Apr 3, 2026 2:04 PM
When I launched CJ Lester Investigates on February 19, 2026, I didn't know what to expect. I knew what I wanted to do — cover the stories that matter to this community, the ones other outlets weren't telling. I just didn't know if anyone would show up to read them.
Apr 3, 2026 12:43 PM
Easter weekend is here, and there's plenty happening across Rockdale and Newton counties. Whether you're looking for family-friendly fun, a local market, or something a little different, here are three things worth getting off the couch for this weekend.
Apr 1, 2026 5:44 AM
I started this outlet on February 19, 2026, with a simple mission: investigate what others won't, cover the City of Conyers and the City of Oxford with the same rigor that bigger newsrooms bring to bigger cities, and do it with records, facts, and accountability at the center of every story.
Mar 31, 2026 6:30 AM
The Conyers City Council will hold its spring retreat this Wednesday, April 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Carriage Room at the Georgia International Horse Park, located at 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway in Conyers. The session is open to the public.
Mar 29, 2026 8:17 AM
If you've ever seen people carrying palm branches into church on a Sunday in late March or early April and wondered what it was all about — this is for you.
Mar 27, 2026 3:07 PM
This explainer is part of my ongoing coverage of proposed industrial rezoning on Rockbridge Road. Read the full story: [Rockdale Zoning Board Hears Opposition to Battery Storage Facility; Data Center Cases Tabled Until July](CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO NEWS ARTICLE)
Mar 27, 2026 2:27 PM
Editor's Note: After publication, a knowledgeable community member provided additional context that has been incorporated into this article. The battery storage facility site sits adjacent to both the DC BLOX data center campus (72 acres) and the MMM Acquisitions mega site (262.99 acres) — also on Farmer Road. MMM Acquisitions has deferred its decision until July when the county's Unified Development Ordinance is finalized. Additionally, the company name in the original zoning application is being verified — the transcript recorded "Zerostal" but may be "Zurisol." This article will be updated once confirmed.
Mar 27, 2026 5:57 AM
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article stated that the walk ends at Rockdale Career Academy and that parking is available across the street from the Academy. Both details have been corrected. Rockdale Career Academy is the turnaround point — walkers will return to the starting location. Parking is available across the street from the starting point at Travis Street and Green Street.
Mar 23, 2026 12:50 PM
By CJ Lester | CJ Lester Investigates
Mar 20, 2026 6:22 AM
If you followed my coverage of the Conyers City Council meeting on March 15, you saw the council vote 4-2 to table the budget item related to the mayor's administrative assistant position. A few people have reached out asking what "tabling" actually means — and separately, what an open records request is, and what a government planning retreat is. Good questions. Let me break all three down.
Mar 19, 2026 8:12 AM
After nearly two months, no job description, and a direct contradiction from the mayor herself about who the assistant would serve, the $8,000 request heads to the April 1 retreat — with a final vote set for April 15.
Mar 15, 2026 10:01 PM
This article is part of CJ Explains, a series where I break down how local government works in plain language — no jargon, no assumptions. Local government touches your daily life in ways most people never see. The more you understand how it works, the better equipped you are to hold it accountable. New explainers publish alongside my ongoing coverage so you always have the context you need.