Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County residents who reside within the boundaries of the City of Atlanta are urged to cast their ballots on Election Day, Nov. 2, by 7 p.m. to avoid having to vote by a provisional ballot. The polling precincts in DeKalb will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. While precincts within Atlanta-DeKalb officially close at 8 p.m., these 13 polling locations would require voters who arrive to the polling locations after 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 to cast a provisional ballot, as opposed to voting on a touchscreen ballot machine. “We are reminding voters that…

By Andrew Chamblin III, Financial Advisor The tight labor market is enticing many people to evaluate options to start a new career. If you’re among those who plan to quit your current role in search of a better opportunity, it’s important to consider how doing so could affect your finances. Here are some things to think about before you hand in your two-week notice: Compare the complete package. Many factors contribute to work satisfaction. Weigh these factors when evaluating whether to stay in your current job or take the leap into a new opportunity. Pay – Better pay…

Pictured: the ruins of the historic Bruce Street School in Lithonia, ,GA.  Photo provided by Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance.   LITHONIA, GA–Community engagement sessions will begin in November to gather public input on how the remnants of DeKalb County’s first black public school should be preserved, organizers announced today (Oct. 18). Martin Rickles Studio, an Atlanta-based interdisciplinary design studio, will lead the sessions to envision what is possible for the future of the historic site of the Bruce Street School, located in the city of Lithonia. Two on-site meetings have been scheduled at 2449…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian P. Kemp has announced 27 appointments to various boards and commission Georgia Commission on Women Valerie Montgomery Rice is the sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine and the first woman to lead the free-standing medical institution. Montgomery Rice serves as both the president and CEO. A renowned infertility specialist and researcher, she most recently served as dean and executive vice president of Morehouse School of Medicine, where she has served since 2011. Prior to joining Morehouse, Montgomery Rice held faculty positions and leadership roles at various health centers, including academic health centers.…

NORCROSS, GA—Gwinnett County government is urging residents to recycle their empty, clean glass bottles and jars. The county has teamed up with family-owned Waste Pro USA, Inc. to pilot a drop-off glass recycling program at OneStop Norcross. The program kicked off on Saturday, Oct. 16. “Gwinnett County values stewardship and sustainability and heard from many residents over the last few years who want a way to recycle their glass containers,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson. “We also recognize the many benefits of recycling glass and are delighted to partner with Waste Pro on this effort.”…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reports that two separate suspects are in custody in connection with unrelated murders that both occurred in Decatur in September. According to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, 19-year-old Jacquez LaJuan Freeman of Stone Mountain, Georgia surrendered to authorities at the DeKalb County Jail on Oct. 14. An arrest warrant charges Freeman with Murder for causing the death of Justin Johnson, 29, by shooting him multiple times during an incident on Williamsburg Drive in Decatur on Sept. 18, 2021. Freeman is being held at the DeKalb County Jail…

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STONECREST, GA—City Council members Jazzmin Cobble and Tammy Grimes are inviting those impacted by breast cancer and domestic violence to join them this weekend to remember and celebrate. The two council members are hosting “A Moment on the Mountain” on Sunday, Oct. 17, 4 p.m., at Arabia Mountain, 3787 Klondike Road. The event is being held as Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed locally, nationally and internationally during the month of October. The event at Arabia will provide an opportunity for those impacted to give testimonials and connect with others. “It is important that we take the time to…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, introduced the Cybersecurity Opportunity Act to fund a cybersecurity grant education program at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions. The Cybersecurity Opportunity Act would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to award at least 50 percent of existing cybersecurity grants to HBCUs for five years for increasing research, education, technical, partnership, and innovation capacity. This legislation would help strengthen cybersecurity and contribute to a more diverse workplace by giving the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)…