Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA— Today, Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp signed two executive orders extending the Public Health State of Emergency and existing COVID-19 safety measures. “The fight against COVID-19 continues, and these executive orders reaffirm our commitment to protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians. As our state ramps up testing, expands hospital surge capacity, and provides staffing, supplies, and resources to cities and counties throughout Georgia, we urge local officials to enforce the rules and restrictions detailed in these orders,” said Kemp. “When businesses, restaurants, venues, and citizens follow the guidelines carefully crafted by data, science, and the Georgia Department…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a second apparent suicide this month by a DeKalb County Jail inmate. According to authorities, Atanta resident Nakia Rashawn Bond, 26, was found non-responsive in his cell on July 31, during a security check. Bond was pronounced dead by the DeKalb Medical Examiner after the jail’s medical staff administered emergency medical services. No official report has been released, and the incident is being investigated as an apparent suicide. “Our entire jail management process is driven by concern for the safety and well-being of individuals in our custody,” said Sheriff Melody Maddox. “We deeply…

  DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will host the first -ever virtual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6 p.m. All across the country, communities have observed the first Tuesday in August as National Night Out night to promote police-community partnerships and showcase the various police programs to make communities safer.  Due to the pandemic, National Night Out will not be held in its traditional form this year. “I did not want to miss an opportunity to stay connected with the community on one of the most unified national community events held each year,” Johnson said. “We will create a…

Rockdale early in-person voting will be held only at 1400 Parker Road, Conyers: Monday – Friday, July 20 – Aug. 4, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5 — Friday, Aug. 7, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, is Election Day for the runoffs. All voters must go to their assigned polling precincts. For more information, call 770-278-7333 or visit www.rockdalecountyga.gov .

ATLANTA—Author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has contributed $20 million to Morehouse College. The gift is part of donation to 116 nonprofits driving positive change in the country, including six Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs). Scott announced the gift to nonprofits this week in the online news platform Medium. The billionaire said her donation was supporting institutions doing transformative work to improve racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equity, as well as economic mobility and public health issues, among other areas. Scott began making $1.7 billion in donations last year after signing a pledge to give most of her wealth away. “MacKenzie Scott’s…

The  Stonecrest City Council will hold a virtual Special Called meeting on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, 6 p.m., to discuss the investigation of the Metro Green recycling plant. The agenda is attached.

 John Lewis Feb. 21, 1940- July 17, 2020 ATLANTA—A crowd of spectators gathered outside of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church as Georgia’s Congressman John Robert Lewis’ casket arrived for his 11 a.m. homegoing celebration on Thursday, July 30. Nine soldiers from the nation’s four military branches carried the casket inside the church, where the private service was officiated by the Rev. Raphael Warnock, Ebenezer’s senior pastor and tributes were paid by four former U.S. Presidents: George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.  The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the late Nobel Peace prize winner, Dr.…

Photo: Brenda Cornelius via ZOOM City Council meeting, July 27, 2020 Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary has appointed Brenda Foye Cornelius as Liaison for External Affairs to the City of Stonecrest. Cornelius, who has over two decades of leadership roles in local, state, and national politics,  has been hired as an independent contractor for the city. She will be responsible for building and maintaining working relationships with community groups and stakeholders through meetings and events, and conveying the city’s priorities to the community at large. Cornelius will earn $15,000 for six months in the amount of $2,500 monthly. The contract…

Free training will prepare students for cybersecurity jobs   ATLANTA—The National Science Foundation has awarded Georgia State University’s (GSU) Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group (EBCS) nearly $300,000 for a pilot program to teach students advanced cybersecurity research skills and match them with chief information security officers (CISO), with whom they will test tools to improve organizations’ security. Sixty students from throughout the Southeast will train in the “Evidence-based Cybersecurity-Training and Mentorship Program for Students” in groups of 30 over two summers. The training is free to the students, who will also receive cost-of-living stipends. EBCS Director David Maimon leads the academic side of the…

Gov. Brian Kemp and State Superintendent Richard Woods Gov. Brian P. Kemp and State School Superintendent Richard Woods have announced that Georgia will dedicate $6 million to help school districts connect their K-12 students to the internet. Georgia has allocated $6 million of its CARES Act funding to purchase equipment for local school systems to improve connectivity options for students who do not have sufficient internet access at home. “While the internet access gap has come into sharper focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, securing connectivity for all of Georgia’s students…