Author: On Common Ground News

Congressman Henry “Hank” Johnson (GA-04) is encouraging 9th – 12th grade high school students, living or attending high school in the district, to submit their art creations as part of this year’s Congressional Art Competition. “Art can have so many interpretations and cross so many boundaries, while still bringing folks together. This annual competition allows our students to share a piece of their lives with us through their works,” said Johnson. “Whether it be a message of protest or one of strictly fun and pleasantries; I look forward to what our students will put forth.” Each year, this national…

The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold the following meeting on Monday, March 14, 2022 in the J. David Williamson Board Room, Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083. 11:30am       BOARD MEETING Virtual Community Input Meeting Executive Session for the purpose of discussing permitted matters Combined Work Session & Business Meeting The board meeting is in-person, but due to social distancing requirements, members of the public are asked to view the live stream and/or broadcast. The meeting agenda is attached and can be accessed online by going to: www.dekalbschoolsga.org, click on Leadership, go…

CONYERS, GA—The Rockdale County Board of Education approved a resolution during a special called meeting on Thursday, March 3, to increase the exemption senior citizens currently receive for school property taxes. Five Board members approved the resolution, one opposed, and one Board member was not in attendance. Under the measure, which was recommended by RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts, the exemption would increase from $35,000 to $50,000 for seniors ages 65 years and older. Changing this exemption for seniors would be the largest exemption allowed, RCPS officials said. “I commend our Board of Education for its commitment to providing some tax…

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…