Author: On Common Ground News

On March 15, 9:48 a.m., the suspect vehicle pictured above failed to stop at a stop sign and hit a bicyclist who was in the crosswalk at the intersection of West Avenue and West Circle. The vehicle then fled after hitting the bicyclist. Any information leading to the arrest of these persons of interest may result in a cash reward of up to $2,000.00.  Tipsters will remain anonymousand are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with anyinformation: Call: 404.577.TIPS(8477) Click: www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org BOLO CS hit and run bicycle 20-026784

I am trusting that you and your families are safe and healthy. As we continue to combat the COVID-19 health crisis, it is necessary to make tough decisions that are in the best interest of our students and staff. One of those tough decisions was announced during Governor Kemp’s 4:00 pm news conference. The Governor presented a new executive order that includes the closure of Georgia K-12 schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This is a major shift from all previous announcements. However, the nature of our current public health crisis requires that we take extreme…

Gov. Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Georgia’s section 1135 waiver request on the temporary checklist, granting the state a number of flexibilities for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® providers and members to combat the COVID-19 public health emergency. To read the approval letter, click HERE. “We want to thank CMS for granting this waiver to provide the resources and flexibility for our health care systems and heroic health care workers to fight COVID-19,” said Gov. Kemp. “The safety of Georgians is my…

      ATLANTA—Today (April 1), Gov. Brian Kemp provided an update on COVID-19 in Georgia by giving the following address to Georgians: “I’m joined today by Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Adjutant General Tom Carden, and Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Homer Bryson. All of the people operating under the direction of the leaders standing with me are remarkable, working long hours on little sleep. I want to thank these Georgians for their hard work and commitment to health and well-being of our citizens. We are blessed to have the best and brightest on…

WASHINGTON, DC– Today, the Kroger Co.and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Unionannounced a new increase to the pay and benefits for more than 21,000 grocery workersat Kroger storesacross Georgia. This victory for more than 460,000 Kroger grocery workers nationwidewas secured by UFCW, which represents 1.3 million workers in grocery, retail, and other industries. UFCW welcomed the action by Kroger as an essential investment in grocery workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak. “Following talks between UFCW, America’s largest food and retail union, and Kroger, UFCW is proud to join the company today in announcing a…

The boil water advisory for the Norris Lake area has been lifted. The public water system serving the area has been restored to normal service. Customers in the affected area should flush the plumbing on their property before resuming normal use of  water. To flush the plumbing, affected residents should fully open sink and shower faucets on each floor of the building for five minutes. On March 31, 2020, a boil water advisory was issued to the Norris Lake area because of a broken water main. Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources appreciates its customers’ patience. Customers can look…

Recorded webinar available Friday, April 3 WASHINGTON, DC–The U.S. Department of Labor today(April 1) announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of theFamilies First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary ruleissuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective today, April 1, 2020. FFCRA helps the United States combat the workplace effects of COVID-19 by reimbursing American private employers that have fewer than 500 employees…

Superintendent Terry Oatts details decision  Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Terry Oatts announced RCPS schools and offices will remain closed through the end of the school year, May 22, following an executive order today (April 1)by Gov. Brian Kemp. Independent Learning Day (ILD) protocols and Be Bright Eat Right Rockdale (BBERR) meal delivery routes will continue through April 3,  pause during Spring Break(April 6-10) and will resume April 13. Oatts detailed the decision in a message for staff, parents, students, and the community: “I am writing to share that Governor Kemp has just announced that he will be issuing…

Gov. Brian Kemp said today said he is preparing a statewide shelter-in-place order for the entire state of Georgia in stepped-up efforts to curb the spread of a coronavirus pandemic.  Kemp said he plans to issue the order on Thursday, making it effective April-13. Kemp said he also plans to sign an order cancelling K-12 schools the rest of the academic year. The governor said the shelter-in-place order would include exceptions for grocery stores, medical supplies and other essential services.  It would likely allow restaurants to serve takeout but continue to ban dine-in service. The governor said law enforcement would…

“This is never easy. It is especially difficult when the loss is one of your own, part of your family. Tonight, we pause and invite you to join us.” —Dr. William Jaquis, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians WASHINGTON, D.C.—An emergency physician at East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey, has died due to symptoms consistent with the COVID-19, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) said today. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Dr. William Jaquis, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) released the following statement:…