Author: On Common Ground News

LITHONIA, GA– The final community engagement sessions to shape the conceptual design of the future of DeKalb’ County’s first Black public school building will take place at the Lithonia Woman’s Club, 2564 Wiggins Street, 1-4 p.m. on April 24 and May 7. Thes sessions are part of a months-long effort to solicit community feedback and shape a conceptual design that will guide future activation and preservation of the historic Bruce Street School. The conceptual design process will wrap up in June. Also known as the Lithonia Negro School and the Lithonia Colored School, the Bruce Street School was built and run…

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The U.S. Department of Labor announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on proposed revisions to Wagner-Peyser Act regulations to include Employment Service staff in public employment offices in state merit systems, and improve service delivery for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The proposal, by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, would ensure that states and territories are equipped universally to use cross-trained Employment Service staff to assist in processing unemployment insurance claims, assist claimants and promote reemployment when demand for these services rises substantially. Currently, only state merit staff can adjudicate unemployment insurance claims. “The proposed changes would return the…

ATLANTA – The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority announced that face coverings are no longer mandatory for Xpress commuters effective April 18. However, employees and customers who wish to still wear masks may continue, if they choose, the Authority said. The announcement follows the ruling of a U.S. district court judge on Monday, along with the Biden administration announcement that the Transportation Security Administration will no longer enforce the federal mandate requiring the public to wear masks while on airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares. This also applies to travelers in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and seaports; train, bus and…

DECATUR—On April 13, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) hosted a four-stop tour to highlight the nearly $5 million in funding he has secured for community projects throughout Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District. This funding, included in federal fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations, responds directly to several pressing needs in the district, he said. The Congressman’s tour highlighted the following projects: The Affordable Housing Creative Village in the City of Decatur. The Creative Village Project received $209,000 for the adaptive reuse of four former group homes to provide affordable housing and studio space for local artists. DeKalb County’s Flat Shoals Library, which received…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs, Netball America- Be An Inspiration GoGirlGo! Atlanta and Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau(DCVB) will host the International Junior United States Open Netball Championship Tournament on Saturday, April 23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Redan Recreation Center, 1839 Phillips Road, Lithonia. Patrons are invited to this free and exciting event that will also include an opening day celebration, a graduation ceremony, food drinks and giveaways. The community will have an opportunity to learn more about the netball program, register for next season and train with the USA Netball…

DECATUR, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by guilty plea in the case against a Decatur man charged in the fatal 2018 Easter Sunday shooting of a 3-year-old boy. During court proceedings on April 15, Christopher Cullins, now 19, pleaded guilty to charges of Voluntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in connection with the shooting death of T’rhigi Craig Diggs. The young child was shot and killed at the intersection of Eastland and Bouldercrest Roads in DeKalb County. His mother, Roshanda Craig, was driving through the intersection when a…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway was one of multiple sites where DeKalb County government officials distributed food to needy families ahead of the Easter holiday. The families received 10-pound bags of chicken hindquarters, eggs and produce during the free giveaway. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said the county partnered with local churches and utilized federal American Rescue Pan funds to purchase food for 5,000 families for the April 9 event. Since May 2020, DeKalb County has distributed 68,100 boxes of food. “Our senior citizens on fixed incomes and working families are struggling to provide…

By Zack Loehle Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance STONECREST, GA– Fifty years ago on April 18, Charles Davidson, Jr., president of one of the largest granite products companies in the world, donated a 500-acre rock outcrop as greenspace to DeKalb County government. The Davidson family donated the property to preserve it and prevent it from being developed by one of the company’s competitors. Today, the site is the centerpiece of the nationally significant 2,500+ acre Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, a focal point of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. County government and the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area…

STONECREST, GA–DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 6 p.m., featuring a tree planting experience at the Stonecrest Library. Commissioner Davis Johnson will be joined by Roots Down partners, who will share information about tree plantings and edible gardens established at five DeKalb County community  libraries, including  gardens at the Stonecrest Library. “In addition to learning about our fruitful gardens, you will have an opportunity to win a grocery gift card in our continued efforts to fight food insecurity. Two individuals will receive a $100 grocery gift card at each…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. –The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners has increased the minimum wage for county workers to $15 an hour, following the completion of a market study, officials said in a news release today (April 18). Rockdale County partnered with PayScale to complete the market study, with the goal to fairly compensate employees and remain competitive within the metro Atlanta job market. The Board of Commissioners approved amendments to the County’s operating budget for the raises on April 12. Each employee was brought to the minimum of the new pay grade or they received an 8% compression increase,…