Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA— Today, Gov. Brian P. Kemp signed House Bill (HB) 987, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R – Marietta) and Sen. Brian Strickland (R – McDonough) into law. HB 987 provides greater protections for assisted living facility and personal care home residents, strengthens staffing requirements, and increases maximum fines for violations. “I applaud Rep. Sharon Cooper, Sen. Brian Strickland, and everyone who worked with them to craft this legislation. Their tireless leadership in getting this bill across the finish line will improve the lives of countless people in our great state and bring tremendous comfort to their loved ones,” said Kemp. “One…

Pictured: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger  Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office announced that it is continuing its poll-worker recruitment campaign ahead of the Aug. 11 runoff and Nov. 3 general election. Before the June 9 primary, the project sent to county election officials across Georgia the names of more than 1,000 people who came forward to get trained by them as poll workers. For instance, 222 were sent to Fulton County, 139 to DeKalb, 70 to Cobb and 67 to Henry. “Counties have had to replace poll workers who backed out because of the global pandemic and then train…

Early voting begins July 20 Fulton County is partnering with the Atlanta Hawks to create Georgia’s largest voting precinct at State Farm Arena, starting with early voting on July 20 for the Georgia General Primary Runoff Election on Aug. 11. Officials say the partnership will allow tens of thousands of voters to cast their ballots for upcoming elections while maintaining CDC-recommended social distancing requirements at the state-of-the-art facility. In addition, Fulton County Registration & Elections will conduct other elections support operations at the site, including absentee ballot processing and more. “Fulton County is grateful to the entire Atlanta Hawks…

Watson-Harris’s swearing-in ceremony to be live-streamed beginning at 9:30 a.m.   Superintendent-elect Cheryl Watson-Harris will officially assume the role of superintendent of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) when she is sworn in tomorrow, July 1, by Judge Gregory A. Adams of the DeKalb Superior Court at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex. Watson-Harris will be joined by Board Chair Marshall Orson. Both  will deliver brief remarks in the company of additional board members and Watson-Harris’s family. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at the ceremony will be limited, and those present will observe current social distancing guidelines. A…

Pictured: BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt Bowing to pressure from the public, Rockdale County is removing the Confederate monument that stands outside of the Rockdale County Courthouse on Main Street,  On Common Ground News has learned. Rockdale Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Oz Nesbitt reportedly made an “executive decision” to have the statue removed at 10 tonight (June 30). Nesbitt’s decision comes ahead of a protest Rockdale County youths were set to hold on July 2 and follows public outcry from a number of citizens demanding the removal after Nesbitt said during a Board of Commissioners that the monument should be included…

Photo Essay By William Thomas CONYERS—Rockdale County’s three high schools—Rockdale, Heritage and Salem High schools—held a joint celebration for the Classes of 2020 on Saturday, June 27. A motorcade with graduates and their families traveled from CJ Hicks Elementary School to First Baptist Church on Highway 138, where a drive-in graduation was held on the church’s campus. Practicing social distancing due to COVID-19 pandemic, seniors walked across an outdoor stage to receive their diplomas. La Donna Thomas and her husband, Terrance, who helped publicize the event, said they and other parents wanted to make sure the students were celebrated during…

NBA legend and entrepreneur Magic Johnson is offering advice to small business owners who have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson is part of a new effort launching this week as Facebook announces Summer of Support, a six-week program providing free content to help businesses get back to business. The program will provide millions of individuals and small businesses with the digital skills and resources needed to survive and thrive in this economic crisis. “Summer of Support” will tackle a different theme each week, offering participants on-demand training courses and thought leadership lessons from business leaders, small business owners…

Pictured: DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Jon Gant, founding director of NCCU’s Center for Digital Inclusion   DECATUR –DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is sponsoring a resolution seeking support from the Georgia General Assembly to expand voting options across the state to include online voting. The resolution by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners follows voting irregularities ranging from technical issues to poorly trained staff that emerged statewide following the June primary elections. Online voting would create a more secure, convenient and accessible opportunity for voters and reduce the financial burden associated with staffing voting…

By Ed Williams We have collected almost 7,500 signatures to change or remove the Confederate carving on Stone Mountain.  Today, The Confederate Carving on Stone Mountain has been re-branded with laser shows and  animated with colored beams of lights. The Confederate carving is being glorified and celebrated as if the cause of the Civil War was not over. Our goal is to make the Stone Mountain Confederate carving more inclusive and to change its designation. Who should be included in the carving on Stone Mountain? Native Americans, African Americans, women, Lincoln, Sherman, Grant. The carving should be removed, if…