Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA – The Georgia State Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee, chaired by Senator Donzella James, will hold its second public hearing on Friday, June 18, 11a.m. to 2 p.m.,  in room 450 of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. At the public hearing, Congressional members, Committee members, Georgia General Assembly leadership, statewide elected officials and representatives from key community organizations will discuss the importance of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and what it means to Georgia and other states. “The Interstate Cooperation Committee wants to provide a platform for this important initiative where dissemination of information, transparency, accountability and are…

Today, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the entirety of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in California v. Texas, a lawsuit brought by several Republican Attorneys General – including Georgia’s Chris Carr – in an attempt to do away with the health care law. “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is a huge victory for Georgians and their right to quality, affordable health care. After Republicans’ decade-long battle to dismantle the ACA and rip coverage away from millions of people, Georgians can rest easy today knowing the ACA is here to stay,” said Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Chair of the Democratic Party of…

ATLANTA – The House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee, chaired by State Rep. Bonnie Rich (R-Suwanee), and the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, chaired by State Senator John F. Kennedy (R-Macon), will hold its next series of joint town hall hearings across the state of Georgia. The schedule for the next three in-person hearings is as follows: Monday, June 28, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m. in room 341 of the State Capitol; Tuesday, June 29, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m. at South Forsyth High School (Cafeteria) in Cumming; Wednesday, June 30, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m. at…

CONYERS, GA—The city of Conyers has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for fiscal year 2020-2021 and the Award for Financial Reporting Achievement (AFRA) by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the fiscal year budget ending June 30. This year marks 29 consecutive years the city has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and 28 consecutive years it has received the AFRA. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. In order to receive the award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a…

ATLANTA – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that his Criminal Investigations Division has taken out a warrant on Joel Brooks, 32, of Loganville, for insurance fraud. “Mr. Brooks is accused of attempting to illegally secure $37,100 in insurance funds for a lost piece of jewelry,” said Commissioner King. “He submitted the claim and an appraisal for the jewelry to Farmers Insurance after already being reimbursed by another insurance company for the same loss.” Anyone with information on this case should call the Criminal Investigations Divison’s warrant line at 404-463-6363. Commissioner King’s Criminal Investigations Division is…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with the U.S. Marshals and the Atlanta Police Department, arrested a suspect in the murder of a man as he stood by his car on Redan Road in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Decatur resident Altavelius Rodriquze Wheeler, 21, was taken into custody without incident on Boulevard Northeast in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the arrest warrant, Wheeler was seen shooting a handgun as he leaned out of a vehicle window of a vehicles while passing a gas station on Redan Road on April 26, 2021. The warrant alleges that Paul Anthony Docks, who…

Nurturing the next generation of activists and community leaders starts with an investment in their education. Each year the association offers need-based and merit scholarships as part of the NAACP – Scholars and Professionals: Internships, Ready Youth and Employment (N-SPIRE) program.This year, 170 awards range from $3,000 to $15,000 thanks to the support of various donors, including Dark & Lovely, Vans, and SmileDirectClub. Through our N-Spire Scholarship Program, we have more than $800,000 available to help deserving high school seniors and college students fund the upcoming school year. Students are encouraged to apply by tge June 18 deadline.

Notice is given that the Rockdale Board of Elections will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 3:30pm to certify the results of the Probate Judge Special Election held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.  Please see agenda. The Special Meeting is scheduled as follows: WHEN:            Thursday, June 17, 2021 TIME:               3:30pm WHERE:        IN-PERSON:              BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE                 1261 COMMERCIAL DRIVE, SW, SUITE B                                                         CONYERS, GA 30094 -OR-       VIRTUAL:                  Online Via Zoom – Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7049887949 Meeting ID: 704 988 7949 One tap mobile +13126266799,,7049887949# US (Chicago) +16465588656,,7049887949# US (New York)

Board also approves $400,000 to assist uninsured with healthcare costs LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved expanding its Police Department’s fleet maintenance by building  a new facility. The BOC gave the nod at its June 15 meeting. Construction on the building is slated to begin August 2021 and will take a year to complete. Diversified Construction of Georgia was awarded the contract for $1,698,000. The Police Department’s fleet maintenance is currently housed in a building that was built in the 1970s, when the department was much smaller. “This addition will increase efficiency and prevent delays as…

DECATUR, GA—On June 12, Congressman Hank Johnson hosted the “Truth Bringer in Chief” Angela Rye on his latest episode of “Live With Hank,” via his Instagram page. In the candid, one-on-one virtual conversation, the two discussed several topics including: The truth behind the Greenwood (Tulsa) Massacre and its continued plague on Black America; their time together at the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), where Rye served as the executive director and general counsel for the 112thCongress; Rye’s trip to Ghana; and her recent celebration of her father, longtime activist and Seattle radio host Eddie Rye, Jr.’s, 79th birthday. “We love Angela and…