Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson has been elected 1st Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo). “During these unprecedented times, I couldn’t think of a more honorable way to serve our constituents as we navigate through unchartered territory,” Johnson said. “We are facing some challenging times dealing with COVID-19 and social injustice simultaneously, but together we will make it through. As the 1st Vice President of NACo, I am committed to continue to work collaboratively with my colleagues to further build and foster a beloved community and continue making NACo the best advocacy organization in the world.”…

DeKalb County Police (DKPD) are investigating the discovery of human remains that were found by a contractor working near Hillandale Drive and Lithonia Industrial Blvd. The remains were discovered today, July 23, just after 7 a.m. by a contractor, police said. Sheets and bones were found inside a container near the roadway near Hillandale Drive and Lithonia Industrial Blvd.  The bones were confirmed to be human remains, investigators said. The cause of death has not been determined, as well as the identity. The Medical Examiner’s Office is performing an autopsy.  

Businesses urged to implement ‘No Mask, No Service’ policy   As part of its ongoing “Stop the Spread” campaign, DeKalb County will distribute 20,000 masks to local small businesses to encourage them to implement a “No Mask, No Service” policy. On Saturday, July 25, DeKalb County Police, Fire Rescue and Code Enforcement personnel will distribute masks to small businesses throughout the county to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This effort begins on the day the county’s mask mandate goes into effect requiring DeKalb residents over age 8 “to utilize a face covering or mask which covers the nose…

DeKalb Chief Magistrate Judge Berryl A. Anderson has issued an extension of the Judicial Emergency Order through Aug. 11, making virtual hearings available to the public.  The extension comes in the wake of the surge in the coronavirus pandemic in Georgia and other states in the U.S. “Our Criminal Division is already 100% virtual as of early June, and our Civil Division has kept cases moving by holding virtual hearings in several areas,” said Judge Anderson.  “The Misdemeanor Mental Health Court and our Ordinance Division have both adapted their proceedings to a virtual format as well.” While all filings are…

DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw will host his second Quarterly in the Fourth community breakfast meeting this year via Zoom on Saturday, July 25, from 9 to 11 a.m. DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos, county elections director Erica Hamilton, and DeKalb County department representatives will be available to respond to questions. Special guest speakers will provide an update on DeKalb County COVID-19 response. The focus of the community meetings is to provide information and resources and to address the concerns of constituents. “I am thrilled to be able to resume Quarterly in the Fourth Community meetings,”…

GSU researchers Gangli Wang and Mukesh Kumar ATLANTA—Georgia State University researchers have received a one-year, $200,000 rapid response grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a tool to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology being developed by chemistry professor Gangli Wang in collaboration with assistant biology professor Mukesh Kumar is anticipated to provide several benefits, including fast turnaround time and greatly decreased false negative outcomes. “It’s extremely challenging to detect a single virus, which represents the earliest or most sensitive detection possible,” said Wang.…

ATLANTA—Today, The State of Black Georgia and other community leaders are returning to the Georgia Capitol in response to the lawsuit Gov. Kemp filed against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council. The injunction seeks to restrain Mayor Bottoms from issuing press statements or speaking to the public regarding her mandate that all citizens wear masks in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The State of Black Georgia will go live at around 10 a.m., said Co-Covener Dee Dawkins-Haigler, former Georgia State Representative and State Rep. Sandra G. Scott, District 76. “We’re encouraging the community to show their…

Today, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved CEO Michael Thurmond’s amendments to the mask ordinance that commissioners passed on July 14. The amended ordinance, which Thurmond asserts is “consistent” with Gov. Brian Kemp’s executive order, requires DeKalb residents over age 8 “to utilize a face covering or mask which covers the nose and mouth when in any public place.” A written warning will be given for first violations. Those who violate the ordinance a second time will be required to attend a virtual or in-person COVID-19 prevention class “to understand the public health ramifications of this…

Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kelly Ellerb State of Black Georgia stages protest over Kemp’s attempts to  “silence”  Bottoms ATLANTA – The State of Black Georgia is participating in a week-long call to action in response to the lawsuit Gov. Brian Kemp filed against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council over how to respond to COVID-19. The group of supporters abruptly ended its press conference at the Georgia Capitol this morning after learning that Fulton County…