SHARE:  
Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Steve Rao. Don't forget to add sr@steverao.com to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!
You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.
Pearl Harbor Edition
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
December 8, 2020
American and West Virginia Hero and Pilot, Chuck Yeager, dies.  May he rest in Peace.  
Important News Alerts
Covid 19 Cases in NC reach all time High of 6,428 on Saturday / 4,372 on Monday.  
NC Covid19 News Alert
Governor Cooper discusses additional Covid 19 measures Press Conference at 3 pm on ABC 11 as Phase 3 expires on Friday.
US Presidential News Alert
President Elect Biden nominates Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Retired General Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense.
Covid19 Vaccine News Alert
Margaret Keenan from United Kingdom becomes first person to receive Covid 19 Vaccine.

Remembering Pearl Harbor
Yesterday, I took some time to reflect on Pearl Harbor Day, and what we can learn from this time in American history during these very disruptive times. Covid 19 has killed more citizens in the United States than 9/11 and Pearl Harbor, combined.

Dec. 7th 1941 was one of the worst attacks on our nation, as 2541 Soldiers lost their lives in addition to thousands of casualties. This day also began our entrance into to World War II and introduce the world, to the greatest generation, our World War II soldiers, young men, from all across the nation and world, who answered the call to service and led the allies to freedom, conquering tyranny and oppression. 

Our family has a personal connection to the greatest generation as my grandfather, Major S.V. Rao served in WWII for the Indian Army, fighting the Japanese in Burma. 

I had the honor of visiting Normandy last summer with my family, and was overtaken with emotion, as I saw the graves of thousands of brave soldiers, who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.  

Today, we salute these American heroes along with our brave soldiers and veterans, wherever they may be during this Holiday season, fighting for freedom and liberty for all.  They are an everlasting reminder that there are heroes who live among us, who keep us safe, who defend against 
Most importantly, the greatest generation should remind each of us, that during dark and uncertain times, when we face the greatest adversity, there is no limit to what we can achieve in the world, if we are united together, against tyranny, oppression, or any obstacle that comes our way.

The selfless sacrifice of our First Responders, our First Line Health Care Workers, Volunteers, and the rapid development of the Covid 19 Vaccine during this global pandemic truly demonstrate that the United States of America is truly a superhero nation.

As humanity unites to defeat Covid 19 once and for all, let us remember the words of President Roosevelt, “the only thing to Fear is Fear itself.

We will not retreat.

We will prevail.

We will dream the impossible dream and reach the Unreachable Star, always through faith, sacrifice, and unity.

God Bless the United States and World.
Breaking News!
Wake County Commission News
Matt Calabria elected Wake County Commissioners Chair, Maria Cervania and Shinica Thomas join Board.

NC Voter ID News
Fourth Circuit Court Upholds NC Voter ID Law/Case could be subject to further appeal

Stimulus News
Wake County Schools - Virtual Academy
Last Day to apply for Virtual Academy is Dec.9th.  
Celebrating 10 Years In Morrisville!
In December 2011, I began my tenure on the Town Council of Morrisville, as I was sworn in by Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.  I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve and lead on this Council and am proud of our remarkable achievements in the last decade.  

Our town continues to achieve a number of top national rankings, most recently as one of the top ten cities to live in America by Money Magazine and number 3 Tech City in the nation.  

Council and Staff continue to execute on major projects in the midst of a global pandemic, as we continue to lead one of the most innovative, and inclusive small Towns in North Carolina, where our citizens can Live Connected and Live Well.

Northwest Park, Church Street Park, McCrimmon Extension, Adopting a Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Morrisville Grade Separation, Parkside Elementary, WAKE Tech RTP, the UDO, an engaged and thriving business community, a Strategic Plan, and Smart City/Open Data Strategy and Initiative are just a few examples of the great things can be accomplished when a non-partisan coalition of engaged citizens unite behind a vision.  
Each of you make the Morrisville Miracle possible, and I am very grateful and humbled to have been a part of this team.  
I look forward to begin the next decade in January.  I challenge each of us to be bold, to take a Moon Shot, so we can do even bigger things in Morrisville. 

Prepare the Cabin for Lift off!  

We are ready for our Morrisville Moon Shot!
Radio / TV
Radio Mirchi
Join me every Sunday on Leaders Radio Mirchi!  99.9 FM, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM
IBM TV
Join me Monday at 10 am on International Broadcast Media TV for a global for World Edition, an update on global politics.

News
NC and the Covid19 Vaccine 
Last week, Governor Cooper announced that the Covid 19 Vaccine will be free to anyone who wants it.  

As soon as the FDA grants approval for the use of any vaccine, the state is expecting to receive more about 85,000 doses.

It will first be given to health care workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities who treat or work with COVID patients and those who clean areas where COVID patients are present. The state estimates that population at up to 161,000 people.

As additional vaccines are approved, the state will get additional allocations and will expand distribution to others.

The second group targeted by the state will be residents of long-term care, people over the age of 65 who live in crowded situations such as jails and homeless shelters, and other adults who have two or more chronic conditions that put them at greater risk for a severe case of the coronavirus. That group is estimated to number up to 951,000.

Vaccinating the rest of those at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 will encompass another 1 to 1.5 million people – everyone over 65, those under 65 in crowded situations or who work in frontline jobs and don't have two or more chronic conditions.

The third phase makes vaccine available to anyone in an essential position, according to the state "workers in industries critical to societal functioning," and students in K-12 schools and colleges and universities.

The final phase would include the remainder of the North Carolina population.
NC Hospitals to Receive Covid19 Vaccine
NC Hospitals to receive Vaccine
  • Bladen Healthcare LLC (Bladen County Hospital)
  • Caldwell Memorial Hospital
  • CarolinaEast Medical Center
  • Catawba Valley Medical Center
  • Cumberland County Hospital System Inc (Cape Fear Valley Health System)
  • Duke University Health System
  • Henderson County Hospital Corporation (Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Hospital)
  • Hoke Healthcare LLC (Hoke Hospital)
  • The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority (CMC Enterprise)
  • University of North Carolina Shared Services Agreement
  • Wake Forest Baptist Health
NCDHHS LAUNCHES PILOT FOR K-12 Covid 19 Testing 
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching a pilot program to deploy COVID-19 testing in K-12 public schools to quickly identify students and staff who may have the virus to help slow its spread.

Local education agencies including public school districts, charter school networks or individual charter schools currently offering any in-person instruction - either Plan A or Plan B - are eligible to apply. Selected pilot sites will receive federally funded rapid antigen tests to be used for students and staff with COVID-19 symptoms or who are close contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

To apply for the program, local education agencies must submit a readiness checklist for each participating school to their local health department. The checklist confirms that a school can meet the program's requirements, including obtaining parental/guardian consent prior to testing, maintaining adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, having trained personnel to administer tests or partnering with a local health provider, and reporting test results to state and local public health agencies. Following review of the readiness checklists, the local health department then submits the application to NCDHHS on behalf of the local education agency.

Pilot applications are due December 8. NCDHHS will select pilot sites based on the pool of eligible applicants. NCDHHS will deliver the rapid tests to pilot sites at no cost to the sites as soon as December 14.

Upcoming Events
December 8th Town of Morrisville Town Council Meeting

Submit public comment for a Town Council Meeting by email to publiccomment@townofmorrisville.org. In Person Comments can be made one person at a time in Council Chambers.
December 9th: RTCC Cleantech Innovation Awards:
Join the second annual Cleantech Innovation Awards, celebrating the individuals and organizations driving cleantech innovation and deployment.  

Morrisville News - Please Participate
TOWN OF MORRISVILLE NAMED FINALIST IN THE GLOBAL SMART CITY CHALLENGE
It is my pleasure to announce that Morrisville has been selected as a finalist for the 2020 Global Smart Cities Readiness Challenge. Morrisville was named as 1 of 10 finalists and will potentially have the opportunity to lead a Readiness Cohort in 2021. We are working with the Communications Department to get this information out to the community so that they can vote for our submission. You can find more information at the link below.

To vote on our submission, you can click on the ‘begin rating process’ button and use the stars under our video on the following page (BIG thanks to Communications for helping put together our finalist video). The rating will submit once you exit the page. Voting is allowed once per day and closes on January 5. Please let me know if you have any questions.


Please consider supporting Morrisville Smart City efforts by giving our plans 5 stars every day until Jan 5th.
My Weekly Update:
NC Covid Dashboard:
  • 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/.    
  • Apply for Wake Forward program at https://covid19.wakegov.com/wakeforward/
The latest Centers for Disease Control report predicts somewhere between 294,000 to 321,000 COVID-19 related deaths are possible by Dec. 19.  

North Carolina is reporting a record increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The state is reporting 6,438 new cases since Saturday. This brings the total number of cases in North Carolina to date to 404,032. 

With 95 percent of hospitals reporting, the state has hit another record of COVID-19 hospitalizations with 2,373.

In total, 5,605 North Carolinians have died from the virus. That is 27 more since Saturday.

The state is reporting a 9.7% test positivity rate, down from 10.4 % on Saturday.  

CASES:
4,670 New Cases 
+ N.C. = 404,032 Cases (Deaths = 5,605)    
+ 9.7 % Positive Rate
+ Wake County = 32,111 Cases (Deaths=304)
+ US = 15 million Cases/284K deaths 
+ Worldwide = 67.8 million/1.55 million deaths
+ Completed Tests: 5,678,794  
+ 2,373 Hospitalizations.
Office Hours
Council Member Rao holds office hours on Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM by appointment only at 100 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville. 

For more information or to schedule a time to speak with Council Member Rao, please email SRao@TownofMorrisville.org and copy Town Clerk Eric Smith, esmith@townofmorrisville.org, 463-6150.
Council Member Steve Rao
Town of Morrisville
Dedicated to transforming Morrisville into an ideal place to work and raise a family!
Learn more at: SteveRao.com