Author: On Common Ground News

Dr. Everett B. Ward and Sen. Kamala Harris The National Pan-Hellenic Council is among the well-wishers from around the nation congratulating Sen. Kamala Harris on her historic selection as Joe Biden’s running mate for U.S. President for the 2020 election. Biden announced Harris as his pick for vice president on Aug. 11. Harris is the first black woman and the first person of Indian descent to be chosen for a presidential ticket. Dr. Everett B. Ward, Chair of the Council of Presidents of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Ward, issued the following statement: “…I join my colleagues in congratulating U.S.…

DeKalb County School District’s School Nutrition services will provide a two-day meal package during virtual learning on Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning Aug. 17 at all DeKalb schools. Parents and students will need a student ID number to pick up meals from any DCSD school. Buses delivery routes will continue throughout the district. In addition, the “grab and go” curbside option will be provided for families at 30 meal distribution sites. For nutrition, distribution sites, and the delivery schedule, go to https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/student-meal-service/

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) stepped up measures to protective the public’s heath, adopting an ordinance requiring that face coverings/masks are worn in public places. The ordinance follows a previous resolution the BOC enacted at the July 28 voting session suggesting that facemasks be worn in public. The ordinance was presented to the BOC for the first read, with the second read being waived and adopted at the Aug. 11 board meeting. The ordinance masks violations an offense, which can be enforced by general penalty. The ordinance has been drafted in accordance with the Executive Order issued…

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has approved the DeKalb Better Business Loan Program, a partnership with local banks to provide financial relief to small DeKalb County businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The programwill be funded using $15 million from the county’s allotment of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. The loan program was developed by DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond’s administration, in cooperation with the Small Business Subcommittee of the DeKalb COVID-19 Strategic Task Force, chaired by Steve Bradshaw, presiding officer of the Board of Commissioners. “We are fighting a pandemic that undermines the…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced today (Aug. 12) that it is joining a lawsuit filed by the NAACP challenging a rule issued by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos that unlawfully forces school districts to inflate the amount of federal COVID-19 aid they must share with private schools. The rule will drastically diminish the resources available to support public school children and historically underserved student populations during the pandemic, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by the NAACP on July 1 in federal court in Washington, D.C., says DeVos is directing more funds from the $13.2 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) to wealthy…

DeKalb County is poised for new leadership in five local seats, according to the Aug. 11 unofficial runoff elections results. Zulma Lopez won the House District 86 seat held by incumbent State Rep. Michele Henson, who has served 30 years. Lopez received 54.37 percent of the vote, while Henson received 45.63 percent. Former Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry defeated Mary Ahmed in the Democratic runoff for the DeKalb County Super District 6 Commissioner’s seat with 58.62 percent of the vote.  Kathie Gannon, who has served the western half of the county since 2005, is retiring and did not seek re-election…

  Today (Aug. 12), Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced that Zillow Group, the largest portfolio of real estate brands on the web, has named the metro Atlanta area its Southeastern hub, bringing nearly 200 jobs to the area. “Our state’s skilled workforce continues to attract game-changing companies like Zillow,” said Kemp. “Innovative, industry-leading tech companies have found their home in literally every corner of our state, and as the industry grows in Georgia, I am confident that Zillow will continue to find success here. I’d like to thank them for choosing our state as their new hub, and I look…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is partnering with “Be The Match,” a national marrow donor program, and neighboring county officials to support efforts in closing the gap between donors and recipients in marginalized communities. On Thursday, Aug. 13,  6  to 7:30 p.m., residents from Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, South Fulton, Henry and Newton counties will have the opportunity to learn about “Be The Match” and potentially become a match for someone in need through the We Are The Cure Town Hall. Registration for the We Are The Cure Town Hall can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3jJ39T0. Every three minutes someone in the United…