Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA—Dozens of Arabia Mountain High School students held an anti-ICE demonstration on the school’s football field on Friday, Jan. 30, showing solidarity with nationwide protests following two recent fatal shootings involving federal  immigration agents in Minneapolis Minnesota. Arabia’s students chanted “No more ICE,”as they rallied on Friday around 11:30 a.m. Students had planned a walkout, according to social media posts. School, officials, however, permitted the peaceful demonstration on campus.  The high school protest followed growing public outrage in the wake of the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good, 37,  on Jan. 7 and that of Minneapolis resident Alex Pratt on…

ATLANTA – Gov.Brian P. Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency today ahead of this weekend’s winter storm. This is a separate executive order from the one issued on January 22 ahead of Winter Storm Fern. Governor Kemp also directed the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC), beginning at noon today. The current State of Emergency will run through February 6 and can be found here. “While Mother Nature may not be giving us a break with these back-to-back storms, the good news is we don’t take any days off when it comes to…

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson attended the Georgia Trend Influential Leaders Luncheon at the Georgia Aquarium to receive her award as one of the 2026 100 Most Influential Georgians. The annual event honors leaders from across Georgia representing a range of industries and sectors, including government, business, education, healthcare, and nonprofit service. The recognition highlights individuals whose leadership and impact are shaping communities and driving progress statewide. “I’m grateful to be recognized by Georgia Trend as one of the 2026 100 Most Influential Georgians,” CEO Cochran-Johnson shared.

UPDATE: DeKalb County warming centers to extend operations through the Feb. 8  Due to continued  freezing temperatures and hazardous wind chills, DeKalb County will activate warming centers beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, continuing through Sunday, Feb. 8, releasing individuals at 10:00 a.m. UPDATE: DeKalb County warming centers extend opening through Tuesday, Feb. 3  DECATUR, GA – Due to forecasted freezing temperatures and hazardous wind chills, DeKalb County will activate warming centers beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, continuing through Monday, Feb. 2. The following locations will be open for the 24-hour activation:   Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Road SE, Atlanta St.…

Livestream: https://www.conyersga.com/government/city-government/council-meetings/ CONYERS, GA– Conyers  City Council is moving to a new meeting format beginning in February 2026 and will be introducing work sessions as part of its meeting schedule once a month. The City Council will hold a work session on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. Work sessions will offer the mayor and all council members the opportunity to weigh in and collaboratively discuss various topics or projects prior to being introduced at the regular city council meeting, which will occur on the third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will cancel/reschedule all weekend activities for January 31-February 1, 2026, due to the potential for winter weather and hazardous road conditions. Friday activities will continue as planned except for those held out-of-town with an expected late Friday night return. Please check with your coach, teacher advisor, or school administrator with questions about specific Friday night activities. Weather experts advise there will be extreme cold temperatures below freezing for an extended period. Please prepare now to protect your family and pets during these extreme conditions.  Todas las actividades de RCPS programadas para el sábado…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– As Gwinnett County prepares for a second major winter storm in as many weeks, Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson has issued a declaration of local emergency. This action follows an executive order declaring a state of emergency for North and Central Georgia issued today, Jan. 30, by Gov. Brian Kemp.  The local declaration activates certain emergency powers under the Gwinnett County Emergency Management Ordinance and allows for the use of all available County resources to address the storm’s impact. The Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management is coordinating with departments to prepare for the storm, including brining roads…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Out of an abundance of caution due to potential winter weather, all GCPS events and activities scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31- Feb. 1, are cancelled or may be rescheduled. There are no changes to events or activities scheduled for Friday evening, Jan. 30. GCPS will continue to closely monitor the weather and will share updates as early as possible if weekend conditions affect Monday’s school schedule. “We understand that changes like these can be inconvenient, and we appreciate your flexibility and partnership. The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority, and we are committed to providing clear, timely…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces convictions by guilty pleas in three cases against a Decatur man, including one that involved the theft of an SUV with a one-year-old child in the backseat.  On Wednesday, Jan.28, Dieu Doumdje, 21, pleaded guilty to charges of Theft by Taking, Kidnapping and Reckless Conduct in connection with the incident on Nov. 10, 2021. According to the investigation, officers with the Clarkston Police Department responded just after  a.m. to a report of a child kidnapped outside an apartment complex on Montreal Road.  The baby’s parents told officers he was sleeping in his car…