Wishing all Muslims a Blessed Ramadan: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157761152971360/?t=18

Today, 150 million Americans have had at least their first shot, and 110 million Americans will have been fully vaccinated.  Much work still to be done!

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157761176646360/?t=19

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157761132786360/?t=20

During this pandemic, we pray for any family who has lost a mother from this deadly virus or any illness.  On this Mother’s Day, let us take a moment to thank our mothers, who not only brought us into this world, but were there for us for every day.   

On a personal note, I am so grateful to my wife, Komal, for all she does for our family, while also balancing a career and to my mother in law, who served in the US Airforce, while raising two great daughters, and of course, my own Mom, who has been such a strong influence in my life.  Kudos to every mom, who balances work, family, and sacrifices so much for the family.  

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157761724976360/?t=18 

We continue our Asian American Heritage Month Series with a Fireside Chat with US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi as he updates us on the US Response to the India Covid Crisis, and Federal Responses Asian American Hate Crime.

Streamed Live at https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao.

Aired on Radio Nyra on Sunday, May 16th at 4 pm.  99.9 FM HD 4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Pfizer/BioNTech has initiated its application to the US Food and Drug Administration for full FDA approval of its Covid-19 vaccine for people ages 16 and older, the companies said Friday.

This is the first Covid-19 vaccine in the United States to be assessed for full approval from the FDA.

America's employers added just 266,000 jobs last month, sharply lower than in March and a sign that some businesses are struggling to find enough workers as the economic recovery strengthens.

With viral cases declining and states and localities easing restrictions, businesses have added jobs for four straight months. Still, the unemployment rate ticked up to 6.1% from 6% in March.

Optimism about the economic recovery is growing. Many Americans are flush with cash after having received $1,400 federal relief checks, along with savings they have built up after cutting back on travel, entertainment and dining out over the past year.

President Joe Biden has met his goal of having most elementary and middle schools open for full, in-person learning in his first 100 days.

The Education Department has released survey data finding that 54% of public schools below high school offered full-time classroom learning in March. But even with that milestone, most students continued to learn at least partly away from school.

The survey found that almost 4 in 10 students continued to take all classes remotely, and 2 in 10 were split between classroom and remote learning. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona applauded the progress but also raised concerns about racial disparities.

Liz Cheney on Shaky Ground.  

My Thoughts on Reach out to Tech Community to Help Raise Money for India: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157749635611360/?t=21

As we kick off Asian American Heritage Month, I am saddened to see so many Morrisville and Cary families affected by the Covid Crisis in India with over 3600 deaths a day in a nation where only 2% are vaccinated.

My play of the week is that we need to work closely with the Tech CEOs and companies to help raise money for local charities, that are sending supplies, and resources directly to India.  Many Indian Americans work in the Tech industry and companies here, like Cisco, IBM, Infosys, Lenovo, SAS, HCL and a number of other these companies also have offices in India.  We need their to help India get through this crisis and rebuild a strong, vibrant Indian economy, which will result in increased trade and investment between North Carolina and India.  In addition, India is also the pharmacy of the world, so we also ask our market leading Pharma and Life Science companies to help us in these efforts.

I am working to organize an event in the next few days with CEOs of our Tech Companies for a fundraising event to raise money for India.

I am working with the local temples, BAPS and Hindu Society of NC and leaders across the nation to help in raising funds for India.

As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, countries and communities are facing unforeseen challenges. Beginning in April 2021, the situation in India has become very dire, stressing hospital systems in many parts of the country to the brink of collapse. India currently has the largest number of confirmed cases in Asia, and, as of April 2021, has the second-highest number of confirmed cases in the world. The daily case count as well as death count continue to rise. There is a dire need for medical supplies as well as support for livelihood.

Through its affiliated centers and hospitals in India, BAPS Charities has already supported many activities including medical equipment and supplies, temporary hospital beds and food to those in need. But the need now is much more than ever.

SEWA India Covid Relief Program  https://www.sewausa.org/.

Sewa International’s Help India Defeat COVID-19 Campaign and is seeking your support. They are raising funds for buying supplies, and ensuring that the much-needed lifesaving medical equipment like oxygen-concentrators and ventilators are acquired and shipped to hospitals across Bharat.

Cost:

Please donate at https://friendsoflfwb.org/cov/

West Bengal is one of the hardest hit States in India from the Covid Pandemic as hundreds are dying every day.    Given very limited Oxygen supply in West Bengal– community leaders ARE PUTTING A PROGRAM OF OXYGEN ON WHEELS.  This is a critical and dire situation in many of the rural villages in India, particularly in West Bengal.  Providing a steady supply of Oxygen will cost at least $700 per concentrator and we are planning to send 100 to India.

Funds raised will go directly to purchase Oxygen Concentrators in ambulances, which will then get to rural villages in West Bengal and to develop field COVID CARE Facilities in rural villages… Each of these could be having 30 -50 beds and will be manned by TRAINED HEALTH WORKERS, controlled by TELE GUIDANCE (Doctors availability is sparse).

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157759665101360

Congrats to Divyesh patel , Mona patel and Vaishakhi Nayar, founders Bombay Central, who opened its doors on Saturday!  It is located at 10966 Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville, NC 27560.and represents a State of the Art, Indian Grocery Store, bringing the best Grocery Selections and Street Food from Mumbai!  We also thank AKM Investments for their work on this project. 

My Small Business Week Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157749575326360/?t=19

Small Business Week celebrates small business owners around the country and gives us the opportunity to recognize their outstanding service, innovation, and contributions to our economy. During the Covid 19 Pandemic, small businesses in Morrisville, the Triangle and around the state have struggled.

This is why I am celebrating Small Business Month in May, and will be visiting small businesses every week, and also hosting a Small Business Town Hall this month with the SBA and other leaders from our Commerce Department.  We wanted to also reach out to Asian owned Businesses and educate them on the resources available as they recover from the negative impact of Covid 19.  More to come on this in the next few days but hold the date for May 6th!

Small businesses account for half of America’s workforce, and more new jobs come from small business than any other source. They are vital to keeping America running.

Visit www.sba.gov to nominate your favorite small business and to find out more. Support local small business or find out how to give your small business the boost it needs. Use #SmallBusinessWeek to share on social media.

SBA is currently implementing the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.

The American Rescue Plan Act provides additional relief for the nation’s small businesses and hard-hit industries for programs SBA is currently administering and adds new efforts, including:

On February 22, 2021, President Biden announced the following changes to SBA's COVID-19 relief programs to ensure equity:

SBA established a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees. This gave lenders and community partners more time to work with the smallest businesses to submit their applications, while also ensuring that larger PPP-eligible businesses still had plenty of time to apply for and receive support before the program expires on May 31, 2021.

SBA also made four additional changes to open the PPP to more underserved small businesses than ever before, publishing an Interim Final Rule and new FAQ with this detail on March 3, 2021.

While these changes are being implemented, SBA is working with community partners to improve the emergency relief “digital front door” and conducting extensive stakeholder outreach. And, SBA is strengthening its relationships with lender partners to advance equity goals, deliver funding efficiently, and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

SBA has:

A critical goal from Congress for the 2021 round of PPP was to reach small and low- and moderate-income (LMI) businesses who have not received the needed relief a forgivable PPP loan provides. Congress set a $15 billion set-aside for small and LMI First Draw borrowers.

With existing policies, the current round has only deployed $2.4 billion to small LMI borrowers, in part because a disproportionate amount of funding in both wealthy and LMI areas is going to firms with more than 20 employees. The less than 20 exclusivity period combined with the changes to expand access for sole proprietors, ITINs, returning citizens, and student loan debt is helping us achieve congressional goals.

This section provides a general overview and additions to the programs the SBA is administering related to provisions in the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues (the Economic Aid Act) and American Rescue Plan Acts.

SBA currently offers the following funding options:

The RRF was created as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which includes several forms of pandemic relief. The RRF will be administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It’s aimed at helping restaurants and other eligible businesses continue operations in the face of financial difficulty.

Under the program, restaurant owners and other eligible business owners can receive up to $10 million per business, with no more than $5 million awarded per physical location. Grants will not be taxed and recipients will not be required to repay award money. However, funds must be used to cover eligible expenses on or before March 11, 2023. Any unused funds thereafter must be returned.

Eligible expenses must be business-related and include things like:

The costs of maintenance, business supplies and construction of outdoor seating can also be included, though this list is not exhaustive.

The SBA opened the application window on May 3 at 12 p.m. EDT. You can register for an account and start your application at restaurants.sba.gov.

During the first 21 days of the application period, anyone can submit an application but the SBA will only process and fund priority group applications—those from small businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans and the socially and economically disadvantaged.

The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.

To qualify, applicants must:

Receipt of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), EIDL Advance or Targeted EIDL Advance does not automatically preclude an otherwise eligible applicant from receiving an RRF grant. However, the total RRF award amount may be reduced depending on the type of aid previously awarded to the applicant.

The RRF is intended to cover eligible expenses incurred on or between February 15, 2020, and March 11, 2021. The amount of the grant must not exceed the “pandemic-related” revenue loss of the applicant, less funds received under the PPP. In general, this equals an applicant’s 2019 gross receipts minus its 2020 gross receipts, minus any PPP loan amounts.

Weekly Update: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157761176646360/?t=19

Please Send Comments to publiccomments@townofmorrisville.org. Streamed Live on https://www.facebook.com/TownOfMorrisville/ and www.townofmorrisville.org.  

 

Fire Station 1 

Town Hall 100 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville NC 

Senior Center 

Effective May 1, 2021 all Morrisville Advisory Committees will return to in-person meetings. Committee members indicating an inability to return in-person will be provided the option to attend virtually through June. Guidelines related to capacity and social distancing will be followed with masks required by all attendees for the duration of the meeting

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget and CIP Portal Now Accepting Public Input The Town of Morrisville has developed a Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Operating Budget and Capital Investment Program (CIP) recommendation. The recommendation outlines the Town’s plan to Relaunch Morrisville! The budget outlines how your tax dollars will be put to work for our growing community to meet core services, provide program and service improvements, and plan for long-term needs.  

Public input is welcome through the FY2022 Budget & CIP Portal forum until May 25 at noon. Input received will be provided to Town Council as they deliberate and prepare the budget and CIP for adoption.

Morrisville residents, we want to hear from you about the 2021 Morrisville Bond Referendum! Citizens can access the bond comment portal to share their feedback on the Town’s website: https://www.townofmorrisville.org/government/2021-general-obligation-bond-referendum .

On November 2, 2021, the Morrisville Town Council will provide voters the opportunity to vote on financing up to $37 million in proposed future capital projects – Public Safety, Parks, Recreation and Amenities, and Streets, Sidewalks and Connectivity improvements – that can be impactful for our growing community for years to come.

View the Fast Facts and Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the bond referendum process and potential property tax impacts. Click here to view this short video from Communications & Outreach Director Wil Glenn for more information.

May 15 is National Kids to Parks Day, and to honor the spirit of the day the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department has scheduled a scavenger hunt before the Movies in the Park event on May 14. The scavenger hunt will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park, with five signs posted throughout the park for kids to find, and an information desk at the park by the playground. Kids who find at least three of the five signs and take selfies with them will receive a prize of free items like water bottles and other goodies! For details click here.

The Town of Morrisville’s SpringFest will take place on Saturday, May 15, from 2-6 p.m. In keeping with the spirit of SpringFest's past, the Town will shut down Town Hall Drive and offer food trucks and entertainment. The event is free but be sure to bring money for the food trucks. All activities will be modified and socially-distanced to comply with current Covid-19 restrictions. For details visit http://www.townofmorrisville.org/springfest.

The Town is introducing a new element to this year's SpringFest celebration. Residents can take part in either a virtual 5k or virtual 7-mile race.

Visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Morrisville/SpringFestRun to sign up for the race. Runners will have four days to complete the race of their choice. For $20 runners will receive a T-shirt, medal and race bib in the mail. The races are virtual and can be done anywhere runners choose.

The Town is pleased to announce the launch of Morrisville’s "pop-up" dog park at Morrisville Community Park! Participating dog owners must register in ActiveNet and fill out a waiver prior to participating. Registration is now open. The first pop-up dog park date is May 16. For additional information, future dates, rules, requirements, and forms click here to visit the Town’s webpage.

Engage Morrisville is a place for residents and businesses to get involved by sharing ideas and feedback on a variety of projects and topics affecting the Morrisville community.

Click here to watch this introductory video from Community Relations Liaison Brianne Gill on how to register and participate on Engage Morrisville!

Active projects that have already launched on the new platform include:

Visit https://engagemorrisville.com/ and start engaging in your community today!

Click here for more information 

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157735105346360/?t-20

India reports 242,000 deaths and 24 million cases. 4000 Indian Citizens are dying daily (150 per hour), and last week, the government reported 4 million cases in one day.  This situation is affecting many Indian American Families in Morrisville, Cary and throughout the state.  On May 13th, I am hosting a Town Hall with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on the US Response to the India Covid Crisis.

The situation is particularly dire in the capital New Delhi, which is under lockdown until May 3. The city is facing severe oxygen shortages. Delhi does not produce its own oxygen and relies on resources supplied by the central government, according to Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Several Delhi hospitals tweeted SOS messages over the weekend appealing for oxygen supplies. On Saturday, at least 20 critically ill patients died after oxygen supply was delayed at one Delhi hospital.

In a tweet Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his administration will set up 551 oxygen generation plants "in every district to ensure adequate oxygen availability."

The central government has come under fierce criticism within the country for its handling of the outbreak, which has seen overwhelmed hospitals and residents post pleas on social media for more supplies from state and federal officials. Many have turned to the black market in a desperate attempt to save their loved ones.

The Biden administration is providing raw materials needed for India’s coronavirus vaccine production available as the country works to counter the surge of Covid-19 infections.

The first shipment of emergency medical aid supplies from the United States arrived in India last Friday as the country continued battling an explosion of coronavirus cases that has strained its health care system to breaking point. A U.S. military transport plane carrying more than 400 oxygen cylinders, nearly one million rapid coronavirus test kits and other supplies, including Ramdesivir, landed in Delhi on Friday morning.

But as mass vaccination centers were forced to close without any doses to stick in arms, and people continued to die without oxygen at jam-packed hospitals, the aid from the U.S. and other countries that's started to pour in is like a Band-Aid for a severed leg.

Horne added that the United States would send raw materials required for India to manufacture the Covishield vaccine, as well as therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators and protective equipment.

“The U.S. Development Finance Corporation is funding a substantial expansion of manufacturing capability for BioE, the vaccine manufacturer in India, enabling BioE to ramp up to produce at least 1 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2022,” Horne wrote, adding that the U.S. would also send a team of public health advisors from the Center for Disease Control and USAID to India.

NCDHHS is starting a campaign called Bringing Summer Back to promote COVID-19 vaccination. It will start on May 9. NCDHHS will partner with more than 140 other organizations across the state

Leaders of North Carolina's largest school district met Tuesday and approved the $567 million proposal for the next school year's budget.

Wake County Commissioners voted to give the district $539 million last year. That was $28 million shy of what Superintendent Cathy Moore asked for last year.

This year, she's once again asking for $567 million. She says the extra money would allow the district to hire more counselors and psychologists--something she says is more important than ever because of pandemic-related stress on students.

Wake County Commissioners will now have to approve this Budget Request.

Provide your feedback on budget at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/59TZH5Q.  

Wake County Manager David Ellis presented his Fiscal Year 2022 Recommended Budget to the Wake County Board of Commissioners on May 3. The $1.56 billion proposal includes significant investments in public health and safety, housing, education and quality of life to help the county meet its growing service demands and achieve outcomes identified by the board.

During his presentation, Manager Ellis also praised county employees for their hard work over the past year in response to COVID-19 and proposed making investments to strengthen the organization, which he described as being “too lean for too long.”

Manager Ellis’ budget proposal does not include a property tax increase for the county’s General Fund. It would keep the property tax rate at 60 cents per every $100 of property value.

The FY2022 Recommended Budget proposes raising the fire tax from 9.10 cents to 10.27 cents per $100 of property value for households in the unincorporated areas of the county and the Town of Wendell. These communities don’t receive municipal fire services and, therefore, pay a tax for fire response.

Increasing the fire tax will not only ensure a continued prompt response in rural communities during emergencies, but it will also help us retain great firefighters and provide them with equipment that works well and keeps them safe.

The public comment period will remain open until May 18 at 5 p.m. At that time, the county will provide a summary of all feedback received to the board. On May 24 at 9 a.m., the commissioners will discuss the public comments and identify any changes to the recommended budget.

The board will consider adopting the budget during the 5 p.m. board meeting on June 7.

My Grade for President Biden in First 100 Days:

President Joe Biden proposed a sweeping new $1.8 trillion plan in a speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, pleading with Republican lawmakers to work with him on divisive issues and to meet the stiff competition posed by China.  The President said America is on the Move Again reminded everyone that the United States always picks Light Over Darkness, and Hope over Fear

Pushing a vision of more government investment funded by the wealthy, the Democratic president urged Republicans who have so far resolutely opposed him to help pass a wide array of contentious legislation from taxes to police reform to gun control and immigration.

Republicans largely sat silently during the speech while Democrats applauded as Biden spoke.

Biden, who took office in January, also made an impassioned plea to raise taxes on corporations and rich Americans to help pay for his $1.8 trillion "American Families Plan".

Biden is trying to thread the needle between Republicans opposed to more spending and the tax increases needed to pay for it, and liberal Democrats who want him to push for more aggressive plans.

He said he was willing to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to come to an agreement, and he is to meet top Democratic and Republican lawmakers at the White House on May 12 to try to find common ground.

Whether Biden can truly bring Republicans across a deep partisan divide is far from clear, with Congress polarized and Democrats holding only narrow majorities.

He had promised throughout the 2020 presidential campaign to work with Republicans, but his major legislative achievement, a $1.9 trillion pandemic stimulus plan, passed without a Republican vote.

Republicans in Congress already have their eyes on making gains in the midterm congressional elections in 2022, and are aligning a divided party around opposing Biden. Many question the wisdom of embracing spending policies that are more aggressive than most of Biden's allies or rivals had expected.

Biden argued that his proposals for families and infrastructure, which together total about $4 trillion, represent a once-in-a-generation investment vital to America's future.

"Tonight, I come to talk about crisis - and opportunity," he said. "About rebuilding our nation - and revitalizing our democracy. And winning the future for America."

Republicans say most of the spending is aimed at satisfying Biden's liberal base, and that the president's plans amount to socialism. Biden said the spending plans were needed to keep up with China, which he and his administration sees as a major strategic challenger.

"China and other countries are closing in fast," he said, adding that he has spent a lot of time talking to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"He's deadly earnest about becoming the most significant, consequential nation in the world. He and others, autocrats, think that democracy can’t compete in the 21st century with autocracies. It takes too long to get consensus."

Biden’s plan includes $1 trillion in spending on education and childcare over 10 years and $800 billion in tax credits aimed at middle- and low-income families. It also includes $200 billion for free, universal preschool and $109 billion for free community college regardless of income for two years, the White House said.

The American Families Plan and the infrastructure and jobs plan the White House introduced earlier this month could represent the most significant government transformation of the economy in decades.

To pay for the plans, Biden has proposed an overhaul of the U.S. tax system, including raising the top marginal tax rate for the wealthiest Americans to 39.6% from its current 37%.

Biden has proposed nearly doubling the tax on investment income – known as capital gains – for Americans who earn more than $1 million. The $2 trillion-plus infrastructure plan is funded by an increase in corporate taxes.

News of the capital gains tax proposal caused stock markets to drop briefly last week.

Republican U.S. Senator Tim Scott argued in his rebuttal to Biden's speech that the proposals will hurt long-term economic growth.

"Our best future won't come from Washington schemes or socialist dreams," said Scott, the sole Black Senate Republican. "It will come from you - the American people," Scott said.

He also argued that Biden’s presidency is benefiting from an economic recovery for which Trump, a Republican, set the stage.

The plan would make a massive investment in America's roadways, railways and bridges with a focus on clean energy.

It would spend $174 billion, or about 28% of the transportation portion, on electric vehicles. That includes a network of 500,000 electric vehicle stations, using electric vehicles in bus fleets, and replacing the federal government's fleet of diesel transit vehicles with electric vehicles. It would also offer tax incentives and rebates for electric cars.

About $115 billion would pay for fixing roads and bridges, chosen by those in most need of repair. That includes 20,000 miles of highways and roads, the 10 most "economically significant" bridges in the U.S. as well as 10,000 smaller bridges.

Another $85 billion is set aside for modernizing transit systems and $80 billion for a growing backlog of Amtrak repairs as well as improvements and route expansion. Airports, ports and waterways would also receive improvements.

The largest part of the plan focuses on American homes, school buildings, underground water infrastructure and broadband expansion.

The plan would spend $213 billion to build, preserve and retrofit more than 2 million affordable homes and commercial buildings. This includes the construction or rehabilitation of 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income owners. An additional $111 billion would go toward clean drinking water, including replacement of all lead pipes and service lines.

The plan sets aside $100 billion for constructing or modernizing public schools, while another $100 billion would be used to build high-speed broadband networks throughout the country. The goal would be for broadband to become universal for all Americans and to drive down the costs for internet.

The plan also calls for $40 billion to improve public housing, $18 million for Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, $12 billion for community college infrastructure and $16 million to plug oil and gas wells and reclaim abandoned mines.

Biden wants to pump $400 billion to improve access to quality, affordable home or community-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities. It would expand a Medicaid program to make more services available and eliminate a backlog that prevents thousands from getting care.

It would also boost pay for care workers, who are disproportionately women of color and typically earn about $12 an hour.

"For too long, caregiver have been unseen, underpaid and undervalued," Biden said.

About $300 billion in the plan would be invested in manufacturing, including support for domestic production of technologies and critical goods. Around $50 billion would go toward semiconductor manufacturing and research.

The plan would spend $180 billion on new research and development with an emphasis on clean energy, fewer emissions and climate change research. That total includes $100 billion for worker training and an increase of worker protection systems.

"We've fallen back," Biden said of U.S. investment in research and technology. "The rest of the world is closing in and closing in fast. We can't allow this to continue."

Biden wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% to pay for the plan. That's the percentage corporations paid before President Donald Trump's tax cuts in 2017. Biden also wants to increase the minimum tax on U.S. multinational corporations to 21%.

The tax overhaul, dubbed the Made in America Tax Plan, seeks to incentivize job creation and investment in the U.S., end profit-shifting to tax havens and ensure large corporations pay "their fair share," according to the White House.

The plan would eliminate a rule that allows U.S. companies to pay no taxes on the first 10% of returns when they locate investments in other countries.

Under the tax hikes and other reforms – eliminating tax loopholes for intellectual property and denying companies deductions for offshoring jobs, for example – the White House projects the spending would be fully paid in 15 years and reduce deficits in the following years.

To Secure an appointment, please visit https://myspot.nc.gov/, https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine/

Find a County Vaccination site at https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/where-can-I-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-my-county/19466004/

Find a Wake County Testing Site: https://covid19.wakegov.com/testing/

Wake County: Wake County Public Health Vaccine Hotline 919-250-1515.  It is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit website at https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine!

Durham County: 919-635-8150 or email at DCoCOVIDvaccines@dconc.gov. 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162.

Duke Raleigh Hospital at (919) 620- 5167.

Process is to Call or visit website, join the waiting list, receive notification, and get your Vaccination Appointment!

To set up an Appointment with any County Department, please visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/findyourspot

Walgreens will offer Covid 19 Vaccine in 300 Stores (31,200 doses) in North Carolina starting on Feb 12 as a distributor under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and is planning to distribute 1 million doses of the Moderna Vaccine.  For more information, sign up at walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19.

Appointments are no longer required to get a free shot of the COVID-19 vaccine in Wake County. All vaccination locations will allow walk-ins and drive-ins.

Appointments are still encouraged, but no longer necessary.

The locations accepting walk-ins include Wake County Public Health Center, Wake County Northern Regional Center, Wake County Human Services Center at Departure and Green Road Park.

Find Days and Times at https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine/.

Make appointments at https://takemyshot.nc.gov/  Walk Ins will be taken.  

The Johnston County Public Health Department has scheduled the following first and second dose clinics:

The COVID-19 vaccine is free. The Health Department will use Moderna (age 18+), Pfizer (age 16 +) and Johnson & Johnson (age 18+) vaccines.

Beginning Monday, the Durham County Department of Public Health will open its vaccination clinic for walk-in appointments.

Walk-in hours will be Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9 to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays 9 to 6 p.m.

Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available but the choice of vaccine will depend on supply.

Pfizer will be used for all people under age 18.

Listen to my May 5th BuzzSports Radio at 8 am to hear my update in the India Covid Crisis and impact on NC Indian Community!  

Check them out every am on 99.5FM, 99.3 FM and 99.9 HD2 

https://megaphone.link/CAPITOL3079687503​ 

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157710980351360/?t=20

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our in-person Lobby day in Raleigh NC Legislature building to advocate for better data collection of bias-motivated incidents and crimes, facilitated by the mandatory reporting requirement of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. (Currently sponsored by Senator Jay Chaudhuri, Senator Mujtaba Muhammed and Senator Valerie Foushee)

Tune in May 9th to Black Issues Forum at 7 pm on Friday & Sunday, at 4 PM on PBS NC.  Biden’s Expansive Infrastructure Plan, Covid-19, and Indoctrination in Education.

May 12- May 13  NC Tech Association Virtual State of Technology Conference:

THE INTERSECTION OF CUSTOMER, EMPLOYEE AND USER EXPERIENCES  9am to 12pm

May 13 Fireside Chat with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi 9:50 am:  US Response to India Covid Crisis and Addressing Asian Hate.

Streamed Live at https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao and Live on Radio Nyra on 1490 AM, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IgfBtFaMROWhlL4Hw1q8zw

Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio Mirchi for another update on local issues.

99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Join us every Friday on World Edition at 10 am for the Great America Project Panel where we discuss how we rebuild Americas' image with leaders from around the country and world.