Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA—New Birth Senior Pastor Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant relaunched The King’s Table food pantry on Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. after a brief hiatus. The King’s Table, which has served more than 850,000 people since its inception, partnered with PETA, Slutty Vegan and others for a vegan-inspired food distribution that served hundreds of families in metro Atlanta. Bryant was joined by Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole to give out 300 free Chik’n Head and PLT burgers, 500 cartons of JD’s Vegan ice cream donated by producer Jermaine Dupri, and 1,000 vegan starter kits—packed with fresh…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the height of the pandemic, records were broken as millions of Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits. As demand soared, the U.S. Department of Labor provided instructions to states to administer payments under several programs authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. As guidance evolved, states paid benefits – in some cases – to individuals who were not entitled to receive them, although the individuals were not at fault. Today(Feb. 7), the department issued an Unemployment Insurance Program Letter to states to address overpayments under the CARES Act’s Unemployment Compensation Programs when the claimant is not…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announced the appointment of Judge Ronald B. Ramsey Sr. to serve as the chair of the DeKalb Charter Review Commission. “Judge Ramsey’s judicial and legislative experience will be invaluable as we continue reviewing the county charter to ensure that we are responsive to needs of current and future residents of DeKalb,” CEO Thurmond said. Thurmond’s executive order, signed in March 2021, charges the Charter Review Commission with identifying potential enhancements and improvements in service delivery or operational structure; and ensuring DeKalb County will be able to respond to any future state of emergency.…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – Live Healthy Gwinnett announced the lineup for a series of free community health fairs throughout 2022. The family-friendly events will include health screenings, expert speakers, activities and giveaways. Themed health fairs will take place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as follows: Feb. 12: Heart Month at Lenora Park, 4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville May 21: Mental Health Month at Lucky Shoals Park, 4651 Britt Road, Norcross July 30: Back to School Bash at Bogan Park, 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford Nov. 12: Diabetes Month at Rhodes Jordan Park, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville…

CONYERS, GA—The Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts has postponed the Feb. 8 performance of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, which was to be  presented by the Virginia Repertory Theater. Officials said members of the cast have tested positive for COVID-19. Officials said every effort will be made to reschedule the event for a new date. This performance is funded in part by a grant from Georgia Presenters and The Fox Theatre Institute.  

Update: Advanced registration is require. To register for Zoom access, please click here. ATLANTA – The DeKalb County House Legislative Delegation, chaired by State Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), will hold two additional virtual public hearings to discuss the proposed district maps for the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and DeKalb County Board of Education. Public hearings will be held this week on: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 12 p.m. via Facebook Live; to participate in this virtual hearing, please clickhere;  Tuesday, Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. To register for Zoom access, please clickhere. Wednesday, Feb. 9, 12…

Story Updated: Feb. 7, 2022, 6:28 P.M. DEKALB COUNTY, GA– A 34-year-old deputy has been fired from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office after being arrested by the DeKalb County Police Department on rape charges and sex trafficking, authorities said. Stone Mountain resident Derrick Gardner was charged with Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Rape, Child Molestation, Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes, and Aggravated Sexual Battery. DeKalb Police said they arrested Gardner on Sunday, Feb. 6, after responding to a 911 call and report of a rape. Gardner was taken into custody…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– An inmate has died of an apparent suicide while in custody at the DeKalb County Jail., officials said today (Feb. 7), according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Officers performing security checks discovered Jaquay Smith, 21, of Stone Mountain unresponsive inside a cell on Feb. 5. Emergency medical services were rendered immediately by jail medical staff and DeKalb Fire Rescue, but Smith was pronounced deceased upon his arrival at Grady Memorial Hospital, the news release stated. Smith was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office without incident on Feb. 1, 2022, on warrants issued by…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Semaj M. Stephens, 12, has been safely reunited with his family. The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO)had issued an advisory on Saturday (Feb. 5) asking the public to be on the lookout for Stephenson after he did not return home from school on Friday, Feb. 4. Stephens reportedly exited the school bus in front of his subdivision but his mother stated that he never returned home. On Saturday, Feb. 5, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Semaj M. Stephens was observed walking in his subdivision by a Rockdale resident who lived in the area. The resident immediately…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County will open three warming centers for residents to use overnight. Warming centers will be open in the following DeKalb County Fire Stations Fri. through Mon. night, Feb. 4-7, beginning at 8 p.m.: Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 Fire Station 4, 4540 Flakes Mill Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294 Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta, GA 30316 Anyone staying in the warming centers must follow the county’s COVID-19 protocols that include wearing a mask, social distancing and undergoing a temperature check.