Author: On Common Ground News

State Representative Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) and State Senator Tonya Anderson (D-Lithonia) will co-host a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 14, 6 – 8 p.m. via Zoom. Advance registration is required. To register for the meeting, please click here. During the virtual meeting, Kendrick and Anderson will discuss COVID-19 vaccines, elections legislation, voting rights, criminal justice reform and the state’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget. The meeting will also feature several guest panelists, including Melissa Bishop, Pfizer, Inc., who will discuss the Pfizer vaccine. Additionally, Andre Fields, Fair Fight Action, will discuss election and voting legislation; Marisa Dodson, Southern Center for…

State Sen. Emanuel Jones calls for mayor’s resignation, federal investigation   Gov. Brian Kemp has signed SB 21, shifting power and authority to the five members of the city council, and reducing the powers of the mayor. The bill is effective immediately, said State Sen. Emanuel Jones, who sponsored the legislation. Kemp signed the bill on Thursday (April 1). Jones told On Common Ground News that he urged the governor to sign the bill immediately and he received an email today confirming the governor had signed it. Historically, bills that are approved by the Georgia House of Representatives become effective…

Saturday outreach events planned and Resurrection Sunday Service features special musical guest Pastor Charles Jenkins STONECREST–New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a series of community outreach activities beginning on Good Friday, April 2, and culminating with the ministry’s Resurrection Sunday drive-up service on April 4. All activities will take place on New Birth’s campus located at 6400 Woodrow Rd in Stonecrest. On Friday, April 2, New Birth is partnering with Elite Medical Associates to administer 1,800 free Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations onsite. The following day, The King’s Table food pantry will host its weekly free food distribution at The Family Life…

The City of Atlanta announced the opening of an emergency warming center in anticipation of frigid temperatures. The center will open Thursday, April 1, 11p.m. and will remain open through Friday, April 2, at 10 a.m. The warming center is located at the former Ramada Hotel, 450 Capitol Avenue S.E., Atlanta. Those in need of additional assistance can contact the City by dialing 311 (inside Atlanta City limits) or 404-546-0311.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) sent a letter to the Inspector General at the U.S. Department Health and Human Services(HHS) as part of their ongoing investigation into COVID-19-related deaths in nursing homes. The request to review COVID-19 data in Georgia nursing homes came from discrepancies as some 41 nursing homes in the state recorded zero COVID-19-related deaths among their residents, despite reporting over 900 infections. In addition, numerous Georgia nursing homes also reported conflicting figures to federal and state officials and appear to be under reporting deaths to the federal government.…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) congratulates the Valedictorians and Salutatorians of the Class of 2021. The Valedictorians and Salutatorians were notified in a surprise announcement on the morning of Friday, March 26, 2021 by a caravan of administrators, counselors, teachers, and School Resource Officers (SROs) driving to each student’s home to present a yard sign to celebrate these top scholars who achieved despite the challenges this pandemic year. They will lead their respective senior classes in their school’s graduation ceremony, which is scheduled to be held in-person this year. The Salem High School (SHS) graduation ceremony is scheduled…

DeKalb County has been the victim of an international cyberattack. As a result of the ongoing attack, on March 24, the Department of Innovation and Technology became aware of an attempted data breach that impacted the Tenant-Landlord Assistance Coalition program. Emails or applications previously sent to renthelp@dekalbcountyga.gov were included on the server that was attacked. The county currently is unaware of any actual compromise or misuse of customers’ information. A criminal investigation is underway. Within five minutes of the identification of the cyberattack, the county disabled the email account and disconnected the targeted server. The county is…

The State Board of Education recently approved Gov. Brian Kemp’s and State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ recommendation that Georgia use federal stimulus funds to provide a one-time, $1,000 bonus payment to every K-12 public school teacher and other school-based support personnel. A separate bonus for Pre-K educators is being provided by the Department of Early Care and Learning. Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) announced today, April 1, that it plans to provide the bonus to teachers and as well as a one-time bonus to all full-time and part-time staff who did not qualify under the state requirements. RCPS will use…

Due to continued staffing shortages, the DeKalb County Board of Health’s Office of Vital Records at the Richardson Health Center in Decatur, and the North DeKalb Health Center in Chamblee, will close to the public April 1-9. Due to the Good Friday holiday(April 2), the office, along with all health centers, was already scheduled to be closed. A staff member is available for funeral home requests. Birth and death certificates requests can be made and paid for online. In-person requests can be processed by visiting a vital records office location in a neighboring county. The Office of Vital Records is scheduled to…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has finalized its testing schedule for employees, students and families. Testing will be available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bethune Middle School and Cross Keys High School. Testing will be available on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Doraville United Elementary School. Other locations are being considered for a future date, the district said. “We look forward to the continued partnership with Top Dog Solutions, Inc. to provide testing,” said DCSD Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris. “Testing options provide a service for our school community. We are committed to continuing to…