Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA – Atlanta Public Schools (APS) announced plans today (Jan. 25) to provide COVID-19 surveillance testing in schools as some students in pre-K-2 students returned to school under the district’s Return+Learn initiative. The news conference was held at M.A. Jones Elementary School in southwest Atlanta and included APS Superintendent Lisa Herring; Atlanta Board of Education Chair Jason Esteves; Viral Solutions, LLC President/Cofounder Ron Sanders; and CEO/Cofounder Dr. Benjamin Lefkove. Students in grades PreK-2 whose parents or caregivers opted for in-person instruction returned to the classroom today. Students in grades 3-5 will return on Monday, Feb. 8, while students in grades…

Veteran health official takes helm ATLANTA–Jevon Gibson has been named the new CEO of The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (The FDHA), owner of Grady Health System . The FDHA is  the healthcare safety net for both Fulton and DeKalb County, providing critical components to the care of indigent citizens in metro Atlanta. The FDHA Board of Trustees unanimously selected  Gibson as its new CEO and head of the operations  on Dec. 17, 2020.  Gibson assumed the new role on Jan. 4, 2021 and has taken the helm as the organization expands the virtual delivery of education and empowerment events launched last year due…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will partner with the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (FDHA) to moderate a discussion aimed at providing background, understanding and information on human trafficking. The virtual “FDHA Community Conversation on Violence: Human Trafficking” event will take place Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will be a continuation of the FDHA’s 2021 Health Summit “Stop The Violence” initiative. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, human trafficking can be defined as a modern form of slavery, including an extreme form of labor exploitation in which one is recruited or obtained and forced to labor…

CONYERS, GA—Andy Bowman, former head golf professional at city-owned Cherokee Run Golf Club, was promoted to director of golf effective Jan. 7, City Manager Tony Lucas announced in a news release on today. Bowman joined the city of Conyers in 2013 and was promoted to head golf professional at Cherokee Run in 2017. He holds a degree from Georgia Southern University, is a Class A member of the Professional Golf Association and certified in player development. Bowman brings 26 years of experience in the golf industry to his new role as director of golf and is responsible for the daily…

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr is warning older Georgians and disabled adults, along with their families and caretakers, to be on the lookout for signs of financial exploitation, especially with regard to the recent issuance of federal stimulus checks. “Georgia has a comprehensive Elder Abuse Law that covers financial exploitation,” says Attorney General Carr. “The law also contains unique protections for individuals residing in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as disabled adults. We are on the lookout for individuals and organizations that are taking advantage of older and disabled adults with regard to their stimulus checks.…

Global thought leader Bishop T.D. Jakes will speak directly with the scientists responsible  for developing the Moderna and Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines. The virtual panel discussion will take place today, Jan. 25, at noon Central Time (1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time): T.D. Jakes YouTube channel. In “Conversations with America: Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccine,” Bishop Jakes, Dr. Anthony Fauci and  scientists will discuss  how nearly 40 percent of Americans and some communities of color are feeling vaccine hesitancy. Leading the discussion: §  Bishop T.D. Jakes is senior pastor of The Potter’s House. Located in Dallas, The Potter’s House is a 30,000-member nondenominational, multicultural church and humanitarian organization led by Bishop…

The DeKalb County Police Athletic League (PAL Plus) will host its second annual Gaming with a Cop competition. The virtual event will be held Monday, Feb. 15, kicking off at 8 a.m.  and ending at 6  p.m.     Open to participants from ages 12 to 16, the event provides an opportunity for law enforcement to connect with youths on a fun, yet competitive level with three separate gaming competitions. One competition has a top prize of $300, while the top prize for the two remaining games is $150 each. Registration is free at www.dekalbrsvp.com. The DeKalb County PAL Plus’s mission is…

The DeKalb County Board of Health has resumed registration for Phase 1A+ .  Appointments can be made by visiting the Board of Health’s updated scheduling portal, with appointments beginning Monday, Jan. 25. Individuals without access to the internet or those with special needs can call 404-294-3700 during normal business hours to obtain assistance from a call center representative. Registration has been paused since Friday, Jan. 9, after nearly 20,000 registrations were received in the 24-hour period after the process opened the previous day. To address earlier challenges with registration and scheduling, individuals will now be able to search…