Author: On Common Ground News

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Gwinnett County jury found a Lilburn man guilty of sexually assaulting an acquaintance at gunpoint after a jealous encounter. Santos Edgardo Amaya-Bonilla, 52, was convicted of three counts of rape, five counts of aggravated sodomy, and two counts of aggravated assault for incidents that occurred in March 2020. He was sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms.  “The victim of the defendant’s criminal acts received justice,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “The jury returned a verdict in under an hour to give this victim the justice she deserves.” On March 24, 2020, Santos Edgardo Amaya-Bonilla went to the victim’s…

STONECREST, GA – As corporations and federal agencies scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Senior Pastor  Jamal Harrison Bryant is stepping forward with a bold national response. On Sunday, Feb. 2, at 9:30 a.m., Dr. Bryant will deliver a high-impact announcement outlining a strategic push to counteract these rollbacks and protect resources for historically marginalized communities. This critical address will take place during New Birth’s widely viewed Sunday service, available for live streaming on YouTube (@newbirthmbc1).  New Birth is located at 6400 Woodrow Rd. in Stonecrest.

CONYERS, GA—The city of Conyers plans  to opt-in to House Bill 581, commonly known as the “Save the Homes” Act. This legislative measure was passed by the Georgia General Assembly and subsequently approved by a majority of Georgia voters in a statewide referendum held in November 2024. The majority of Conyers and Rockdale County residents also voted in favor of the bill’s tenets. “The Conyers City Council and its staff have long been committed to the most fiscally conservative use of taxpayers funds and opting-in to support House Bill 581 is the best course of action for our community at…

ATLANTA – Members of the DeKalb County House Legislative Delegation recently elected its  leadership team for the 2025-2026 legislative term. State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) was elected Chair of the delegation. State Representative Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) was elected Vice Chair and State Representative Long Tran (D-Dunwoody) was elected Secretary.  “It is a privilege to continue serving as Chair of this outstanding delegation,” said Rep. Drenner. “DeKalb County is home to some of Georgia’s most diverse and dynamic communities, and our delegation remains committed to advancing policies that promote equity, economic growth and quality of life for all residents.…

STONECREST, GA– As food prices continue to soar, The King’s Table at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is stepping up to support families in need.   On Saturday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m., New Birth will host its first free food distribution at 6400 Woodrow Rd. in Stonecrest, GA, providing 1,000 families with essential groceries on a first-come, first-serve basis. The distribution, organized in a drive-thru format, will include fresh produce, protein, and shelf-stable pantry items to help households struggling to keep up with rising grocery costs.  “Food insecurity continues to grip families across our region as inflation outpaces wages…

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr has filed a brief opposing taxpayer-funded sex change operations for state prisoners. Joining Carr in filing the brief are 23 other states’ attorney generals: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.  In addition to the brief concerning state prisoners, Carr has taken roughly 50 legal actions to prevent taxpayer-funded gender reassignment surgeries of Georgia’s children, his office stated.  “Taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill for sex changes,” said Carr. “We’re proud to stand…

ROCKDALE CPUNTY, GA– Registration to be entered in the lottery for Georgia Pre-K in Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) for the 2025-2026 school year is open online Feb. 1-28. No paperwork is required to register for the RCPS Pre-K lottery. The link for Pre-K lottery registration and more information is available at www.rockdaleschools.org/prek. For Georgia Pre-K, children must be 4 years old by Sept.1.  Pre-K lottery registration takes place online at www.rockdaleschools.org/prek. Parents will be notified by March 7, if their child was selected and of the next steps after selection. Students will be selected for Pre-K programs via a random lottery drawing. Students…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–The Rockdale County Board of Adjustment will hold a meeting on Monday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. for the purpose of hearing the appeals of the items on the below agenda. This meeting will be held in the Rockdale County Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers. This meeting is open to the public.  Regular Meeting Agenda Feb. 3 Call to Order Determination of a Quorum Approval of the Agenda Approval of the Minutes: June 25, 2024 Rules of Procedure for Public Hearings Unfinished Business: None New Business: VAR2024-33: A Variance request from Section 206-10(e)(2)b to allow vehicular parking…

DECATUR, GA] – The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections is inviting public feedback on proposed changes to polling site locations aimed at improving efficiency and accessibility. DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) will host a community meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m., to discuss proposed polling site location changes and gather insights from voters. The meeting will be held in person at the DeKalb VRE office 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, and will also be livestreamed via DCTV. To make participation more convenient, DeKalb VRE has established three satellite locations where voters can watch…