Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– After a two-year hiatus, the DeKalb County Sanitation Division will host its household hazardous waste recycling event Saturday, March 12, 8 a.m. – noon, at the Sanitation Division’s Central Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur. During the event, county residents will have an opportunity to properly dispose of dangerous household items that are no longer in use. Hazardous materials, such as aerosols, batteries, adhesives, flammables, lawn care products, fluorescent light bulbs, photo chemicals, paint, paint-related products and artist supplies, will be accepted. Paint will be limited to 10 gallons per vehicle. Agricultural waste, ammunition, radioactive materials,…

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County Commissioner Patrick announces the second annual Women’s History Month Trailblazer Award to recognize four outstanding women in District 1 by sending an email nomination to district1@dekalbcountyga.gov. Use “Women’s History Month Nomination” in the subject line of the email. The nomination deadline is Friday, March 11, 2022. The month of March is designated national Women’s History Month and dedicated to celebrating the contributions and leadership of women. Today, women are leading in record numbers in every industry from business, law, government, science, sports, and even those on the frontlines of the global pandemic. A century ago, most…

DECATUR, GA– On Friday, Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson issued a reminder to all residents in District 5 who need rental and utility assistance to apply for aid. In 2021, Davis Johnson allocated over $650,000 to provide direct aid to District 5 residents facing eviction, delinquent rental payments, or utility payments. Nonprofit organizations have received the funds to provide eviction forbearance and rental/utility assistance to families in DeKalb County who have lost wages or employment or have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are two years into this pandemic, and families are still in need of assistance.…

WASHINGTON. D.C. –Pointing out that a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) study in 2016 found over a five-year period that the federal government spent more than $5 billion on advertising but Black-owned businesses received only $51 million, or 1.02 percent of those funds, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) sent a letter to the Biden Administration seeking answers . The letter was co-led with Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Val Demings (FL-10). A total of 34 members signed the letter, including the entire Georgia Democratic delegation. Particularly during the heightened need to get accurate and factual information…

 1.8M Georgia customers’ impacted, 53M nationwide    ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr is urging T-Mobile customers in Georgia to protect their personal information after compromised customer data was found on the dark web following T-Mobile’s data breach announced in August 2021. This breach may affect current, former and prospective customers. Prospective customers include those who began the process to enroll with T-Mobile but ultimately did not obtain service. “Given the broad scope of T-Mobile’s data breach and news that this compromised data has been found on the dark web, it is imperative that current, former and prospective customers take…

ATLANTA, GA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a nationwide investigation into TikTok for providing and promoting its social media platform to children and young adults despite the association between usage and physical and mental health harms. Specifically, attorneys general nationwide are examining whether the company put the public at risk by violating state consumer protection laws. “We will always stand up to protect Georgia’s children, and we will not tolerate those who put their health and well-being at risk,” said Carr. “Social media use and its harmful effects on young people is a serious issue that must be…

Summer camp sites urged to apply   DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host the Summer Food Service Program June 1 – July 22. The program, which provides school children nutritious meals during the summer, seeks participating program sites. To qualify as a site, 50 percent of children served must meet the income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program. Children who are members of households that receive food stamp benefits or Aid for Dependent Children (AFDC) assistance automatically qualify. Funding for the Summer Food Service Program is provided by the…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– After two months of meeting virtually to thwart the spread of COVID-19, the Rockdale Board of Commissioners (BOC) will return to in-person meetings beginning with the March 8 voting session. All meetings will be held in the Assembly Hall at 901 Main Street, Conyers. Those wishing to speak during public comment are required to appear in person and complete a red comment card to make their comments to the Board. A list of the upcoming meetings is below: Voting Session: Tuesday, March 8, 10 a.m., Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers Work Session: Tuesday, March 15,…

DeKalb County Police seek 4 accomplices still at large      STONECREST, GA– A 16-year-old male has been arrested and charged with murder and burglary in connection with the Feb. 19 shooting death of Henry Ashley, 24, a security guard who was on duty at a car dealership located near The Mall at Stonecrest.     The arrest comes after DeKalb County Police received tips from the community, which led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.The identity of the 16-year-old was withheld due to his age, authorities said.   “I want to thank the community for its assistance during this…