Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors advanced pre-development work on two Transit-Oriented development (TOD) projects on the East/West Line, by awarding master planning contracts for Indian Creek and H.E. Holmes rail stations and approval to issue a TOD Request for Proposals (RFP) for Indian Creek. The board awarded the master planning contracts to WSP for Indian Creek and HKS for the H.E. Holmes station. Both firms bring teams with a depth of experience in both planning and community engagement. Indian Creek and H.E. Holmes are end-of-line stations, residing at the westernmost and easternmost points…

ATLANTA — Prime Day may be over, but scammers probably aren’t calling it quits yet. The Better Business Bureau(BBB) is warning that con artists are sending phony emails and texts that look like messages from major retailers, instructing you to redeem the reward points accrued during your shopping days. Just hit delete on these phishing messages! How the scam works You receive an unsolicited email or text message that appears to be from a major retailer. (BBB has seen scammers use the names of Amazon, Kohls, and Costco… but scammers can spoof any company.) The subject line reads, “You Have…

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses in Georgia to apply for working capital loans before the Aug. 5 deadline. The disaster loan program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations affected by severe flooding that occurred on Sept. 7-8, 2021. The deadline to submit economic injury applications is Aug. 5, 2022. The declaration includes Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton and Paulding counties in Georgia. These federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even…

ATLANTA– The Northside Hospital system and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Georgia today announced a new agreement that provides access to care at Northside for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s members. “Northside Hospital has an unwavering focus on patients and their families, and that always is our mission,” said Scott Wade, vice president of Northside Hospital. “The outcome of our discussions is great news for our partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and our patients.” Northside Hospital and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Georgia have enjoyed a partnership for more than 30 years.…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) today announced its intention to adopt a 2022 millage rate, which will require an increase in property taxes by 45.42 percent. This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 20.758 mills, an increase of 6.483 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 14.275 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $250,000 is approximately $551.06 and the proposed tax increase for non‐homestead property with a fair market value of $275,000 is approximately $713.13. Each year,…

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, in his role as the District 3 Commissioner and president of the National Association of Counties (NACo), today attended an event at the White House for passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Commissioner Johnson has been selected as part of an esteemed group of influential civic leaders convening in person to join President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the celebration of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The $13 billion law includes millions of dollars for mental health, school safety, crisis intervention programs and incentives for states to include juvenile records in…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA–Voices of Faith Ministries kicked off its Vacation Bible School on July 11, welcoming dozens of children and 104.7 The Fish radio station to its Stone Mountain campus at 2500 Rockbridge Road S.W. The first day of Vacation Bible School was filled with activities, music, bible study, and giveaways by 104.7 radio station. This year’s theme is “Created In Christ Designed for God’s Purpos”e by SPARK Studios. The Vacation Bible School, which runs July 11-15, from 9 a.m. until noon, is open to rising kindergarteners through rising sixth graders. The church is providing a bus to transport children…

DeKalb County, GA—DeKalb County Police are seeking a white Honda sedan in connection with the murder of a 43-year-old man who was shot in the parking lot of a Publix located at 2155 N. Decatur Road. Police said the man was identified as Lewayne Terrell. The shooting took place on July 6 around noon at the Emory Commons shopping center. The Honda sedan police are searching for has a black front bumper and a gray hood and a sunroof. Anyone with information on where this vehicle can be located or who is the owner of this vehicle is asked to…

The Rockdale County Judicial & Administrative Task Force will hold a meeting on Thursday, July 14, 4 p.m., at the Rockdale County Courthouse, 922 Court Street, Conyers. The meeting will take place in Superior Court Room 225C . This meeting is open to the public. The agenda is listed below: