Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale officials have announced closures due to severe weather forecast due to Hurricane Helene.  The National Weather Service has predicted heavy winds, torrential rains and possible flooding in metro-Atanta as a result of Helene. All Rockdale County Government Offices and Courthouse will be closed Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27. Additionally, Rockdale County Public Schools will be closed both days. Superintendent Terry Oatts said  in notifications sent to parents on Wednesday that Thursday will be considered an Independent Learning Day for students. The district, he said, will close on Friday, Sept. 27, and Sept. 30 – Octo. 4 for Fall Intercession.   For updates…

Tropical Storm Helene The Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency urged Georgia residents to prepare for Tropical Storm Helene during a press conference held on Sept. 24. To see the  press conference, click on the link below starting at 07:02: https://www.gpb.org/events/news/2024/09/24/gema-presser Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a State of Emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Helene, which is expected to bring damaging winds, heavy rain and possible flooding in coastal areas as the storm moves inland from Florida. “I have declared a State of Emergency enabling emergency management teams to prepare for and direct resources well in advance of…

ATLANTA – Georgia Power is monitoring the development of an expected tropical system currently developing in the Gulf of Mexico and preparing personnel and resources to respond to potential power outages later this week. While the path of the storm may change in the coming days, it is currently forecast to begin impacting South Georgia as early as Thursday with damaging winds, heavy rain, excessive lightning and hail. The system is very large and may impact communities across the state. Georgia Power is in touch with its response partners, including local and state governments, as well as other regional utilities. Georgia Power…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation proposes to amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 portion of the FY 2024 – 2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP is Georgia’s four-year transportation and capital improvements program. The STIP lists federally funded transportation projects that are located outside Metropolitan Transportation Organization (MPO) boundaries. This amendment is being done to redemonstrate fiscal constraint for FY 2025 and also reflect any project phase changes that have occurred since the current STIP’s joint approval by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on October 20, 2023. Along with seeking input on the FY…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Jay-Lan Shane Broughton, 17, is in custody at the Gwinnett County Jail, arrested in connection with robbing two teens at gunpoint at a pool in the 6000 block of Apple Grove Road in Buford on May 24. Broughton, of Duluth, has been charged with three counts of armed robbery, four counts of aggravated assault, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies, the Gwinnett County Police Department stated. The two victims reported being approached by a group including Broughton, who allegedly took their jewelry, debit cards AirPods and driver’s licenses at…

DECATUR, GA— The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections meeting for the purpose of conducting its normal monthly business will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted in person at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, Georgia 30032 and is open to the public. Public comments may be made in person or submitted by sending an email of one printed page or less at a minimum font of 12 to electionspubliccmnt@dekalbcountyga.gov which must be received between 35 and 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting. The body of your email…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Jhon Sebastian Terencio-Quant, who was reported missing by a family member on Sept. 11, has been located and is deceased, the Gwinnett County Police Department announced today, Sept. 23. Detectives do not suspect foul play, stating that the 20-year-old man’s death appears to be drug-related. Authorities did not state where his body was found. Next of kin notifications have been made, and the official cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office, authorities said. The Gwinnett County Police Department had issued an alert on Sept. 20 seeking the public’s assistance in locating the missing Norcross…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) recently honored 124 students named as Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars – including two AP Capstone Diploma for their outstanding performance on the 2023-2024 exams. The most recent number of  scholars marks an increase of 20 students from the previous year with all Rockdale high schools represented among AP Scholars. The number of RCPS students scoring 3 or higher also increased 70% from 2022-23 with 316 students to 538 students in 2023-24. “I am proud of our students, faculty and staff for continuing to expand their reach with Advanced Placement,” said RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts. “Increasing the number…

ATLANTA – The Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence (AI), chaired by Georgia Representative Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs), will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, at 10 a.m. To watch a live stream of this meeting, please click here. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence. WHO:             Members of the Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Subcommittee on AI WHAT:          Subcommittee Meeting WHEN:          Wednesday, October 2, 2024 10 a.m. WHERE:       Virtual

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb Entertainment Commission (DEC) is launching a new partnership with ONE Musicfest (OMF) to offer an internship and job-shadowing program to  aspiring music industry professionals. Candidates selected for  the program will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and mentorship while working on the Southeast’s largest two-day urban music festival, which will be held Oct. 26-28, in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. The 3-month internship, hosted by Sol Fusion, LLC (ONE Musicfest), offers seven internship positions across various departments, including Festival Management & Operations, Festival Partnerships, Festival Promotions, Marketing, OMF App/Website, Productions/Vendors, and Social Media. Interns will gain practical experience in planning and…