Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR,GA– The DeKalb County Charter Review Commission will meet Thursday, August 4, 6 p.m.  The meeting will be held via Zoom at: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/81329771170 (or Telephone: Dial: US 602 333 0032 USA 8882709936 (US Toll Free) Conference code: 217687 AGENDA Call to Order Roll Call Minutes From Previous Meeting Introduction of Invited Guests: DeKalb Attorney Viviane Ernstes Report from Chair Unfinished Business: Approval of By Laws New Business Discussion of September meeting location. Remarks of Interested Citizens/Public Comment Adjournment / Next Meeting

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, in partnership with Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.), Amazon, Amerigroup and Victory for the World Church, will host the Let’s Move DeKalb! Back-to-school event on Saturday, July 30, 11 a.m. he event, in its 12 year, will be held at the Intergenerational Center at Exchange Park, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur. The event will be held outdoors with a mobile drive-thru will service recipients. Attendees will receive a food basket filled with fresh produce, groceries and book bags filled with school supplies. The Let’s Move DeKalb! Back to School event is free…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to restore legitimacy and independence to the nation’s highest court, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act. The legislation would establish term limits for Supreme Court justices while preserving constitutional protections for judicial independence in decision making. Under the TERM Act, a new justice would take the bench every two years and spend 18 years in active service. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) is introducing the legislation in the U.S. Senate. “This Supreme Court is increasingly facing a legitimacy crisis,” said Johnson, Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee…

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Z  Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. announced that Valerie Hollingsworth Baker’s term as the 25th international president ended on Sunday, July 24, and lauded her for four years of outstanding leadership and service. Hollingsworth Baker will be succeeded by Stacie NC Grant. Creating scholarship opportunities was a principle that Hollingsworth Baker held in high regard during her tenure.  Under her leadership, Baker institutied the sorority’s Founders Scholarship, a series of $100,000 – $125,000 scholarships honoring Zeta Phi Beta’s five founding members. The scholarship is awarded for five years to a female high school graduate student pursuing a college education. The Founders scholarship, provided to…

CONYERS, GA– The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce is bringing together local leaders to develop a shared vision for economic development and to strengthen the community’s position as a great place to live and work. Leading the charge are officials from the county, city, school system, hospital, and others from the Chamber’s business membership. Dubbed “Front Porch Discussions,” the Chamber has organized several opportunities for  Rockdale leaders to collaborate and have meaningful discussions to create a shared vision and message. The most recent meeting was held at Piedmont Rockdale Hospital and included an interactive session to gather feedback from all who…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and leaders of the cities of DeKalb County will host the inaugural DeKalb City Summit on Thursday, Aug. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Stone Ridge Event Center, Lithonia. Officials said the DeKalb City Summit is expected to attract more than 100 business leaders, elected officials, and other members of the community who will share meaningful dialogue on matters that interest both residents and businesses. Meanwhile, the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce and local leaders have united to form a shared vision for Rockdale concerning critical issues. The Chamber recently launched “Front Porch Discussions,” to…

Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:00pm            Board Retreat (Day 1) Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina 4000 Summit Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30319 Friday, July 29, 2022 8:30am            Board Retreat (Day 2) Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina 4000 Summit Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30319 The meeting agenda can be accessed online: www.dekalbschoolsga.org. Click on Leadership, go to Simbli (formally known as eBoard) Home Page and click on the date for the meeting agenda/information.

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the deaths of two inmates who have died in unrelated incidents while in custody of the DeKalb County Jail since last week. Stone Mountain resident Vernon Dennis Head, 48, was found unresponsive in his jail cell on Friday, July 22, and was pronounced deceased following unsuccessful emergency medical treatment by on-site inmate health services and DeKalb EMS. Head had been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 10, 2021 on charges of Terroristic Threats. Today, Georgia resident Nina Maureen Colman, 55, died while in the jail infirmary. Colman was in…

DECATUR, GA– In partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health, the DeKalb County Board of Health has now received monkeypox vaccine to begin offering appointments at its health centers and to conduct large vaccination clinics. Limited vaccination appointments will be available at the following regional health center locations: Richardson Health Center (for established or new Early Care Clinic patients only), 445 Winn Way, Decatur, beginning Tues., July 26. T.O. Vinson Health Center, 440 Winn Way, Decatur, beginning Tuesday, July 26. Clifton Springs Health Center, 3110 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur, beginning Friday, July 29. North DeKalb Health Center, 3807 Clairmont Rd.,…

DECATUR, GA–DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announced today that the county’s Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) credit for 2022 will provide $137 million in property tax relief for property owners with homestead exemptions. The EHOST has generated more than $454 million in tax relief for DeKalb property owners since 2018.  Qualified homeowners receive an EHOST credit that reduces or offsets property tax liability. The amount of property tax relief received by a qualified homeowner is based on the assessed value of the homesteaded property and sales tax revenue generated by EHOST.  On average, the EHOST credit will generate a…