Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA —Crews overnight completed the repair on a six-inch-diameter water main near the intersection of Kilgore Lane and Kilgore Road in Lithonia, county officials stated in a news release today (April 27). Water has been restored to approximately 200 homes that were without water service. Any customer experiencing brown water should run their faucets until the water is clear. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Watershed Department at 770-270-6243.

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office wants persons with outstanding warrants for misdemeanor charges to surrender. “Warrant Relief Days” will be held May 4-6, 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. at the DeKalb County Jail, 4425 Memorial Drive, Decatur. During these three days only, persons with outstanding misdemeanor warrants issued by a law enforcement agency in DeKalb County who voluntarily turn themselves in to authorities may be eligible for an unsecured judicial release. When the pandemic began last year, a “Standing Order Governing Bail During Judicial Emergency” was issued by the State Court of DeKalb County allowing persons to…

Photos L-R: Rockdale resident Paula Moreland and Newton County Deputy Sheriff Andre Cooper  Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is inviting one constituent from Rockdale County and one from Newton County as his virtual guests to President Biden’s Joint Address to Congress on tonight(April 28) at 9. Paula Moreland, a disabled Rockdale County resident who worked part time for her church and is a COVID-19 survivor, received the $1,400 Economic Impact Direct Payment under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. With the money, she was able to pay for some much-needed home repairs and purchase medication she desperately needed. The American Rescue…

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…