Author: On Common Ground News

Gwinnett County Government is allowing residential solid waste haulers to temporarily modify their operations in order to protect the safety of their employees and customers. Under a local emergency order signed today by Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash, the following changes will be made to solid waste service in unincorporated Gwinnett County: Only bagged trash placed inside trash carts and recycling materials placed inside recycling carts or bins will be picked up; in other words, excess household trash or recycling materials placed outside the containers will not be picked up. Bulky waste, white goods, and yard waste collections will…

  Today, (Mrch 26), Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp issued Executive Order 03.26.20.02 closing public elementary and secondary schools for in-person instruction through April 24, 2020. Students may return to school on Monday, April 27, 2020. “I am deeply grateful to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education, superintendents, and parents for keeping us informed and helping us make the right decision for our students,” said Kemp. “Throughout this process, we will continue to seek the advice of public health officials, school leaders, and families to ensure the health and safety of the educational community. As we approach April 24, 2020,…

The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office is currently closed to customers and not accepting calls until further notice, due to the coronavirus. DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office continues to serve customers through E-services (eservices.drives.ga.gov), email and other electronic offerings. Motor Vehicle and Property Tax documents can be submitted and processed via mail, email and placed in drop boxes at the 4380 Memorial Drive and 1358 Dresden Drive locations. Taxpayers should also visit www.DeKalbTax.org for information on how to submit the necessary documents for processing. Click the red “Temporary Drop-Off Services” tab and then select your area of interest. Motor…

 ATLANTA—On Thursday, March 26, at 8 p.m., Gov. Brian P. Kemp will participate in a live town hall on Georgia’s response to the spread of COVID-19. The broadcast will also feature interviews with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Homer Bryson, and Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. The panel will take questions from journalists based on submissions from the public involving efforts to combat COVID-19. “Georgians are eager to hear directly from their leaders on what we are doing to address…

District leaders to answer questions and provide updates  Atlanta Public Schools (APS) will host a live virtual town hall on Facebook Live, Thursday, March 26, at 4 p.m., to answer questions from APS students, parents and staff on the COVID-19 closure, teleworking and teleschooling. The virtual town hall will feature a live question and answer session with viewers tuned into the event at www.facebook.com/AtlantaPublicSchools. The town hall will also be carried statewide by Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB). To find your local GPB station, click HERE.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting a national online dialogue, Providing Expanded Family and Medical Leave to Employees Affected by COVID-19,to help employers and workers understand their responsibilities and rights, respectively, under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The public, including employers, workers and their advocacy groups can participate in the online forum through Sunday, March 29. The department’s Office of Compliance Initiatives (OCI), in partnership with Wage and Hourly Division (WHD) and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), will host the dialogue. ODEP’s ePolicyWorks will facilitate the dialogue initiative. Please register to participate. Wage and Hour…

On Thursday, March 26 at 1 p.m. the Georgia Chamber will be hosting a call with SBA Regional Administrator Ashley Bell to provide an overview of the U.S. Small Business Economic Injury Disaster Loan program now available to Georgia businesses. The virtual meeting will give business owners the opportunity to ask questions surrounding relief efforts. To Join: Due to the high-demand teleworking has placed on the conferencing industry, conference hosts are urging callers to join in via computer. If joining via phone and you encounter a busy signal, please try…

 The City of Conyers met in an emergency meeting on Wednesday, March 25, and passed an ordinance ordering an emergency shelter in place among residents, closing non-essential businesses and prohibiting public gatherings in the city limits of Conyers. This ordinance builds upon the Council’s previous declaration of a state of emergency and passage of an ordinance restricting restaurants to curbside, delivery or take-out only, sale of beer and wine for restaurants offering take-out consumption off-premises, and closure of entertainment establishments. The city’s shelter in place order and new restrictions call for the following to slow the spread of the coronavirus…

https://youtu.be/v_rEHeohnBU DeKalb County Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying three suspects wanted for the murder of 34-year-old Tiwuan Johnson. Johnson was attacked and fatally shot on Feb. 19 around 6:30 p.m. in his car as he sat parked  outside of the Citgo convenience store at1106 N. Hairston Rd.,  Stone Mountain. The attack was captured on surveillance video. A car pulled up beside the victim’s car and one of the suspects entered the passenger’s side of Johnson’s car. Another suspect pulled up, went inside the store, and returned, got in on the driver’s side and begin beating Johnson.…

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is making operational adjustments beginning Thursday, March 26, to protect the health and wellness of employees as they continue providing essential transit service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, MARTA is making service plan changes to bus and rail operations beginning Monday, March 30, to address the dramatic ridership and revenue decline seen in the wake of this national health crisis. “MARTA stands by our role as a provider of essential infrastructure. Our frontline employees are everyday heroes who drive buses, run trains, protect our customers, and clean vehicles and stations. I…