Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA– In celebration of Women’s History Month, DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran-Johnson alongside the Chairwomen of Cobb, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Henry counties will come together for a timely conversation on leadership, service, and the future of local communities. The sold-out event will take place on Wednesday, March 25, with a reception starting at 5:30 p.m., at Fernbank Museum in Atlanta.  Collectively, these five leaders represent jurisdictions serving more than 3 million residents across the metro Atlanta region and embody a new era of leadership defined by collaboration, purpose, and impact. “There is something extraordinary about women coming together to…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announced the capture of its most wanted fugitive, Brian Tripp, who was taken into custody in Pritchard, Alabama, with assistance from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Tripp fled in January 2024, in the middle of his DeKalb County trial after being released on bond. The trial continued without him, and a jury later found him guilty of kidnapping, street gang charges, and other offenses. He was sentenced to life plus 65 years in prison. While on the run, Tripp faced additional serious charges. In April 2025, a DeKalb County Grand Jury indicted him for…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will host a series of community engagement meetings to present the Student Assignment Project (SAP) Round 2 Scenarios and gather public feedback.  The project, which includes scenarios to close several schools due to declining enrollment and repurpose others, is designed to address maximize resources, and ensure long-term academic sustainability for students across DeKalb County, officials said. Round 2 community meetings will be held March 23—30, 6 p.m.  The in-person workshops will bring families and stakeholders together in classroom settings within their high school cluster to review the scenarios in more detail, discuss…

CONYERS, GA—The City of Conyers is hosting a public information open house on Wednesday, April 15, regarding proposed improvements to West Avenue between Iris Drive and Green Street. The multidisciplinary engineering firm, Keck and Wood, will be on hand to answer questions during the open house, which will be held  from 4 to 6 p.m. at Conyers City Hall. The open house is designed as a drop-in format for citizens and businesses to view renderings of proposed changes, ask questions of city staff and engineering consultants, and to offer input and feedback on the proposed improvements. “West Avenue has been a key corridor…

STONECREST, GA– The King’s Table at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will host a free food distribution this Saturday, March 21, beginning at 10 a.m., for needy metro Atlanta residents with a special welcome extended to TSA workers impacted by recent national financial disruptions. This Saturday’s distribution, taking place at the church’s campus, located at 6400 Woodrow Rd., will provide an array of fresh produce, quality meats, and shelf-stable items to families on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizers anticipate serving more than 2,000 families. “For so many families, the weight of rising costs, global conflict, and economic uncertainty is not…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–The Rockdale County Board of Education will hold a special called meeting on Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m., in the Board Room at 960 Pine Street NE, Conyers.  The Georgia School Boards Association will provide an update on its superintendent search services. In February, Superintendent Shirley Chesser announced her plan to retire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.   The Rockdale County Board of Education enlisted the Georgia School Boards Association to conduct a national superintendent search to fill the vacancy.  Chesser was appointed acting superintendent in February 2025 after former Superintendent Terry Oatts announced his plans to retire…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– A Lithonia man found guilty of fatally shooting an acquaintance in broad daylight at a gas station has been sentenced to life in prison, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced this week.  Antjuan Harrison, 27, was found guilty in connection to  the 2023 murder of an acquaintance,Tori Dundas, 32. Harrison was convicted of two counts of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Machine Gun, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and related charges. DeKalb County Judge Yolanda C. Parker-Smith, who presided over the trial,  sentenced Harrison to life in prison plus five years to serve consecutively during a March…

STONECREST, GA—Registration is under way for the  DeKalb NAAC’P’s housing workshop, which will be held on Saturday, April 4, from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA.   Several topics will be covered including affordable housing, homeownership barriers and how to prevent deed fraud.   Georgia Advancing Communities Together Inc. is sponsoring the  event. Attendees must register to attend the free even., Scan the QR code in the flier.

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– The Gwinnett County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections has appointed Kelvin Williams as acting elections supervisor.   Current Elections Supervisor Zach Manifold, who has held the position since 2021, is leaving to pursue a new professional opportunity with Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions.  County officials say the appointment of Williams will ensure leadership continuity and oversight in the midterm election year. Williams joined Gwinnett County Voter Registrations and Elections in 2016 and has served as the deputy elections supervisor since 2021. “Gwinnett County is fortunate to have this depth of experience in its elections management team,” said Board of…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Beautification Unit will host two Scrap Tire Amnesty Day events: Saturday, March 21, and Saturday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office parking lot, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA.  Participants will have an opportunity to dispose of up to 10 passenger vehicle tires in an environmentally responsible manner. Commercial vehicle tires and tires with rims will not be accepted. These events aim to reduce the illegal dumping of tires in streams, rivers, and other areas throughout DeKalb. In addition to being an eyesore and creating blight, illegally dumped tires can increase vector-borne illnesses, cause…