny, set to expire Dec. 31, 2028. The Rockdale County Public Schools District issued a formal call to the public to fill the unexpired term. Applications, including a letter of interest and resume, were directed to…

ATLANTA—City officials are urging motorists to avoid the area in Midtown near 10th Street N.W. and Hemphill Ave. N.W. due to large valve replacement work beginning March 16.  The City of Atlanta’s Watershed Management Department said the emergency closure at the intersection is expected to last about four weeks, weather permitting. The work will take place Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. As part of the City’s water distribution maintenance program, crews will perform replacement of 36-inch valves in that area. Traffic control measures and signage are in place to safely guide motorists around the work zone, City officials said. Residents and…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A  South DeKalb youth baseball coach will remain in jail after a judge denied him bond in a 2008 cold case rape. Elzie Fulks, now 44, was indicted by a DeKalb County Grand Jury in November 2025 on one count of Rape and two counts of Aggravated Sodomy in connection with the attack of a 17-year-old girl in July 2008.  An arrest warrant was issued for Fulks, whose jail records show he lived in Conyers, GA. He was taken into custody and booked into the DeKalb County Jail on Jan. 16, 2026.  In a hearing held Wednesday, March…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Wesley Cooley, a 64-year-old serial rapist was sentenced to life on today (March 12), after pleading guilty to sexual assault cold cases spanning nearly two decades.  The unsolved rapes occurred in the metro Atlanta area from 1999 to 2017, District Attorney Sherry Boston said. Authorities got a break in the case from the April 2017 rape of a female in Tucker, GA.  DNA evidence from that case linked the same attacker to seven other unsolved sexual assault cases including four in DeKalb, two in Atlanta, and one in Conyers. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 38, authorities…