Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA – On Saturday, May 17, 12:30p.m., Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) will host the 2025 Pinnacle Awards, an annual celebration recognizing small businesses in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District.  The event, which will be held at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia, will be livestreamed: @RepHankJohnson on X, Facebook and YouTube. The event will feature remarks from Congressman Johnson, performances, presentations of awards, and a special video tribute to the honorees.   This year’s theme: “Where Business Meets Purpose,” highlights the critical role local entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth, innovation, and community impact.  HONOREES: David Holt, daVIDO’s…

ATLANTA – State Representative Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) calls for a thorough investigation into duplicative Medicaid payments, particularly those involving Centene Corporation, following a recent Wall Street Journal analysis. The analysis reported that Centene received approximately $620 million in duplicative payments nationwide between 2019 and 2021. The report also highlighted Georgia as a state with a significant rate of duplicate payments, with the state incurring $92 million in payments for individuals enrolled and receiving care elsewhere. In a letter to Georgia Department of Community Health Commissioner Russel Carlson, Rep. Carter expressed her concerns about what she calls “unacceptable mismanagement of taxpayer dollars”…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– On Thursday, May 15, the Gwinnett County Police Department, in partnership with the Norcross Police Department and Gwinnett School Police, will participate in a 20-mile run across Gwinnett County in support of the nearly 18,000 athletes of Special Olympics Georgia. The run will kick off at 10 a.m. at Pike Nurseries,1105 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee. The event will end at the finish line around 2:30 p.m. at Mission World Church, 88 Brand Road, Loganville. Approximately 50 runners from GCPD, NPD, and GCPS will take part in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, which spans the county from…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA— The Rockdale County Board of Elections announces two polling place changes effective for the Special Primary Election for Public. Service Commission Districts 2 and 3 on June 17. If needed, the runoff election will be held on July 15. Voters assigned to the Honey Creek Precinct and Hightower Precinct are encouraged to check their mail next week for an updated precinct card. While precinct cards are not required to vote, a valid photo ID is required at the polls. Polling Place Changes: On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both June 17 and…

What you need to bring to the free event DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston and DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office Director Beoncia Loveless invite the public to attend a Missing Persons & DNA Event on Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Cochran Building at Legacy Park, 500 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur.  Families and friends of missing persons are invited to attend the event to share information about their loved ones, open or add to missing person’s reports, and donate DNA samples that may assist with identification efforts.  The event is also open to members…

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian P. Kemp, joined by Speaker Jon Burns and members of the Georgia General Assembly, today signed four important pieces of legislation into law that build on his administration’s commitment to strengthening Georgia’s workforce, expanding opportunity, and supporting hardworking students and families across the state. The bills signed today (may 12) include HB 192, HB 38, HB 172, and SB 85. Together, they represent targeted investments in Georgia’s talent pipeline and critical updates to the tools and programs already helping Georgians succeed. “We’re proud Georgia has been recognized as the No. 1 state for business for an unprecedented 11 consecutive years,” said…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, issued the following statement after Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter, was fired over the weekend by President Trump – days after he fired now-former Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden: “President Trump’s firing of the Register of Copyrights, Shira Perlmutter, is yet another power grab from an administration that has repeatedly violated the Constitution and our country’s rule of law. Register Perlmutter is an accomplished and respected expert who led the Copyright Office…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will run one day late as follows: Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day observed. No sanitation service. Tuesday, May 27 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, May 26, will be serviced on Tuesday, May 27.  Wednesday, May 28 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, May 27, will be serviced on Wednesday, May 28. Thursday, May 29 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, May 28, will be serviced on Thursday, May 29. Friday, May 30 – Residential customers…

NEW YORK, NY– The New York Stock Exchange on today, May 9, 2025, welcomed executives of the Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange,Inc. (NYSE: ICE) to celebrate the global corporation’s 25th anniversary.  ICE was founded in May 2000 and is listed on the Fortune 500, S&P, and Russell 1000.  To honor the occasion, Jeff Sprecher, ICE founder, Chair and CEO and Tracy Hughes, Senior Director Technologies(both at center), and Lynn Martin, President, NYSE Grou(second row , center)  o ring The Closing Bell®. Images courtesy of NYSE Group, @NYSE The  NYSE does not recommend or endorse any investments, investment strategies, companies, products, or services.

DEKLAB COUNTY, GA – Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, elected CEO of DeKalb County Government, delivered her inaugural State of the County address to DeKalb’s  business community on May 8. The ticketed event, attended by over 800 during a luncheon, was hosted by the Council for Quality Growth and the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce.  Cochran-Johnson unveiled the theme of her address with a video presentation titled “Mission: Possible – DeKalb Reimagined.” Highlighting the change in leadership, the CEO said she “accepted the baton” from former DeKalb County CEO Michael L. Thurmond and is taking the charge on investing in infrastructure, housing, economic development, and public…