Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA – Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp and the Department of Revenue (DOR) announced today that DOR will begin issuing special, one-time tax refunds this week. This initiative is a result of House Bill 1302, which the Georgia General Assembly recently passed, and Gov. Kemp signed into law. This legislation allows for an additional refund of income taxes from 2020, due to the state experiencing a revenue surplus. “Due to years of responsible, conservative budgeting and our measured reopening that prioritized protecting both lives and livelihoods, Georgia is in a position to issue these one-time refunds,” said Governor Kemp. “As hardworking Georgians…

MACON, GA–Explore downtown Macon on Saturday, May 14, at the Great Art Hunt fundraiser to support The 567 Center and its mission of bringing creative life to downtown Macon. The event kicks off at The 567 Center, 456 First Street, where participants can stop by between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. to pick up their T-shirt, tote bag, map, and clues to help you find all the stops in this scavenger hunt of sculptures and murals If you take a photo at every location, you might even win a week on St. George Island. You will have until 7 p.m. to complete…

By State Rep. Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) The recent educational crisis within the DeKalb County School System requires an objective eye, moral fortitude and moral integrity to deliver a solution to my constituents. I have fought to place our children first and have held our local school system accountable for more than 20 years and will continue to do so. However, I do not support state intervention because the state does not have the moral ground or integrity to address the issue of funding. It is the taxpayers and voters that hire and fire us elected officials with…

DECATUR, GA– Please be advised that residents in the surrounding area of DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) may experience an increase in noise Friday, May 13, to Sunday, May 15. DeKalb-Peachtree Airport will host its annual Good Neighbor Day Air Show and Open House Saturday, May 14, noon to 5 p.m. An increase in noise is expected with the arrivals and departures of the many participating aircrafts. For more information, contact the Airport Administration Office at 770-936-5440.

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA – Today, Chapel Hill Elementary School teacher Aisha Chadwick got a surprise delivery after it was announced that she was one of 10 national recipients of the Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award. The recognition is presented annually to 10 dynamic teachers across the nation who promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom to encourage students to pursue careers in computer science and robotics. Chadwick, a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics STEM) lab teacher, received a $5,000 cash award, and Chapel Hill Elementary was awarded $25,000 for the school to further STEM   education.…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw has appropriated $760,000 to assist several nonprofit community agencies in helping DeKalb residents with housing and food insecurities, and other essential needs due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. The aid comes from District 4 American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding. “Community-based agencies continue to play a critical role partnering with me to address societal issues,” Commissioner Bradshaw said. “I am thankful to have funding to allocate to assist these organizations do good in serving individuals in the community and providing resources to help with their immediate needs.” The COVID-19 pandemic shined…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) made history in 2020 by becoming the first Georgia county to translate voter materials in Spanish and Korean voluntarily. Expanding access to information for Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities has allowed county officials to share important information about voting options while also providing a composite ballot in the two additional languages. In partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta and GALEO, DeKalb VRE is continuing to offer translated materials with important information on the upcoming May 24 primary election and plans to continue translations through the runoff cycle and…

MEDITERRANEAN SEA –Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Anil Persaud, from Loganville, Georgia is assigned to the “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34. Persaud attaches a fuel tank to an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) on May 8. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S., allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa. Photo provided by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Board of Elections is working to make sure citizens are still able to vote as conveniently as possible in the upcoming General Primary and Nonpartisan Election on May 24. Runoffs, if necessary, will be held on June 21. For this election, voters have the option of voting by mail absentee voting, in-person early voting, including Saturday and Sunday voting, and in-person on Election Day. Voters are reminded that early in-person voting has moved to 1115 West Ave., S.W., There is no voting at Parker Road. Any voter wishing to vote by mail absentee ballot,…