Author: On Common Ground News

City of Stonecrest to host inauguration celebration honoring newly-elected City Council members  STONECREST, GA–The City of Stonecrest is hosting its inauguration celebration honoring its newly-elected City Council on Saturday, Feb. 7. The event will be held from 6-9 p.m., at Privi Stonecrest, 8020 Mall Parkway, Stonecrest. The city cordially invites all residents, community leaders, and partners to this historic evening of celebration and unity. The evening marks a significant milestone for the City of Stonecrest as it welcomes DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson as the guest speaker and recognize the city’s dedicated leadership: •       Tara Graves, Mayor Pro-Tem •       Karmesha Washington Smith, Councilmember •       Alecia…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA-The 2026 STAR Students and Teachers for Rockdale County were honored by the Rotary Club of Conyers during a celebration held at the Conyers-Rockdale Nancy Guinn Memorial Library on Jan. 29.  The STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student award goes to one student in each high school with the highest SAT score who is also in the top 10 or top 10 percent of their class. That student selects a teacher as their STAR Teacher. The award is a program of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).The system winner who will advance to the regional competition is…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County Police arrested a suspect during an investigation into street racing and stunt driving in the North Central Precinct.  Around midnight on Feb.1, DKPD officers responded to the area of Chamblee-Tucker Road and Embry Circle. Offices found a heavy amount of traffic and vehicles drag racing. The drivers took off, leaving one abandoned vehicle at the scene. As officers investigated that vehicle, Adrian Peralta,21, returned to the scene. He told officers the vehicle was his and he admitted his involvement in the street racing incident. He was arrested and faces charges of Promotion of Reckless Stunt Driving…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County Commissioner Robert issued a statement today, Feb. 3, regarding local student-led protests of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations around the country.  Thousands of students across Georgia, including DeKalb County, held walk-outs as part of a nation-wide protest on Friday, Jan. 30. On Common Ground News reported on one demonstration led by a group of about 150 students at DeKalb’s Arabia Mountain High School. Students chanted  “No more ICE”  as they rallied on the school’s football field around 11:30 a.m. School officials had initially warned the students would face disciplinary action if they walked out, but decided…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County District 1 Commissioner Robert Patrick is highlighting African American inventors whose work has driven major advances in technology, aerospace, engineering, safety and innovation throughout February when Black History Month is observed nationally.  The District 1 Black History Month: Inventor Spotlight series will be featured on Commissioner Patrick’s Facebook page for daily highlights throughout Black History Month. The feature will spotlight one inventor each day, sharing brief historical context and highlighting the lasting impact of inventions that continue to shape everyday life. The initiative is designed to showcase the often-overlooked contributions of Black inventors while recognizing the critical role their innovation…

DECATUR, GA – The Decatur Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred today, Feb. 2, at the Decatur Library, the main branch of the DeKalb County Public The Decatur Library is located in downtown at 215 Sycamore St. According to the police department, officers responded to the library at approximately 5:10 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Officers located an adult male inside the library suffering from a gunshot wound. The individual was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the individual who was injured, his family, and all those affected, including our library employees…

DECATUR, GA—Fugitive Jayson Coleman and three other men being held without bond at the DeKalb County Jail on drug trafficking charges after trying to flee during a raid, authorities said on Feb. 2. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, along with the U.S. Marshals, Fulton County’s SWAT and the Georgia State Patrol Crime Suppression Unit arrested the four men and seized a large quantity of drugs, firearms and cash at a home located at 1491 Austin Drive in Decatur. Coleman, who was wanted for aggravated assault and reckless conduct, was arrested on warrants and charged with drug trafficking. During…