Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA – Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are looking for adults and children showing symptoms of COVID-19 to participate in a study helping to test COVID-19 tests. To be eligible, individuals must have symptoms and not have been tested for the virus during their current course of illness. Those who fit the criteria should come to a new Emory testing site at 59 Executive Park South, Atlanta, GA 30329. As part of the study, all individuals will receive a COVID-19 PCR test at no cost to them and may be asked to provide additional samples (nasal or oral swabs or saliva).…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Commissioner Robert Patrick is offering water bill assistance for residents of District 1 through St. Vincent de Paul’s utility program. The program will assist low-income residents who have past due water bills and may be facing shutoffs. The program is in response to the ongoing pandemic, rising costs of gas and food, which is putting many residents in perilous situations. “Water is a basic human need,” said Patrick. “Residents should not have to decide between paying for food or water.”    In order to apply, applicants must be residents of District 1, meet income requirements, and…

ATLANTA–Gospel legend LaShun Pace, a key member of The Anointed Pace Sisters, passed away today (March 21). LaShun had been on dialysis for five years and died of kidney failure. She was 60 years old. On Common Ground News(OCGNews) Publishers Glenn and Valerie Morgan extend condolences to the Pace Family.  LaShun and her nine siblings have always been much more than just  famous gospel singers to the Morgans. “We are sending up prayers for the family. LaShun has taken her flight to join her oldest sister, Duranice, and their only brother, Murphy,” said Glenn Morgan. “The Pace family will always…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Health will hold its regularly scheduled meeting via teleconference on March 24, beginning at 3 p.m. Public access to the video conference can be established through the following methods: Zoom Video: https://zoom.us/join | Meeting ID: 823 9672 0808 / Passcode: 529615 Zoom Audio: 301-715-8592 | 823 9672 0808 / Passcode: 529615 Agenda items for the meeting include:          Approval of Minutes  Regular Board Meeting Minutes of Jan. 27, 2022        Nomination of Officers III.       Contracts for Consideration  The Radiology Group – Radiology Services – Contract #: 22-0570-Co066-00 Global Diagnostics – Radiology Services – Contract #: 22-0570-Co065-00       District Health Director’s Board Report for…

DECATUR, GA— The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will host a Special Called Meeting on Friday, March 25, at 1p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to approve proposed precinct changes for the upcoming May 24, 2022, primary election. Precinct changes can be viewed here. This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). Simultaneous public access to the meeting will be available via livestream on DCTV’s UStream channel at https://video.ibm.com/channel/dctv-channel-23. To make a public comment, join via Zoom: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/97184078303 or dial in via phone toll free at 888-270-9936 and use conference code: 171493. Public comments of two minutes…

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of 14 paratransit and microtransit vehicles on March 15 The purchase is being made through a competitively-procured Georgia Department of Administrative Services contract and is funded 80 percent by the Federal Transit Administration, TA, with a local 20 percent match coming from the County’s transit funds. Gwinnett County Transit’s(GCT) paratransit service is a shared-ride program that provides curb-to-curb service to eligible persons with disabilities. This service is complementary within three-quarters of a mile of Gwinnett County’s local fixed-route service. The new vehicles will be used to provide paratransit service to support GCT’s…

DECATUR, GA–The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) DeKalb County Branch will host a virtual discussion on the “Future of Transportation in South DeKalb” on Saturday, March 26, at 10 a.m. The discussion will be included with our monthly General Membership Meeting. “Access to transportation is key to ensuring the economic equity of all residents of our community,” To achieve this, we must arm ourselves with information.”  DeKalb NAACP Branch President Lance Hammonds said. A panel of local decision makers will provide vital information and answer questions on topics related to MARTA and what the transportation…