Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, Ga.— DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson in partnership with the 100 Black Men of DeKalb will host a Youth Violence Prevention Rally & Summit Monday, June 27, 6 p.m., in the gymnasium at the Intergenerational Center at Exchange Park. Johnson started his ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! campaign over five years ago to focus on a comprehensive approach to crime prevention. This approach includes involving and working alongside youths in the community. Johnson said the rally and summit are designed to bring together the community and remind our youths that they are loved—ranging from law enforcement to our community-based organizations. The event will…

ATLANTA– Sen. Emanuel Jones (D – Decatur) was appointed on June 23 by Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan to serve on the Senate Study Committee on Economic Development and International Relations. “Georgia has been a longstanding symbol of a prosperous economy and the top state in the nation to do business. With that, Georgia has continued to uphold strong relationships with international partners around the globe, providing sound economic growth opportunities while continuing to support local economies,” said Sen. Jones. “It is my hope that with this study committee, we will be able to uncover more advantageous opportunities to continue this…

Notice is given that the Rockdale Board of Elections will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, June 27, 2022 at 2 p.m. to certify the results of the Democratic Primary and Nonpartisan Runoff Election held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.  Please see the Agenda and Unofficial and Incomplete Election Results Attached. Please note, as of this email, we have a total of 15 outstanding Absentee Ballots (9 military and 6 absentee cures) that are eligible to be counted, should the voter return them by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24. Meeting Information   Rockdale Board of Elections Special Meeting…

By Kathryn Rice, Chair of the DeKalb Cityhood Movement   Recently, the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum hosted a forum on the rise of institutional investors in Atlanta. While the forum was much needed, it missed some important points that the DeKalb Cityhood Movement (DCM) shared with them. First, DeKalb County (not mentioned during the forum) is the epicenter of this predatory investor crisis. DCM has been shedding light on this issue since January 2022 when we saw some serious side effects of gentrification. Realtor data for the period 2014 – 2021, showed home sale prices increased over 210% in…

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) continues to keep the safety of students and staff its highest priority by adding to the multiple safety measures already implemented throughout the district. These enhancements come amid a renewed focus nationally on school safety and security in the wake of the mass shooting that killed 19 students and two staff members in Uvalde, Texas last month. RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts recently approved the acquisition of a state-of-the-art weapons detection system that can be rapidly deployed to schools and school facilities for purposes of detecting the possible presence and possession of weapons. The high-tech…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– The Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement and the Gwinnett County Health Department want residents to use caution after a raccoon tested positive for the rabies virus on Tuesday (June 21). A dog was attacked by the raccoon in the Pebblebrook Court/Arden Drive area in Buford onJune 20. The raccoon was collected by animal welfare on Monday and brought to the shelter. All pet owners should make sure their pets are current on the rabies vaccination. According to the National Association of State Health Veterinarians, unvaccinated dogs and cats exposed to a rabid animal must be strictly…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 21, the winner of Congressman Hank Johnson’s (GA-04) 2022 Congressional Art Competition, Christopher Ramos of Newton County, was honored in Washington, D.C. as part of a national reception to honor arts winners from across the country.   Ramos, a freshman from Newton High School now a rising sophomore, was recognized for his piece titled “bereavement.” Ramos was awarded the grand prize for the Fourth Congressional District, which is a $12,000 scholarship to the Savanah College of Art & Design (SCAD).    Ramos’s “bereavement” will be displayed in the Capitol in Washington, D.C., where it will hang with hundreds of…

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr and 18 of his fellow attorneys general are urging the U.S. Department of Justice to take swift action in response to the recent acts of violence committed against pregnancy resource centers and the offices of pro-life organizations. “President Biden’s Department of Justice yet again has its priorities absolutely backward,” said Carr. “They did not hesitate to investigate parents who spoke out at school board meetings but are now dragging their feet to address the violent crimes committed against pro-life organizations. Public safety should not be a partisan issue, and it is past time…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest has issued a film permit for temporary road and lane closures and drone operations along Snapfinger Woods Drive and its connecting roadways. Production activity will occur on Thursday, June 23,  6 p.m. until 11 p.m., at the following locations: Partial street closure: All westbound lanes of Snapfinger Woods Drive between Stonekey Place and Panola Road Intermitten tTraffic Control: All lanes and sidewalks of Snapfinger Woods Drive between Stonekey Place and Panola Road Production activity will resume on Friday, June 24, 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, at the following locations:…