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From the Council Office of Steve Rao
June 6, 2021
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Congratulations to 2021 Graduates: |
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Congrats to Mito Perreira for winning the Rex Open! The Tournament raised $10 million for the Rex Endowment Fund for Cancer Research! Thanks to the Sponsors and all of the Volunteers who made this happen! |
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Wishing Canes all the best in Game 6 at PNC Arena on Tuesday. We need this one! |
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Celebrate Pride Month by appreciating the contributions of our LGBTQ Community. |
My Pride Month Message:
I will have more on Pride Month in my next edition along with a review of landmark Supreme Court Cases on LGBTQ, guns, and voting rights.
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Town of Morrisville Bulk Item Curbside Pick Up June 7th- June 14th!
(See Morrisville in the News)
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Box Yard RTP Opens!
(See NC News Section)
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13,151 Covid Deaths in North Carolina.
54% Partially Vaccinated (One Dose)
50% Fully Vaccinated.
230,000 North Carolinians are still claiming unemployment as unemployment numbers continue to drop in the United States.
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D Day: Remembering the Greatest Generation in a Superhero Nation |
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My Message on D-Day:
NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT:
On June 6th 1944, the greatest generation stormed the beaches of Normandy to win World War II.
4,300 Allied personnel lost their lives serving their country in what would be the largest amphibious invasion ever launched.
We do not need to go to Marvel Movies or read Marvel Comics to know that the Avengers, our American Soldiers, have always made us a Superhero nation.
On a personal note, One of the reasons, D-Day and WW II, means so much to the Rao family, is that we also honor one of our family heroes, my late Grandfather, Major S.V. Rao (Venky) who served in world War II for the British Army and then the Indian Army after partition. He fought the Japanese in Burma.
I visited Normandy in 2019, and was so moved to visit the museums, to read about the soldiers, who faced gunshots when they landed on the beach, many of them would see dismembered bodies in the water. Men, as young as eighteen years of age, from all walks of life, dying within minutes of landing at Normandy. It was so emotional to see the graves of many of these soldiers, and to see with my own eyes, the true sacrifices made by the greatest generation our nation has ever produced, our World War II Veterans.
The best way we can honor those who sacrificed and died for this country is to never take our Freedom for granted. We must always respect our differences and never cease our commitment to equality and justice for all Americans.
At the end of the day, we must always remember our fallen soldiers not only by how they died, but more importantly how they lived: as truly courageous heroes who are everlasting reminders that we truly are the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
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MORRISVILLE PLAY OF THE WEEK:
Accelerate Fundraising for Morrisville Veteran Memorial Project
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My Message:
As I discussed last week, I believe that it is very important that we accelerate the fundraising from the Town and private partners so we can have our very own Veteran Memorial in Morrisville. I recently watched the dedication of Phase 1 of the Orange County Veteran Memorial on Memorial Day, and over $150,000 has been raised to date with the ultimate goal of reaching $450,000.
From initial concept and idea to breaking ground, it took over seven years to get to this point, but I know, we can even have a smaller Memorial in place, and the continue to build upon an initial site.
In terms of reaching our fundraising goals, we need to reach out to many of the public companies headquartered in Morrisville, including Cisco, Lenovo, IBM, Syneos Health, and many others. Remember, 10 public companies (10 % of the 100 in NC) are headquartered in NC. We also need to leverage our partnership with the Morrisville Chamber and other Veteran Organizations so we can execute our plan.
Let’s work to make this happen for our community. It is the least we can do to honor those who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for our great country.
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National Day of Vaccine Action: |
Last week, President Biden announced a National Vaccine Month of Action to ensure 70 percent of U.S. adults have at least one shot by July 4th. He made clear every American has a part to play in this critical effort, and already volunteers, organizations, businesses, and local government leaders have joined in! Everyone needs to do their part!
Get your shot and get your 12 year olds Vaccinated!
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US to Supply Surplus Vaccines |
President Joe Biden announced this week that the U.S. will swiftly donate an initial allotment of 25 million doses of surplus vaccine overseas through the United Nations-backed COVAX program, promising infusions for South and Central America, Asia, Africa and others at a time of glaring shortages abroad and more than ample supplies at home. |
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John Chambers Hosts Podcast on Helping India Covid Crisis |
Check out The Urgent Need to Help India in its Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic with Mukesh Aghi of United States Strategic Indian Partnership Forum– Episode 8 of “Chambers Talks", a Podcast Series Hosted by John Chambers, former CEO Cisco Sytems.
If you would like to help India, please visit pbs.org or nytimes.com for a list of vetted organizations accepting donations for medical and other greatly needed supplies. We cannot rest until the entire world gains control over the COVID-19 crisis.
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SMALL Business of the Week: Taste Vietnamese! |
First, I am so very grateful to Congresswoman Deb Ross, for spending time in Morrisville every time she is back in the District. I enjoyed meeting her at our favorite restaurant, Taste Vietnamese in Morrisville Square! Please get out to Taste and support all of our small businesses in the Plaza, including Tower, C & T Wok, and all of them!
Finally, I look forward to working with Congresswoman Ross on potential American Rescue Dollars for transportation, and also she and I are planning a Tech Roundtable this Fall!
Keep up the Great work Deb!
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Hindu Society of NC Hosts Successful Vaccination Clinic |
On Saturday, our 15 year old son, Rayan, got his second Pfizer shot thank to the Hindu Society of North Carolina, and Avance Health Care. (Ritesh Patel and Team) If you are a parent, please encourage your kids to get vaccinated, so we can all do our part to get this Pandemic behind us. There are no side effects, and there is nothing to be afraid of. Over 700 doses were given, along with Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
Thanks again to our Hometown Heroes!
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President Biden rejects GOP Counteroffer on Infrastructure Deal from Sen. Shelly Moore Capito
President Biden Headed to England for G 7 Summit.
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Former President Trump returns to NC with a plan for 2022 elections.
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Ransomware Attacks Given the Same Priority as Terrorism |
Dept. of Justice to give ransomware attacks the same priority as terrorism. More on Cybersecurity in next edition.
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Unemployment Numbers Continue to Drop in US |
Jobless claims dropped to 385,000, down 20,000 from the week before. The number of applications for unemployment aid, which generally reflects the pace of layoffs, has fallen steadily all year. The decline reflects a swift rebound in economic growth and the job market's steady recovery from the coronavirus recession. More Americans are venturing out to shop, travel, dine out and congregate at entertainment venues. All that renewed spending has led companies to seek new workers. |
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My Thoughts on Box Yard:
Launch of Box Yard offers glimpse of a Post Covid World:
It was great to attend the Box Yard RTP opening this past Thursday.
RTP Community leaders, elected officials, and community leaders all gathered to celebrate this milestone event for the Triangle Region. Former Raleigh Mayor and past RTP Chairman Smedes York was also recognized for his vision for making the Research Triangle Park what it is today.
Finally, a special shout out to my friend, Scott Levitan, RTP Foundation CEO, and his team for working through the challenges of a Pandemic to make Box Yard RTP, a very important first step to transform the Research Triangle into a true live, work and play community, and destination for businesses and entrepreneurs from around the world.
Our best days are ahead!
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THIS WEEK IN MORRISVILLE June 7 - June 13 |
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All Town Meetings are in person and social distancing guidelines are followed. No masks are required if you Vaccinated and Town Operations are in compliance with Governor Cooper Executive Order 215. No Masks Required at Morrisville Fitness and Aquatics Center.
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Morrisville Carpenter Road Improvements |
Morrisville Carpenter Road Improvements
- Work on the south side of Morrisville Carpenter Road (between Church Street and Misty Groves Circle) in connection with the road widening operations will continue. The temporary shoring work for the culvert is ongoing.
- Drivers should be prepared for flagging operations in this area between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Northbound traffic for Town Hall Drive continues to be redirected along the southbound side of the median.
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Sign up for Cedar Fork Summer Camp.
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Morrisville White Goods Collection is June 10 |
Morrisville’s next White Goods Collection is Thursday, June 10, and includes washing machines, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, ovens, dishwashers, window air conditioners, and water heaters. Note that microwaves are not included. White goods collection requires registration. Complete the form linked here or call (919) 463-7070 to confirm your collection by Monday, June 7. |
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Spring Bulk Item Pick-up is June 7-11 |
Morrisville’s spring bulk item pick-up is scheduled for Monday, June 7 through Friday, June 11. Residents receiving residential curbside solid waste services may leave a total of five acceptable bulk items curbside on their regular trash/recycling curbside pick-up day. All bulk items presented for pick-up must be curbside and ready for pick-up no later than 7 a.m. For acceptable and unacceptable items and additional details visit http://bit.ly/msvbulkitems. |
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Applications are Welcome for Morrisville’s Citizen Advisory Committees |
The Town of Morrisville is accepting applications for citizen advisory committees through Friday, July 2. While applications for all advisory committees will be accepted during this period, the following committees have vacancies or expiring terms that may be filled during this appointment process:
- Environment and Stormwater Committee
- Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Committee
- Performance Measures Advisory Committee
- Planning and Zoning Board
- Public Education Advisory Committee
- Public Safety Advisory Committee
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Celebrate Juneteenth in Morrisville on June 19! |
Join the Town of Morrisville as we celebrate the emancipation and the achievements of Morrisville's African-American community through speakers, proclamations, food, fun activities, music, vendors, and entertainment at Cedar Fork Community Center at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 19. Visit http://bit.ly/MorrisvilleJuneteenth for details! |
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Children's Bicycle Rodeo Safety Event Set for June 19 |
On Saturday, June 19, the Morrisville Fire and Rescue Department will hold a Bicycle Rodeo to teach children proper bike helmet and bike riding safety. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Morrisville’s Fire Station No. 1 located at 200 Town Hall Drive. Free bike helmets will be made available while supplies last. If you have questions call (919) 463-6931 or visit http://www.townofmorrisville.org/fire. |
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Western Wake Farmers' Market is Open Year-round |
Come out to the Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., for healthy and fresh food, goods, and live music from small and local businesses! Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to learn about the WWFM, to see a complete list of local vendors, for special event dates, and to learn more about how you can support your community by shopping local. Sign up for the weekly WWFM newsletter sent out on Friday mornings! Email debbie@wwfm.ag to subscribe! |
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Cooper DEQ Secretary Nominee Dionne Delli-Gatti Rejected/Cooper gives her new job
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Cooper Signs Exec. Order 216/Unemployed must seek Employment |
In Gov. Roy Cooper's latest Executive Order 216 issued Friday, all existing claimants of unemployment benefits will be required to fulfill work-search requirements beginning June 6. All existing claimants will be required to register with a jobseeker account on NCWorks.gov during the next several weeks.
The order also directs the state's Department of Commerce to explore opportunities in line with federal law and using certain federal funds to establish a reemployment incentive program for those without jobs who can find and maintain employment.
Under the order:
- Claimants must make contact with at least three different employers each week and keep a record of their work search, as is required by state law. One of the three weekly job contacts can be satisfied by attending an approved reemployment activity offered by a NCWorks Career Center or a partnering agency.
- To continue receiving benefits, all unemployment claimants will be required to register with a jobseeker account on NCWorks.gov, North Carolina's online portal for employment and training services. Jobseekers can use NCWorks.gov to search and apply for jobs, access labor market information and find opportunities for workforce training. Over the next several weeks, existing claimants will receive notifications about registering for NCWorks.
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UNEMPLOYED COULD RECEIVE $1,500 INCENTIVE TO RETURN TO WORK |
Senators in North Carolina have approved a bill that would give unemployed North Carolinians $800 or $1,500 as an incentive after securing a new job.
House Bill 128 serves as an act to reemploy the state’s workforce by providing bonuses for accepting reemployment and requiring individuals to respond to employer requests and administrative changes to the unemployment insurance laws.
To dish out the funds, the state would seek approval from the U.S. Department of Labor to use funds appropriated by Congress for the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program to provide a “signing bonus” for unemployed claimants who accept reemployment.
The back-to-work bonus would vary and be payable as follows:
- A $1,500 bonus for accepting reemployment on or before June 1, payable in two installments: 50 percent after 30 days of employment and the remainder after 60 days of employment
- An $800 bonus for accepting reemployment on or before July 1, payable in two installments: 50 percent after 20 days of employment and the remainder after 60 days of employment
- No bonus paid for accepting reemployment after September 6, 2021.
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NC House Votes to Eliminate $300.00/month Pandemic Unemployment |
North Carolina's unemployed would no longer receive the pandemic-related $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement under legislation approved by a state House committee on Wednesday.
The measure would withdraw North Carolina from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, joining two dozen other states that have done the same thing.
The proposal would eliminate these extra benefits 30 days after the bill became law. The program already is scheduled to expire nationwide in early September. Proponents of this bill claim that unemployment benefits are discouraging folks from returning to work.
The House measure, which is scheduled to get a floor vote on Thursday, also would revive two proposals that the chamber approved earlier this spring but had gone nowhere in the Senate.
One provision would allow recipients of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans to treat those proceeds as business expenses that could be deducted from their state income taxes in 2020 and 2021. The other provision would exempt the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits from a person's 2020 income taxes.
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Wake County will vote on $1.56 billion budget tomorrow, June 7th. |
The FY2022 Recommended Budget includes:
- Dedicating an additional $1.6 million to address longer-term public health-related needs to ensure the county is prepared to respond to any future disease outbreaks, potential case surges, or additional guidance from the state or federal government;
- Restoring the nearly $1.5 million for affordable housing that was cut in the FY2021 budget. By reinstating this critical funding, the county can help more lower-income families find safe and comfortable places to live;
- Restoring two peak-load ambulances and the eight EMT and paramedic positions needed to run them – all of which were cut in the FY2021 budget. Reinstating them will help Wake EMS respond to increasing calls for life-saving care;
- Investing more than $700,000 in early voting for the March primary election and increasing the stipend for early voting and election day workers to $15 an hour to serve the growing number of voters who want to cast their ballots early;
- Investing more than $890 million – or 57% of the county budget – into education. This includes $350,000 to launch Wake ThreeSchool, a new Pre-K program for 3-year-olds, and more than $539 million to support Wake County Public Schools’ operating expenses;
- Creating a new position for a Diversity and Inclusion Director in the County Manager’s Office and committing funds to help this position identify strategies to encourage equity and develop a plan to implement them; and
- Opening Sandy Pines Preserve – a 563-acre former farm in Eastern Wake County where staff envision offering hiking, horseback riding, fishing and more to the public.
Proposed Increase to the Fire Tax
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
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54% of Adults are Partially Vaccinated
50% of Adults are Fully Vaccinated.
Total Doses Administered: 8,365,719
- First of Two Doses Administered: 4,245,496
- Second of Two Doses Administered: 3,811,994
- Single Shot Doses: 308,229
Appointments No Longer Needed for Free Vaccines in Wake County
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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!
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!
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.
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Morrisville Walgreens is taking appointments at 3601 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560 and call (919) 468-6880.
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CHATHAM COUNTY VACCINATION CLINICS |
The Chatham County Public Health Department announced that COVID-19 vaccination clinics that occurred regularly through May in Pittsboro, Siler City and Goldston would continue throughout the month of June. Even more Chatham residents have the opportunity to receive their vaccine at these locations:
- The Chatham County Public Health Department is offering first- and second-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations at its Siler City clinic (1000 S. 10th Ave.) on Fridays. To make an appointment, call (919) 742-5641. Walk-ins will also be welcome.
- StarMed Healthcare is continuing to operate Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center in Pittsboro on Fridays and Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. To register, visit starmed.care or call (980) 445-9818. Walk-ins are also accepted.
- StarMed Healthcare is providing Pfizer vaccinations at the Goldston Town Hall (40 Coral Ave. A) from 2 p.m.to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Second-dose appointments will follow three weeks later. To register, visit starmed.care or call (980) 445-9818. Walk-ins are also accepted.
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Wake County has Resumed J&J Vaccine at all Vaccination Sites.
Appointments No Longer Needed for Free Vaccines in Wake County
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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.
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PBS Carolina - Black Issues Forum |
Listen to PBS CAROLINA on the Black Issues Forum as we discuss Biden Infrastructure, Race in American, and Naomi Osaka . PBS Carolina 4!
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Thanks for attending our Immigration Update with Jeremy Robbins on EAGLE ACT! |
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June 7th In-Person Wake County Commissioners Meeting at 5 pm.
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June 15 NC RIOT Event: Connecting Rural Communities to the Global Economy.
Join us in Wilson to celebrate the launch of the Gig East Exchange and the extension of RIoT to Eastern NC.
As the only city in North Carolina with its own broadband internet infrastructure, RIoT recognizes the City of Wilson is poised to be the epicenter for economic development in eastern NC.
Join to hear how leaders with the City of Wilson, RIoT, and local start-ups are leading Eastern NC into the global economy.
Space is limited. Please only RSVP if you are able to attend in person. CDC and local guidelines will be enforced.
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Town of Morrisville Juneteenth Celebration |
Morrisville's Celebration
Join us as we celebrate the emancipation and the achievements of Morrisville's African-American community through speakers, proclamations, food, fun activities, music, vendors, entertainment and more.
When
Saturday, June 19
10am - 2pm
Cedar Fork Community Center
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June 18th- June 21 Tie Carolinas Hosts TYE Global Competition |
TiE Carolinas is the host for 2021 competition, showcasing youth teams from all around the world. Your experience, expertise and knowledge will be valuable to provide feedback to the future business leaders of the world. We deeply appreciate your time for this program. TIE will be hosting 25 teams from all over the world.
Judging time:
June 18 (Friday): 10 am - 2 pm ET. This is the first round of presentations.
June 18 (Friday): 5 pm - 7 pm ET. This is virtual Maker's fare.
June 19 (Saturday): 9 am - 1 pm ET. This is the final round of presentation
Participating teams in 2021:
- NORTH AMERICA
- Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit , Carolinas, Houston, Oregon, Seattle, SoCal, San Diego, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Washington DC
- ASIA & AUSTRALIA
- Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hubli, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Kerala, Kolkata, Lucknow, Rajasthan, Melbourne, Sydney
About TiE Carolinas and TYE:
TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) is a Global Program empowering future generations of entrepreneurs by teaching high school students the rewards and challenges of starting the entrepreneurial journey. TYE is an entrepreneurship academy, where student teams utilize modern skills and tools to build on a concept using customer feedback, iteration, and lightweight business models. TYE is designed to teach high school students entrepreneurship and leadership skills.
TYE ( TiE Young entrepreneurs) is a TiE Global initiative dedicated to chapters integrating classroom sessions; mentoring and a Startup competition aimed at High School students. Teams compete at the regional level and winners of regionals have the opportunity to compete at TYE Global finals for cash prizes and recognition.
TiE Carolinas is the local chapter of TiE. TiE Carolinas has been supporting young entrepreneurs since the inception of TYE. TiE Carolinas runs several other programs focused on women and minority entrepreneurs. The angels program funds startups around the country.
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Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio Nyra for another update on local issues.
99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
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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.
OFFICIAL International Broadcast Media
Public Open Dialogue TV is a worldwide multilingual, multi-demographic network focused on inspiring, educating and entertaining the global community. We provide unique programming in areas not covered by traditional media, and provide a platform for the audience to engage with those shows. Formerly IBMTV.
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- For latest Covid 19 information, please dial 2-1-1 or 888- 892-1162.
- Get Updates by texting COVIDNC at 898211.
- For unemployment insurance, please visit NC Dept of Employment Security at https://des.nc.gov/.
- 1,501,650 NC citizens have applied for UI Benefits, 989,760 have been paid benefits, and $11.7 billion of benefits have been issued.
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Apply for Wake Forward program at https://covid19.wakegov.com/wakeforward/.
April's seasonally adjusted state jobless rate of 5% marks a decline for a seventh consecutive month, according to the state Commerce Department. It compares to the top pandemic rate of 13.5% recorded in both April 2020 and May 2020.
North Carolina is reporting 680 new COVID-19 cases and a 2.5% positive rate.
Throughout the state, eight more people are being hospitalized for COVID-19 and nine more have died from the virus.
In North Carolina, 54% of adults have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 50% are fully vaccinated.
The early phases of the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan targeted North Carolina's most vulnerable populations, however, months later data shows many of these same communities are still at risk.
An analysis by the ABC11 I-Team found the top 25% of NC counties with high levels of chronic conditions have an average vaccination rate below the state average. Almost half of these same counties reporting the lowest vaccination rates in the state.
For counties with a higher prevalence of smoking, diabetes, obesity and premature death, the average vaccination rate is 35%.
These are the same conditions associated with an increased chance of catching a severe case of COVID-19. This doesn't mean that all the unvaccinated residents in these areas have chronic conditions but it does mean the community as a whole is at a higher risk.
CASES:
680 Newly reported Cases
+ N.C.= 1,004,669 Cases (Deaths = 13,150)
+ 613 Hospitalized
+ 2.5% Positive Rate
+ Wake County = 89,557Cases (Deaths = 737)
+ US = 33.4 million/ 597,000 Deaths
+ India = 28.8 million cases/347,000 Deaths.
+ Worldwide = 173 million cases/ 3.72 million deaths
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Council Member Rao holds office hours on Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM by appointment only at 100 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville.
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Council Member Steve Rao
Town of Morrisville
Dedicated to transforming Morrisville into an ideal place to work and raise a family!
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See what's happening on our social sites: |
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