Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA – Members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus (GHDC) encourage all Georgia residents to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census today, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, by midnight. Households can complete the census online or by phone by 5:59 a.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 16, but the GHDC urges residents to participate as soon as possible. As of Oct. 13, Georgia’s self-response rate is 62.7 percent, which is behind the national average of 66.8 percent. The 2020 U.S. Census ensures accurate representation for districts at both the state and federal level. The number of Georgians counted in…

DeKalb County commissioners: L-R Larry Johnson, Mereda Davis Johnson and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Three DeKalb County commissioners are demanding immediate action from DeKalb elections officials concerning the long waiting times voters are experiencing in South DeKalb precincts during early voting. Commissioners Larry Johnson, Mereda Davis Johnson and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson(none of whom are related) e-mailed the letter this afternoon (Oct. 15) to DeKalb Supervisor of Elections Erica Hamilton and Sam Tillman, who heads the DeKalb Board of Elections. The commissioners said that many precincts in South DeKalb, which has a predominately African American population, have experienced 4- to…

100+ clergy push for Democratic Senate frontrunner ATLANTA—More than 100 faith leaders from across Georgia have signed on to support the Rev. Raphael Warnock’s bid for the U.S. Senate. Clergy from different denominations and various parts of the state have co-signed a joint open letter urging Georgians to join them in voting for Warnock, who currently leads a crowded field of 21 candidates. “Dr. Warnock will bring a unique perspective to Washington,” said Presiding Elder Toni Belin Ingram of AME’s 6th Episcopal District. “He represents transformative change for Georgia and this nation. He is the right leader at the…

Commissioner Larry Johnson shared the following comments during yesterday’s Board of Commissioners meeting as to why he was in favor of the land exchange: This is more than a land swap. This is about bringing more access and more amenities to these long-standing communities to support their sustainability and quality of life. This land exchange provides opportunities for enhanced equity and economic advancement for neighborhoods that have been historically underserved. By working together, we’ve been able to create a model where both environmental and economic concerns can be addressed to benefit the entire community.  This will be a total green…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) scores increased on the American College Test (ACT), according to results recently released by the Georgia Department of Education for Class of 2020 graduates. RCPS had an overall ACT composite score of 19.6, an increase over last year’s score of 18.8 and just below the state and nation at 21.7 and 20.6 respectively. A total of 397 Rockdale students took the ACT. The scores are the most recent results from the 2020 graduates who took the ACT as sophomores, juniors, or seniors, officials said. The ACT is a national college admissions exam, which measures achievement…

Rockdale County elections officials announced today(Oct. 14) that the county will open the Springfield Baptist Church Activity Center, 1877 Iris Drive, S.E., as a  second early voting site for the Nov. 3 General Election starting Monday, Oct. 19. The Rockdale Board of Elections approved the second early voting site at an emergency meeting today. Rockdale Elections Supervisor Cynthia Willingham said opening the additional location will provide voters with more than one location during the early voting period, which runs Oct. 12-30. On Monday, the first day of early voting, Rockdale witnessed an unprecedented turnout at the 1400 Parker Road annex,…

L-R: Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, City Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble and City Attorney Winston Denmark Four Stonecrest City Council members have set a Special Called meeting for Oct. 14, 6 p.m., after clashing at last night’s council meeting over the agenda. The meeting dissolved after the Pledge of Allegiance with the council deadlocked on approving the agenda. The meeting ended abruptly after a nearly 40-minute debate and the council’s 3-3 tie vote, which resulted into a failed motion to approve the meeting agenda and move forward with the city’s business. The packed agenda for the meeting, which…

Attached is the Early Voting turnout for the first day of Early Voting, Monday, October 12, 2020 for the upcoming November 3rd General and Special Election.  To confirm your voter registration and where to vote visit: • Secretary of State My Voter Page: www.mvp.sos.ga.gov • Download the Georgia Votes App: GA Votes • Contact the Rockdale Board of Elections Office: 1261 Commercial Drive, SW, Suite B, Phone: (770) 278-7333 Website: www.rockdalecountyga.gov     Thank you in advance for your part in making voting in our County a SUCCESS!  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.…

CONYERS–Hundreds of voters lined up this morning at the Parker Road precinct, the only site open for early voting in Rockdale County. The line looped around the large Parker Road complex, stretching from the front to the sidewalk on Parker Road with people wearing their masks and carrying lawn chairs, well-prepared for the wait. Rockdale Clerk of Court-Elect Janice Morris, who was in the long line, said volunteers from Springfield Baptist Church were passing out water and chairs, along with other volunteers. “We are out here rockin’ the vote!” Morris exclaimed with excitement. Morris, who was No. 293…

Stonecrest residents Susan and Julius Lee were the first in line for Early Voting at the Stonecrest precinct on Oct. 12, the first day of early voting in DeKalb County, which drew hundreds before dawn. STONECREST–Hundreds of voters arrived under the cover of darkness this morning to cast their ballots at the Stonecrest Precinct on the first day of Early Voting in DeKalb County. Lines snaked from the front door of the former Sam’s Club, the future home of the new Stonecrest City Hall, across the parking lot to the McDonald’s restaurant on Turner Hill Road. Stonecrest…