Author: On Common Ground News

Gwinnett County Commissioner Jasper Watkins to host “District 3 Talks Fentanyl: A Youth Town Hall” LAWRENCEVILLE, GA—Join District 3 Commissioner Jasper Watkins, III for a candid conversation about the rise of fentanyl in the community and how it’s impacting young lives.  The event will be held on June 21, 10 a.m.—11:30 a.m., at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Auditorium, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.  The event will feature a screening of the Emmy Award-winning docuseries, Upfront Gwinnett: Fighting Fentanyl, followed by a youth-led discussion with a panel of experts in public health and safety. Bring your questions, your voice and your…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) announced the unofficial and incomplete results for the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) race following the June 17 contest.  To view the election summary report, click here. Any accepted provisional ballots will also be factored into the final certified results.  “Throughout this election cycle, we’ve strived to provide a seamless and efficient voting experience for DeKalb County residents,” said Keisha Smith, executive director of DeKalb VRE. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated poll workers, employees and the members of our Board of Registration and Elections whose collective tireless efforts…

Story Updated June 18, 8:24 a.m. Conyers, GA—The Conyers Police Department has announced  a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect involved in a shooting on June 14 at 1160 Forest Villa Drive in Conyers.  That incident is connected to a June 13 shooting on Janice Lane that claimed the life of Dearrious Davenport, 30, of Conyers. Davenport, a father of three children, was at a house party with cousins when an argument escalated into gun violence at 1290 Janice Lane.  Police were dispatched around 10:50 p.m. to the short, dead-end street where they found Davenport lying…

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will implement the use of Yondr pouches to secure cell phones and personal devices in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade for the upcoming school year. The move follows Georgia’s Distraction Free Education Act (HB 340), signed into law this year. The new law requires all public schools in Georgia to enact a policy and procedure for the use of personal electronic devices at school and school-sponsored events for students in kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8). “Our classrooms aim to foster an environment where every student can focus, engage, and thrive,” said Superintendent Shirley Chesser. “By…

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County has fully committed a $5 million federal grant to assist low- to moderate-income households by providing no-cost plumbing repairs, known as the DeKalb CARES Plumbing Repair Program. Funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury under the American Rescue Plan Act, this initiative has spent $1.5 million to future applicants in need of plumbing repairs and committed an additional $3.3 million to future applicants in need of plumbing repairs.   The county has contracts with three professional plumber companies to perform the repairs. “The CARES program allows us to directly address the urgent plumbing problems of low-income…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–– A 29-year-old man was convicted of fatally shooting a victim execution-style during a strong-armed robbery and blinding a second victim.  A Gwinnett County jury found Hakiem Sherif Williams guilty of malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault for shooting and killing 23-year-old Mihn Nguyen in September 2020, and shooting and blinding Cheng Xiu Han, 32. Williams was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years without the possibility of parole. “This heinous robbery scheme caused irreparable damage to these victims and to their families,” said Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “Though the verdict won’t make…

STONECREST, GA— Advancing efforts to promote Black entrepreneurship and economic justice, Dr. Jamal Bryant is celebrating Juneteenth with a two-day pop-up marketplace spotlighting more than 100 Black-owned businesses.  The Juneteenth celebration will take place Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, June 22, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at New Birth’s Samson Family Life Center in Stonecrest. The event is open to the public and will feature a wide range of Black-owned businesses offering fashion, wellness, home goods, gourmet products, and more, alongside live entertainment, giveaways, and family-friendly activities. A limited number of vendor opportunities remain…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Following recent protests on Chamblee-Tucker Road and across the region, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has reaffirmed her commitment to protecting the right to lawful protest while announcing a comprehensive review of law enforcement actions taken during the demonstrations. She also urged caution and clarity in public discourse, recognizing the emotionally charged environment unfolding locally and nationwide. “We will always uphold the right to peacefully protest in DeKalb County,” said Cochran-Johnson. “At the same time, we have a responsibility to protect the safety of our residents, our officers, and the broader community. I stand firmly by my earlier…