Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Due to expected inclement weather, Rockdale County Schools Superintendent Terry Oatts announced that Tuesday, Jan. 21, will be an Independent Learning Day for students and a remote work day for staff.  Buildings will remain closed. All Tuesday extracurricular or school activities will be canceled and/or rescheduled for a later date.  “We will continue to monitor the weather for Wednesday and will send updates as appropriate. We hope you stay safe and warm during this time,” the school district, said.     

ATLANTA —Due to below freezing temperatures Atlanta Public Schools and district offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 2. All school, extracurricular, and athletic activities are canceled.  If you are in need of assistance, please visit APSCARES.FINDHELP.COM to access resources and support in the Metro Atlanta area. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost resources are available The Committee on Council and City Council regular session meetings scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21, are canceled due to the inclement weather in the forecast. The Committee on Council and full Council meetings have been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22, inside…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) has announced that Tuesday, Jan. 21, will be a Digital Learning Day for students and a remote workday for staff.  Buildings will remain closed, and there will be no meal deliveries. All Tuesday extracurricular and school activities will be canceled and/or rescheduled. “We will continue to monitor the weather and send updates as appropriate,” GCPS officials said. 

FULTON COUNTY, GA– All Fulton County Schools and administrative offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan.21, due to potential impacts from incoming inclement weather.  Students should not report to school and there is no expectation of remote learning on Jan. 21. All after-school meetings, extended day programs, field trips, clubs or athletic practices and events also are canceled. The in-person community meeting for District 2 Board Member Lillie Pozatek also will transition to a remote meeting. The link is posted here. What does this mean for employees? Although schools and administrative offices are closed, Jan. 21 is a workday to ensure continuity of…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office has issued a BOLO(Be on the lookout) for Justin Perry Hurst, who is a suspect in a stabbing incident that occurred Jan. 18 at 2385 Wall Street in Conyers, GA.  The victim, identified as an off-duty officer from the metro Atlanta area, was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The severity of the officer’s injuries is being evaluated, authorities said. Deputies said the suspect and officer got into an argument after a hit-and-run on I-20 near Panola Road around 6 p.m. Hurst hit a Chevy Silverado driven by the off-duty officer. The…

STONECREST, GA – The NAACP DeKalb County branch hosted  its 23rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parad  with DeKalb County’s new CEO  Lorraine Cochran-Johnson leading the way as Grand  Marshal. Cochran-Johnson, who was riding in a white SUV, waved and smiled at parade watchers  who attended the 10 a.m. event on Saturday (Jan. 18) in the city of Stonecrest.  The parade kicked off with a new route, starting at the New Black Wall Street Market and ending with a rally at Privi featuring speeches and performances. “This year’s theme, ‘Still I Rise,’ captures the essence of Dr. King’s vision and reminds…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– A new era has dawned in DeKalb County with the inauguration of Lorraine Cochran-Johnson as the county’s first Black woman to hold the office of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  The swearing-in ceremony on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 marked the beginning of what Cochran-Johnson has described as her Renaissance Administration, a new chapter aimed at revitalizing the county and empowering its residents. The momentous event took place at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, drawing a crowd of elected officials, community leaders, family, and supporters. Among the attendees were several notable figures from throughout…

DeKalb County, GA—A crowd turned out for the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce’s Wednesday Luncheon on Jan. 15, 2025 to welcome four black women mayors from Dekalb County: Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble; Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks; Stone Mountain Mayor Beverly Jones; and Lithonia Mayor Shameka Reynolds. As trailblazers in their respective cities, the women shared insights into their communities’ successes, challenges, and their commitment to collaborative governance. Their camaraderie was on full display as the keynote speakers discussed how they are moving their cities forward. “I promise you I can tell you about each one…,” said Mayor Jazzmin Cobble, who…

DECATUR, GA–– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit with the 2024 murder and armed robbery of a rideshare driver in Decatur. According to arrest warrants, suspects shot 31-year-old Lyft driver, Rafeeq Badee, several times as he sat in his vehicle at an apartment on Woodberry Place in Decatur on Nov. 30, 2024. The suspects also took his vehicle and his phone before fleeing. Badee died while being transported by ambulance to a hospital. On Jan. 15, 2025, investigators located and arrested Ja’Quan Deodrick Smith, 18, of Decatur, and a juvenile male at a residence in Lithonia.  Arrest warrants charge…

DECATUR, GA – Due to forecasted cold weather, DeKalb County will open the following four warming centers for residents 24 hours a day beginning 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan 19, until further notice: Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Rd. Tobie Grant Recreation Center, 593 Parkdale Drive  Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive (see pick-up schedule below for transportation to Frontline)  Exchange Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive (see pick-up schedule below for transportation to Frontline)  DeKalb County’s overnight only warming center, North DeKalb Senior/Community Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee, will remain open. Special transportation will be provided each morning to one of the 24-hour warming center locationsDuring warming…