Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will participate in a discussion sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum on the state of affordable housing in metro Atlanta. The event, “Taking Stock of Metro Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Priorities,” will take place virtually on Wednesday, March 2, 9:30 a.m., and will feature a diverse group of metro Atlanta city and county leaders at the helm of housing initiatives. The program will be held virtually and broadcast live on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Those who are interested in attending the “Taking Stock of Metro Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Priorities” forum should register…

STONECREST, GA– Crime Stoppers is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting death of Henry Ashley, 24. The DeKalb County Police Department Homicide/Assault Unit continues to actively investigate and follow leads regarding the Febr. 19 incident.   Investigators believe Ashley, who worked as a security guard at the business located at 8455 Mall Parkway, Stonecrest encountered the suspects at approx. 11 p.m. as he investigated a suspicious person’s alert on the property.  Moments after the encounter, the suspects shot him while he was in his marked work vehicle. He was transported to a…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) today re-introduced the Minorities in Aviation Education Act, H.R. 6841, which would create a grant program aimed at improving the preparation and representation of minorities in aviation-related fields. The new grant program, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will be named for Bessie Coleman, an American aviator and the first black woman to earn a pilot’s license. It comes on the heels of the Congressman’s Black History Month program entitled: “Blacks in Aviation: Past and Present” where he honored the history of black pioneers for their courage and perseverance that paved…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, March 7, at 4:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). The Policy Committee will meet at 4 p.m. To listen in on the meeting, please request the link from weissingera@dekalblibrary.org no later than noon on the date of the meeting. For more details on the agenda and about listening in, click here.

DECATUR,GA–DeKalb County Police have identified the 4-year-old child who accidentally shot himself with an unsecured gun he found in his mother’s car.  Miyell Hernandez was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.   The incident occurred on Sunday, Feb. 27, around 5 p.m., in the parking lot at Publix, located at 3455 Panola Road. Miyell was in the car with two relatives—an infant and a 13-year-old while his mother was inside the store, police said. The teen ran inside the store for help after Miyell accidentally fired the loaded gun.   No charges have…

ATLANTA—New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s Senior Pastor, Jamal Harrison Bryant, led a prayer and call to action on Sunday, Feb. 27, to support thousands of African and Jamaican students currently trapped in Ukraine amid the recent Russian invasion. Students were filled with terror as they were forced to hide from the missile strikes underway, Pastor Bryant learned during an Instagram discussion with Ukraine pastors. Students are being stopped at Poland and Hungary borders and others are hiding in basements of people’s homes, the Ukrainian pastors told Bryant. Dr. Promise Isaac, a Nigerian-born medical doctor and faith leader currently residing in Ukraine, contacted Pastor…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA –The Rockdale Board of Commissioners (BOC) will meet for its work session on Tuesday, March 1,10 a.m. The meeting will be held virtually. Any person wishing to speak during public comment must register in advance by contacting the Rockdale County Department of Public Relations via email (publicrelations@rockdalecountyga.gov) by Monday, Feb. 28, 5 p.m.  The BOC will meet for its Voting Session on Tuesday, March 8,10 a.m. The meeting will be held virtually. Any person wishing to speak during public comment is requested to register in advance by contacting the Rockdale County Department of Public Relations via…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Lithonia High School’s Destiny Sutton and Southwest DeKalb High School’s Jaidah Temple won Region 5-5A Literary competitions to qualify for the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State Meet on Saturday, March 19, at Warner Robins High School. The region competition was held at Northview High School recently with both Southwest DeKalb (2nd) and Lithonia (4th) placing the event. Decatur was the region champion and Northview finished third. Lithonia’s Destiny Sutton took first place in two events and qualified for the state competition in both. Sutton won Dramatic Interpretation. Southwest DeKalb’s Jahil Burks was the runner-up. Sutton also…

DECATUR, GA – Telling nine students and their families that their service to our nation is needed more than ever, Congressman Hank Johnson  announced the Georgia Fourth District nominees for the U.S. Military Academies:  Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. On the day Russia invaded Ukraine in an unwarranted attack, the Congressman used the solemn moment in a virtual event to honor the students for their dedication and bravery. “During these difficult times, I commend all of you for your dedication, focus and bravery to want to serve our nation in this way,” he said. “Tonight, we…