Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case of a Lithonia man charged with shooting a man to death and then trying to burn the evidence.  Jurors found Earnest Lee Johnson, 28, guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Kidnapping, Arson in the Second Degree and Concealing the Death of Another in connection with the death of Chanceler McCall, 23, on Dec. 28, 2020. Jurors reached their decision on last Friday, Feb. 14. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie, who presided over the trial, will schedule a sentencing hearing for Johnson…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s office will host a “Constituent Services in Your Community” event on Thursday, Feb. 27, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at JP Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. This event is designed to assist residents who need help navigating federal agencies. Ossoff’s team will be available to provide support with a variety of issues, including: §  Accessing veterans’ benefits §  Expediting passport renewals §  Resolving Social Security or Medicare challenges §  Recover funds owed by the IRS Attendees will have the opportunity to meet directly with Sen. Ossoff’s team to seek assistance with these and other federal matters. For more information, residents are encouraged to attend the event…

ROCKDALE COUNTY – Lee Daffin, a person of interest wanted in connection with a missing person case in Rockdale County, has been arrested in Stephens County, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) said Thursday (Feb. 20). Rockdale investigators also have discovered a body in connection with the case.  Authorities apprehended Daffin following a brief vehicle pursuit in Stephens County, about 80 to 90 miles northeast of Rockdale.  The case began when deputies responded to a welfare check at a home in the 1100 block of Bethel Road on Feb. 18 at 5:20 p.m. Despite their efforts, they were unable to…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—A team of volunteers with Voices for Rockdale picked up litter in the community, officially kicking off its first Adopt-A-Mile project on Feb. 18. The group joined the City of Conyers’ Adopt-A-Mile program this year, agreeing to pick up litter in the Pine Log/Rowland Road area four times a year. Corliss Turner, founder of Voices for Rockdale, said the clean-up initiative is a good way for residents to get involved in the community and show support and pride.  The City of Conyers provides the garbage bags, pickup sticks, gloves, and vests for the event.  Nine volunteers participated with Voices for Rockdale’s…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson announced a $10.43 million initiative to enhance police recruitment and retention, positioning the department to become among the highest-paid law enforcement agencies in metro Atlanta. This investment, fully funded through a strategic reallocation of existing resources, strengthens DeKalb County’s law enforcement workforce without additional taxpayer costs. “Public safety is a priority, and our budget should reflect that,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “This plan allows us to invest in our officers in a fiscally responsible way by making better use of existing resources. We are not raising taxes—we are simply ensuring our budget aligns with the needs of our community.” Unincorporated…

DECATUR, GA – On Wednesday, Feb.19, at 4:30 p.m. ET, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is holding an IG Live with former Young Democrats of Georgia president, public policy analyst and social media influencer Parker Short in a conversation about the impact of the Trump-Musk administration’s first month on Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District.  In 2024, Short gained national attention when a clip of him rapping along to Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us at a Kamala Harris campaign rally at Georgia State went viral. He leveraged his newfound visibility to advocate for Democratic policies and later made headlines again after debating Make America Great Again (MAGA)…

By Jamal-Harrison Bryant In the struggle for justice and equity, it is not enough to only demand change from our elected officials—we must also hold corporations accountable. When companies profit from our communities, they have a responsibility to reflect our values, invest in our people, and honor their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This is why for Lent, I am calling for a 40-day fast of Target, a corporation that once stood as a leader in DEI but has since caved to political pressure, abandoning both the very principles they claimed to champion as well as specific promises they…

DECATUR, GA– Rainbow Park Baptist Church will host local government officials, education leaders, public safety representatives, business professionals, and members of the judiciary for a critical conversation about the future of DeKalb County. The Voices of DeKalb Town Hall will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m., at Rainbow Park Baptist Church, 2941 Columbia Drive, Decatur. The town hall, moderated by Pastor Micah K. Dial aims to foster a solutions-driven discussion on key issues impacting DeKalb including public safety, education, economic development, and civic engagement. The event will feature a panel of leaders from various sectors: Government: DeKalb District 3 Commissioner Nicole Massiah; State…