Author: On Common Ground News

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…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – In the face of a surging number of cases of COVID-19, Gwinnett County is requiring face masks or face coverings for all visitors and employees while inside county buildings and facilities effective Tuesday, Jan. 26. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Gwinnett leads the state in total number of cases with 68,603 cases as of Friday, Jan. 22. Of those, 643 people have died. Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners  Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson last week signed the executive emergency order on Jan. 19. The order cites face mask recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to…

ATLANTA – State Representatives Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs) will host the first of a series of virtual town hall meetings to discuss the State of Georgia’s jails on today, Jan. 25, 10 a.m. via Zoom. To view a Facebook live stream of the meeting, please click here. During this initial town hall meeting, legislators will hear from those who have lost family members in Georgia jails, as well as address the need to have greater accountability to prevent future deaths. Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens will also present his plans to…