Northside Neighbor (Sandy Springs, Roswell, GA)

3 days ago | mdjonline.com | Dan Flynn

When governments, industries or businesses recruit, hire or promote employees based primarily on their skills, knowledge and abilities; they are operating on a system of merit. When they recruit, hire or promote based primarily on an employee’s race, gender, ethnicity, or social status, they are operating on a system of social equity. Each system has an underlying rationale that is in line with the employer’s values, and each reflects its own organization’s culture.

4 days ago | mdjonline.com | Hunter Riggall

MARIETTA — Cobb County’s $1.3 billion proposed budget for the next fiscal year would keep property tax rates flat and fund employee raises ranging from 2-5%. The total operating budget, $1.33 billion, represents an increase of 3.8% over last year. That’s a more modest growth rate than last year, when the budget increased by 6.3%. The general fund, the county’s main operating fund which includes most departments, would grow by 2.9%, from $625 million to $643 million.

4 days ago | mdjonline.com | Ronda Rich

Of all the animals on the Rondarosa, perhaps the most unusual is a possum I raised from a baby. His name is Pokey. Tink was out of town that summer, shooting a television series. This is important to know because he would NEVER have allowed a baby possum to be treated with love and live in our garage.

5 days ago | mdjonline.com | Hunter Riggall

County staff are set to brief the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday on next year’s budget, including several options proposed to address a $7 million shortfall in the general fund. The general fund budget, the main operating fund which includes most county departments, is projected to be $644.5 million, up from $625 million last year. General fund revenues, however, are expected to be only $637.5 million. Finance staff listed five options commissioners could consider to address the shortfall.

6 days ago | mdjonline.com | Carrie Classon

I do a funny thing in the middle of June. I try to celebrate the summer solstice. I don't do anything particularly romantic. If you have visions of me leaping over bonfire flames or dancing around a maypole wearing a flower crown or attempting to contact my inner goddess, you would be disappointed. All I do is try to remember some of what I've forgotten. I've always thought the winter solstice was the proper ending to the year, rather than New Year's Eve.