Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA—The Fulton County Library System has announced the reopening of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History along with 32 branch libraries Library on May 4. The phased reopening plan calls for limited in-branch services such as browsing shelves, printing and computer use, twice per week, allowing for one-hour visits per patron, per day. These in-person services will be available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Additionally, appointments will be offered on the same dates and during those same hours, to researchers…

DAYTONA BEACH, FL—The International Space Station (ISS) is home to a variety of research projects meant to improve the quality of life back on Earth, but because of limited space aboard the facility, some projects — namely, devices meant to grow cells for testing in microgravity — lack the proper equipment. That’s the problem Mechanical Engineering senior Malik Moville aimed to solve with a recent undergraduate research project, which took home the first-place team prize at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’sDiscovery Day. “The International Space Station provides a platform to observe the impact microgravity or the lack thereof can have on traditional terrestrial investigations,” said Moville,…

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston is hosting a virtual community forum titled, “Sexed and Trafficked: Protecting Our Youth,” to raise awareness about this critical issue. The event will be held via Zoom on Thursday, April 29, 6 to 7:30 p.m. The program will feature youth panelists and subject-matter experts from a variety of disciplines discussing issues related to the intersection of sexual assault and human trafficking, including warning signs and risk factors for vulnerable populations often targeted by predators. In 2019, Georgia had the sixth highest number of human trafficking cases in the…

Civil Rights Leader Xernona Clayton and The Xernona Clayton Foundation will join New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, May 1, at 10 a.m. during the church’s weekly food distribution at 6400 Woodrow Rd. in Stonecrest, GA. The Xernona Clayton Foundation will donate $5k to the food donation program in recognition of Clayton’s birthday. Last year, her friends made donations in honor of her 90thbirthday to the Xernona Clayton Foundation in support of her community outreach efforts. More than 120 well-wishers joined Clayton and her husband, Judge Paul L. Brady, during the virtual birthday celebration. Among her special guests were actors…

STONECREST—Acting City Manager Janice Allen Jackson said she is preparing a “thorough management process” for the distribution of the city’s second round of COVID relief funding, estimated between $10 million and $17.3 million. The funds are expected to be released from the U.S. Treasury Department to the state of Georgia and then distributed to cities. Some cities could receive the funding as early as mid-May, Allen stated at the City Council meeting on Monday (April 26). “This program is a lot broader than the first program and we also have a much longer time period in which to expend the…

Congressman Hank Johnson announced April 27 that many Georgians who receive Veterans’ benefits could expect Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 hit their bank accounts beginning this week. Many Georgians have already received Economic Impact Payments as part of the American Rescue Plan that Rep. Johnson helped pass into law. ·       The latest round of payments applies specifically to veterans and their beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments and who don’t normally file a tax return. ·       Most payments will be automatically deposited into banks accounts or loaded onto the Direct Express cards where veterans receive their…

DeKalb County Government will buy approximately 20,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies from area troops for its upcoming food distribution and for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  “This is not simply about buying Girl Scout cookies,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “This is about investing in the future of young girls in DeKalb County. Without the cookie program, many girls from low-income households could not afford to be participate in Girl Scout. Every box sold gives a girl a greater opportunity to lead and succeed.” Due to the pandemic, approximately 720,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies sit unsold in…

Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) is holding the first of two electronics eecycling and paper shredding events in 2021 for Rockdale residents and business owners. The E-Recycling and Paper Shredding Event will be held Saturday,May 15, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., in the parking lot of 1400 Parker Road, Conyers.  The free, half-day event will provide the public a place to safely discard and recycle old documents and electronics, regardless of working condition. There is a maximum of 4 banker boxes per vehicle allowedfor paper shredding, and participants must provide photo ID as proof of residency in Rockdale  to participate. Professional electronics recycling and paper shredding…

The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners(BOC) announced Tuesday(April 27) that the county is now accepting applications for Project RESET 2.0, an expansion of its emergency rental assistance program. The county will use more than $28.1 million in stimulus funds from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program to make payments directly to landlords and utility providers for renters’ past-due balances. Gwinnett County BOC Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson said she wants residents to know that the county is here to help. “The past year has been a difficult one for everyone, but especially for those with the added stress of wondering whether they’ll be…

ATLANTA—State officials have announced that Georgia’s eight state-operated mass vaccination sites will shift to providing the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine and Pfizer second doses through May 21. First doses of the Pfizer vaccine will not be administered at these sites after April 30. “As supply and availability of the COVID-19 vaccines has dramatically increased across the state, far more Georgians are now able to easily access the vaccine at their local pharmacy, grocery store, or doctor’s office,” said GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings, director of Georgia Emergency Management/Homeland Security. “With over 300,000 doses administered at the state sites over the…