Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA–On Thursday, Jan.  30,  at 7 p.m., Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) will hold a virtual town hall with elected officials and local community stakeholders on what President Trump’s federal funding freeze and executive orders mean.  The freeze could impact those who receive housing and food services, veterans’ care, and programs such as Head Start and Meals on Wheels and other community services. WHO: Elected Officials and Stakeholders;  WHAT: Congressman Hank Johnson, elected officials, and community stakeholders are hosting a community conversation on President Trump’s federal funding freeze threat to Georgians WHERE: @RepHankJohnson on all Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and hankjohnson.house.gov/live; 

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston this week announced a conviction by guilty plea in the case against a Decatur man charged with injuring a police officer during a traffic stop in Dunwoody.    On Monday, Jan. 27, Derric Alexander Simpson, 40, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea to charges of Aggravated Assault Against a Law Enforcement Officer When Engaged in Official Duty; two counts of Aggravated Battery; Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer; Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Schedule II Controlled…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – Three gang members were convicted Tuesday of murdering a New Orleans man in a violent 2022 carjacking attempt. Josiah Hughley, Jr., 22, David Jarrad Booker, 23, and Miles Collins, 22, were each found guilty of two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, hijacking a motor vehicle, 10 counts of violation of the Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the July 2022 shooting death of 30-year-old Bradley Lamar Coleman. The three men were each sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host the 9th Annual Father-Daughter Dance at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur, on Feb. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Registration is open now until Feb. 12. The Father-Daughter Dance is for all ages and costs $15 per couple, and $5 for each additional child. The event will include music, refreshments and dancing.  To register, visit any recreation center or visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the yellow banner to register online on the department’s homepage. For more information, contact LaShanda…

DECATUR, GA— Two local public servants will be honored for their humanitarian work during DeKalb County’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration program. The program entitled “Mission: Possible; Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365,” will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta. The recipients will be honored with the Nathaniel Mosby Humanitarian Award, which celebrates their commitment to tireless community service and outstanding dedication to being an agent for positive change. The recipients are: Mawuli Mel Davis, the founding partner of Davis Bozeman Johnson…

ATLANTA– Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) and the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA) are speaking out about the federal law enforcement raids that occurred  in metro Atlanta this weekend, calling the arrests “inhumane.” Some of the arrests occurred in Congressman Johnson’s district. CRSA brings together 27 local refugee-and immigrant-serving organizations. The raids, part of President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests nationwide this past weekend. A series of those arrests were made in Atlanta, Cartersville and Savannah. Federal officials say the arrests are being made to preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners has approved a moratorium on the establishment of certain businesses they say are saturating Rockdale.   During the 120-day moratorium, no permits, plans, approvals or occupation tax certificates shall be issued for any new Small Box Discount Retailers, mini warehouses, gas stations, and Vape shops. County officials say they are reviewing Rockdale’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which hasn’t been updated in over 10 years, to determine how to modify development uses in a way that restricts concentration of these types businesses.   The county has experienced a surge in vape shops, as well as…

ATLANTA – The Gwinnett County House Delegation Chair Jasmine Clark (D-Lilburn), Vice Chair Segun Adeyina (D-Grayson) and Secretary Arlene Beckles (D-Norcross), along with members of the Gwinnett County House Delegation, will hold their first meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1 p.m., Coverdell Legislative Office Building, in room 502.  WHO:             Members of the Gwinnett County Legislative Delegation  WHAT:          Delegation Meeting WHEN:          Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 1 p.m. WHERE:       Coverdell Legislative Office Building Room 502 18 Capitol Square SW Atlanta, GA 30334