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COMMENCEMENT AND DACA EDITION
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
June 15, 2022
Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes.  

Download the Steve Rao App!
WEEKLY AND DACA ANNIVERSARY UPDATE
MY WEEKLY AND DACA ANNIVERSARY UPDATE:
(Juneteenth edition will be next newsletter) 
Breaking News:
Senate agrees to Bi Partisan Gun Deal
Senate agrees to Bi Partisan Gun Deal.  Burr and Tillis Part of Working Group.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/politics/whats-in-senate-gun-reform-agreement/index.html
(See National News for a Summary of Senate Bill)
Inflation at highest rate in four decades. Fed increases Interest Rate by 75 basis points.  

Morrisville Smart Shuttle begins service to Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center on June 15th! 

Wake County Commissioners Approve $1.7 Billion 2023 Budget, 1.95% Property Tax Increase. 
(See NC News Section) 

Wake County School Leaders considering a Teacher Workday on Election Day.  
(More on this in next newsletter)
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2022!
My Graduation Message: 

Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2022!  
Your perseverance through this pandemic has proven that you are resilient leaders, not only on how you bounce back but how you Bounce Forward.

We look forward to your bright futures!  Make your Dreams come true and change the world!

Rayan is now a Senior!
CELEBRATING FLAG DAY!
Yesterday, we celebrated Flag Day.

Flag Day commemorates the anniversary of the occasion on which the Second Continental Congress declared that the American flag would have “13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and “13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation” in 1777.

We are grateful to the soldiers and veterans of our nation who made the ultimate sacrifice so that our Stars and Stripes would always be raised high!

Happy Flag Day!
10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DACA
JUNE 17th 4 pm DREAMERS AND THE FUTURE OF US IMMIGRATION POLICY: 
A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH JEREMY ROBBINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL


Aired on Radio Nyra on Sunday at 4 pm. (99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM)
MY INSIGHTS ON 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DACA

Check today’s Raleigh’s News and Observer article on DACA and Dreamers. 

Stay tuned for my DACA Press Conferences and Nyra/Roku interviews next week with the American Immigration Council.
Ten years ago this month, President Barack Obama created the Deferred on for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, giving new hope to hundreds of thousands of young, undocumented people who had been brought to the United States as children and knew no other home.

Since then, we’ve seen President Trump strive—and fail—to dismantle DACA. We’ve seen lawmakers strive—and, so far, fail—to give Dreamers permanent lawful status. We’ve seen judges question DACA’s legality, forcing the Biden administration to completely rewrite the federal rules underlying the program.

And along the way, we’ve seen the Dreamers rise above the uncertainty and grow into accomplished young adults, who are making tangible contributions to their communities.

FOUR AMONG MANY
I’m thinking of Ramiro Rodriguez, who cofounded Code the Dream, an amazing Triangle nonprofit that helps people from low-income backgrounds to obtain computer skills to support our state’s businesses. “If I hadn’t had DACA, I’d have been struggling to even open a bank account, not thinking about how to start a business or employ other people,” Ramiro says in the linked story.

Or Martin Rodriguez, a graduate researcher at Wake Forest University. His family left poverty in Mexico; after coming to North Carolina at the age of 9, he obtained a PhD in molecular medicine, and is now developing gene therapies for pediatric blood disorders. “DACA was a door to continuing my education, and it’s definitely as essential as ever,” Martin says in the linked story.

Or Leslie Arreaza, whose parents fled violence in Guatemala when she was 7. Today, she’s an autism specialist and teaches in North Carolina’s public schools. “Young immigrants like me are called Dreamers for a reason,” she says in the linked story. “It’s because we’re marked by our dreams, our ambitions and our determination to make a positive difference.”

I’m thinking, too, of people like UNC student Shristi Sharma, an extraordinary young woman who built an app that could one day allow us to diagnose Alzheimer’s based on data from fitness trackers. Shristi is a “Documented Dreamer”—a young person excluded from DACA because her parents played by the rules and came to this country on skilled-worker visas. Processing delays have prevented Shristi’s parents from graduating from temporary visas to green cards—and now Shristi faces having to self-deport when she turns 21 and can no longer be included on her parents’ visas.’

These are just four stories among many. DACA has helped over 830,000 young people build brighter futures, earn a comfortable living, help provide for their families, and support their communities. Dreamers see their hourly earnings almost double after they receive DACA status, and it becomes far easier for them to qualify for loans, or work to put themselves through college. Six out of 10 DACA recipients say the program made it possible for them to buy their first cars, and 14% have bought homes, lifting the economy for everyone.

But DACA’s 10th anniversary isn’t just a time to acknowledge how much the Dreamers have achieved. It’s also a time to reflect on how badly we, as a nation, have failed them.
As Shristi’s story shows, people are still falling through the gaps: there are over 250,000 young documented Dreamers that DACA does nothing to protect. Many DACA recipients have lost jobs or faced legal trouble after the government failed to process their paperwork in time, leaving them without employment authorization. And many others fear that DACA could one day be revoked, forcing them back into the shadows. TK# Dreamers now have American children. If another administration were to try and cancel DACA, that would be a catastrophe for these for these families.

TIME IS NOW
It’s time to put an end to this uncertainty. Dreamers have kept their promise to our country. They’ve proven their ability to work within a broken system and play by the rules. Now we must unequivocally welcome them into our great American family. That means a legislative path — a true Dream Act, with support for Documented Dreamers with a clear path to permanent lawful status and eventual citizenship for all DACA recipients.
MY INSIGHTS ON DOCUMENTED DREAMERS
Over the past few years, I have seen an increasing number of Documented Dreamers in the Triangle Region, many of whom are in Morrisville and Cary.   Many of these Dreamers are young children who came America from India when they just four years old — and have spent much of the past 14 years worrying about the day then they will be forced to leave their families and “self-deport” back to her birth country.

Parents brought these kids to North Carolina lawfully using an H-4 dependent’s visa, which allowed their children to accompany them while her father worked in the Triangle on an H-1B “skilled worker” visa.

But these H4 visas only allowed these kids to stay with her parents while they were minors. On the day they turns 21, they are expected to return to India, a place she barely remembers.

While the DACA Program, gave opportunity to about 830,000 Children in the United States, there are of about 190,000 “documented Dreamers” who came to the United States lawfully, but to whom the immigration system now offers no path forward and I have seen first hand, many of these Dreamers being residents of the Triangle and North Carolina.

The H-1B visa system was supposed to help U.S. businesses to recruit global talent, while giving their employees a clear pathway to permanent status and eventual citizenship. In theory, Maria and her parents should have received green cards long before Maria turned 21, giving the whole family a secure future here.

GREEN CARD DEMAND
But the green card system has grown colossally tangled.

Many skilled workers now find themselves unable to obtain green cards before their children age out of the system. In fact, it’s now estimated that 200,000 skilled Indian-born immigrants will die of old age before receiving their green cards. It’s the result of a per-country quota for new green cards, which disadvantages skilled workers from more populous countries.

That logjam is bad for the workers, who are left in limbo. It’s bad for the economy, since H-1B workers can’t start businesses of their own or change employers to help fill worker shortages.

And it’s bad for “documented Dreamers” who are currently applying for college but can’t legally work to pay her way, obtain scholarships or internships and could be forced to leave America after she graduates.

This is a growing problem. In 2017, more than 47,000 H-4 visas were issued to H-1B holders’ minor children, with over 86% going to people from India.

In the Triangle alone, about 15,700 H-1B visas were issued between 2010 and 2016.  I actually think that this number is even higher now, most likely over 30,000.  — and while most of those skilled workers are still here, their children are rapidly aging out of the system and being forced to leave the country.

By failing skilled workers in this way, we’re also failing American businesses. It’s hard to overstate how damaging that is.

Inevitably, some H-1B visa holders will opt to leave the country along with their children — a troubling sign for North Carolina’s innovation economy, which is powered by foreign talent. Statewide, according to New American Economy, immigrants make up more than 18% of our workforce in science, technology, and engineering-related (STEM) fields. In some technical fields the rates are far higher: 35% of our software developers were born overseas, for instance.

In both Raleigh and Durham, according to New American Economy, almost 26% of the foreign-born population holds a graduate degree. Statewide, foreign workers account for 25% of our electronics workforce, and 35% of our state’s software developers; overall, almost one in five of our state’s STEM employees hail from overseas. But many of these people lack security here. They’re vital to our businesses and state economy, and yet on their temporary visas, it’s hard for them to travel, difficult for them to change employers, and virtually impossible for them to start businesses

We can’t afford to lose those workers — and we can’t afford to lose promising young immigrants. I know this from personal experience: my own parents came to America from India as skilled workers in the 1960s, and were able to put down permanent roots here. Because of that, I grew up as a proud American, and went on to become the first Asian-American elected to public office in our state, serving Morrisville as council-member and later as Mayor Pro Tem.

Young immigrants like just as much to offer our country, and we should be doing all we can to encourage them to stay. I hope Congress will soon overhaul the country-cap quota system, and give skilled workers a true pathway to permanent status.

We need to move quickly to pass the America’s CHILDREN Act, an effort being led by North Carolina’s District 2 Congressional Representative, Deb Ross — and show young, American-raised, law-abiding immigrants that they’re welcome and needed in the country they call home.

We need them here to fill not only the jobs of today, but to also fill and create the jobs of the New Economy.

We need the next Google, Yahoo, Zoom, and Slack, created right here in NC, not in another part of the world.

A decade is long enough. It’s time for us to give these young people the security and stability they deserve—a real path forward as they continue to build their lives here in America.
Check out my Tech Wire Blog:
10 Years of DACA is enough – it’s time to pass the Dream Act
Media Appearances
Radio Nyra
Thanks for listening to our Radio Nyra Interview with Secretary of State Elaine Marshall! We look forward to our interview with her on POD TV on ROKU tomorrow at 10 am, live on Facebook.

On the Porch
On the Porch with Randy Voller on WCHL 97.9 FM!

https://chapelboro.com/?s=on+the+porch



WPTF Steve O'Bryan show
Get with the Program
Get with the Program with Gary Jones!

Black Issues Forum
The Steve Rao App is Here:
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This Week in Morrisville: June 13 - June 19
Upcoming Meetings
Meetings

June 14 – 6 p.m.Town Council Meeting 
Juneteenth Celebration June 11
The Town of Morrisville will celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Cedar Fork Community Center, 1050 B Town Hall Drive. Join us as we celebrate the emancipation and achievements of Morrisville’s African-American community. Three distinguished speakers will give presentations, including a historical reenactment. There will also be an exhibition of the history of stepping (accompanied by a step performance), musical performances, food, vendors, and other fun activities.
Morrisville Bike Rodeo June 11
Did you know that more children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to biking than any other sport? The Morrisville Fire and Rescue Department will be hosting its Bike Rodeo to teach children toddler-age and up about bike safety to try to reduce these injuries. The Bike Rodeo will take place June 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Morrisville Fire and Rescue Station No. 1 at 200 Town Hall Drive. Residents are encouraged to bring in bicycles for a free inspection and then test their safety knowledge and riding ability on the skills course.

For more information, contact Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Lozinsky at 919-463-6922 or nlozinsky@townofmorrisville.org
Spring Bulk Item Pickup June 13-17
The Town's Spring Bulk Item Pickup will be June 13-17. During this specially designated week, residents receiving residential curbside solid waste services from GFL may leave a total of five acceptable bulk items curbside on their regular trash/recycling curbside pickup day. All items must be ready for pickup no later than 7 a.m.

Please visit the Public Works website for a list of acceptable and unacceptable bulk items.
Vendors Sought for Town of Morrisville July 3 Family Fun Festival
Calling all makers! We are looking for arts and craft vendors for our Family Fun Festival. The Festival will be held on Sunday, July 3, from 4-9 p.m., on Town Hall Drive. Vendor spaces are free and sized 10' x 10'.

For details and to submit an application, click here.

Learn more about the festival at https://bit.ly/MSVJuly3Festival
New Smart Shuttle Stop at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center June 15
The Morrisville Smart Shuttle will begin taking passengers to and from the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center, 1301 Morrisville Parkway, starting Wednesday, June 15. The Smart Shuttle runs seven days per week, and residents can schedule a free ride online or by using the Smart Shuttle app. Click here to learn more about the program, including routes, or to schedule a ride.

Additional details on the Morrisville Smart Shuttle visit TownofMorrisville.org/SmartShuttle
Morrisville Little League to Compete in District Tournament June 17
The Morrisville Little League will participate in the N.C. District 6 (8-10 kid pitch) baseball tournament Friday, June 17. The 13-member team will travel to Wilson, NC, for a 6 p.m. game and play again on Saturday. Depending on the outcome, they will continue to play until they have been eliminated.
This season will mark the first time an MPRCR team will participate in Little League post-season play. As we rebuild our baseball program, we are excited for the players and parents that have worked all season to support each other and our program.
Country Cooking Dinner at the Morrisville Senior Center June 17
Come to the Morrisville Senior Center, 4117 Davis Drive, for a delicious country cooked dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 17. The meal will include meats, vegetables, bread, and desserts, and will be accompanied by live music from Tom Del Carro. The cost is $10 for residents and $12 for non-residents. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, click here or call 919-463-7140.
Western Wake Farmer's Market Blood Drive June 25
The Western Wake Farmer’s Market will partner with the American Red Cross to conduct a blood drive June 25, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Red Cross mobile blood donation unit will be parked at the farmer’s market at 280 Town Hall Drive. The Red Cross will also be giving donors a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. For more information, contact debbie@wwfm.ag or call 800-RED-CROSS.
Morrisville Carpenter Road Project
Project update for the week of June 13:

  • Contractor will continue with road grading work in the culvert area. Contractor will also start stormwater and concrete work in the culvert area.
  • Contractor will start Phase 3 stormwater work (between Old Savannah Drive and Leafycreek Drive).
  • Contractor will start waterline work (between Misty Groves Circle and Morrisville Square Drive).
  • Drivers should be prepared for flagging operations in these areas between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • Southbound traffic for Town Hall Drive continues to be redirected along the northbound side of the median (between Fire Station No. 1 and Morrisville Carpenter Road).

The Town of Morrisville and the Morrisville Police Department advise pedestrians not to walk on either side of Morrisville Carpenter Road between Town Hall Drive and Misty Groves Circle. This section of the road is an active construction zone area and does not have a sidewalk and is not safe for pedestrians. Please observe the posted sidewalk closed signs.

For Morrisville Carpenter Road Project updates Visit https://bit.ly/mcrcp1
Repaving Work to Continue on Town Roads
Work will continue on the Town's paving project. Weather permitting, work for the week of June 13 will include:

  • Pavement markings on Ashe Street, Page Street, Jennings Way, Apple Cart Way, Huntersville Road, Button Road, and Shakespeare Street
  • Asphalt patching and/or pavement markings on Alemany Street, Black Ridge Street, Checkerberry Drive, Jeremiah Street, Paramount Parkway, Rexmore Court, and Think Place
This work may cause minor traffic delays for short periods of time.
Music in the Park Series Returns
Music in the Park is coming back to Morrisville! Join us for this free and fun outdoor concert series featuring live music and food trucks. All shows are from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive.
  • Friday, June 3: Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band
  • (Food truck: Empanadas RD North Carolina)
  • Friday, July 8: Big Chief
  • Friday, August 5: GrassStreet
  • Friday, September 9: Revolution   
Check out more about Music in the Park here.
Morrisville Community Park Phase III Construction Updates
The contractor will be working on establishing the retaining wall and stormwater pipes in the northwest corner of the project throughout June. This work required a temporary demolition of the greenway connector within the fenced-in area of the project. Once work is completed in this area, contractors will adjust the fencing and reopen the trail connector for use by the public.
Additionally, the crew will be working on finishing grading the pad for the tennis courts and pickleball courts and establishing the foundation for the restroom building. The paving of walking trails and the establishment of the boardwalk will occur over the coming months.

Click here to read more on MCP Phase III.
Morrisville Community Park Playground Notice
Morrisville Public Works has temporarily closed the Dinosaur Stairs portion of the Morrisville Community Park Playground due to wear and tear to ensure visitor safety. The stairs will remain closed until Public Works obtains a replacement equipment piece and gets it installed. The rest of the playground structure will remain open for use.
Church Street Park Tennis Courts to be Closed for Resurfacing June 27-July 8
North State Resurfacing has been contracted to repair and resurface the tennis courts at Church Street Park, 5817 Cricket Pitch Way. The painted surface of the tennis courts has faded over time, and cracks and other imperfections have also formed. This project will make repairs to the asphalt and then repaint the surface. The work will require that the courts be closed for approximately two weeks.
Pollinator Garden Now in Cedar Fork District Park
This spring, the Public Works Department, including Sustainability, and the Stormwater Department collaborated to identify a pollinator garden area at the southwest corner of Cedar Fork District Park. This garden provides landscaping appeal and enhanced stormwater features and includes all native plant species. This specially designed landscaping is part of the Town’s Mayors Monarch Pledge, which advocates for the creation of habitats for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators while increasing awareness on the importance of integrating native plants. A sign will be added to the garden, indicating species planted and the benefits of providing pollinator habitats in our community.
Lending Library Installed at Indian Creek Trailhead
The Town of Morrisville has a new Lending Library! The Crossroads FLEX Student Council worked to build and install a new lending library next to the playground at Indian Creek Trailhead at 101 Town Hall Drive. Books are available for the whole family.
Morrisville Police Department Teen Citizen Police Academy
Registration is now open for the Morrisville Police Department’s Teen Citizen Police Academy.

The academy is a five-week program, held June 15-July 23, and is designed to give participants a working knowledge of the department. It is intended to increase transparency and enhance understanding between the community and the police. Learn more and register here.
Puttin Around Town at Church Street Park until June 30
Puttin Around Town is a program that places a temporary disc golf basket at a different park on a rotating basis to give people the opportunity to practice throwing discs so they can work on their mid-range game or putting. The schedule has been adjusted, and the basket will be at Church Street Park from May 31 to June 30. Plans are being finalized for a temporary course to return to Cedar Fork District Park in July.

The Town is continuing to explore effective uses of temporary baskets in open to encourage outdoor recreation.

Read more about Puttin’ Around Town here.
Pop-up Dog Park at Morrisville Community Park
The Morrisville Pop-up Dog Park is back! Bring your dogs out to enjoy the sunshine at Morrisville Community Park. The dog park will be open May 8 - September 18 on select days. Click here for more information and to register.
Summer and Fall Athletic Program Information Available
Registration for summer camp opportunities is now open.
Baseball camps will be offered in partnership with Diamond and Aces. Run by professional coaches, this camp provides young players a unique opportunity to take their game to the next level. Players of all ability levels will be challenged with specific skill instruction and drill work. Drill progressions will be focused on developing good habits while improving overall game skills. Each camp will cover the skills of pitching, hitting, catching, fielding, baserunning, position work, and mental preparation. The camp will be held at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway.

Developmental sports camps will also be offered in partnership with Skyhawks, the country's leader in providing a safe, fun, and skill-based sports experience for kids between the ages of 4 and 14.

Registration for fall leagues will also start on June 6. Fall leagues will include tee-ball, coach pitch, minor and major baseball, and junior volleyball.

Visit the Parks and Recreation website for additional information and updates.
Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center
Beginning the week of April 11, the MAFC program pool will be unavailable for public use on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Open rec swim and water aerobics participants will be accommodated in lanes 5 and 6 of the lap pool. Additionally, the Friday morning water aerobics class has been cancelled.

Now Hiring: MAFC Lifeguards

The Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center is hiring for part-time lifeguards. Applicants must be 16+, and scheduling hours include morning, mid-day, after school, evenings and weekends. Not certified? The MAFC will train you free of charge. Learn more and apply here.
Sustainability Data Dashboard available on the Open Data Portal
The Town of Morrisville has launched the Sustainability Dashboard on Morrisville's Open Data Portal. The dashboard provides residents with tracking data showing the Town's progress in implementing sustainability practices. Data for the solar panel array on Morrisville Fire Station No. 1 and recycling participation rates for each of Morrisville's five GFL Environmental service routes are currently available. For details, click here.
Morrisville Smart Shuttle Service is Now Operating!
The Morrisville Smart Shuttle, the Town’s newest public transit service, allows riders to request a pick-up or drop-off from one of 15 nodes, or stops, located around the Town using the Smart Shuttle application on their smartphone.

Watch this short video on how to use the Morrisville Smart Shuttle App by clicking here!

The service runs seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Additional details on the Morrisville Smart Shuttle visit TownofMorrisville.org/SmartShuttle
Shop Local at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market
The Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food, goods, and live music from small and local businesses from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (summer hours) every Saturday.

Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to see a complete list of local vendors and shop local!
Around the Region
Thanks for joining us on PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum!
Black Issues Forum | PBS North Carolina (formerly UNC-TV) (pbsnc.org)

Majestic4Troops Golf Tournament
Attended Majestic4Troops Golf Tournament! We congratulate all honorees and to Arun Singh and Scott Byers and sponsors for making this event happen!

5th Anniversary for International Satsang Swami 
Celebrated 5th Anniversary for International Satsang Swami Organization Cary Temple.
Panther Creek Graduation!
Panther Creek Graduation! Congrats to Graduates!
Apex Pride Festival
Spent time with Apex Council Member Ed Gray at Apex Pride Festival!

Bike Safety Rodeo!
Thanks to Morrisville Fire and Go Triangle for Bike Safety Rodeo!
Morrisville Chamber Coffee and Connections!
Thanks to HSNC for hosting Morrisville Chamber Coffee and Connections!
Pride Celebration at Fenton!
Enjoyed Pride Celebration at Fenton! 

Morrisville Juneteenth Celebration!
Great time at Morrisville Juneteenth Celebration!

Enjoyed Civil War Lecture and learning about the role of colored regiments in Union Victory!

Congressman Ro Khanna
Welcomed Congressman Ro Khanna to Cary! I will be sharing my insights on his latest book Dignity in Tech!

Wake County Economic Development Meeting
Enjoyed Wake County Economic Development Meeting! Thanks to Michael Haley and this team for hosting an engaging discussion on making Raleigh a Headquarters Community.
GLOBAL AND NATIONAL UPDATES:
THE LATEST NEWS AND WEEK AHEAD
Jan 6. Hearings

The Jan 6. committee played video of two former Trump campaign aides who said they had advised Donald Trump against falsely declaring victory on election night.

Rudy Giuliani — who, according to one aide, was “definitely intoxicated” that night — told him to declare victory. Trump did.

Trump’s campaign used false claims of voter fraud to raise up to $250 million, the committee said.

In a trial of two people who stormed the Capitol, Eugene Goodman, a Capitol Police officer, said the attack was like “something out of medieval times.”
War in Ukraine

Ukraine asked for an arsenal of advanced weapons many times bigger than the West has promised.

In a Ukrainian village, a Russian soldier’s burned corpse has drawn onlookers. The Times’s Thomas Gibbons-Neff, a former Marine, asks why.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed Taiwan to rethink its military strategy against China.
Election Night Results 

Tom Rice, a South Carolina Republican who voted to impeach Donald Trump over the Jan. 6 attack, lost his primary to a Trump-endorsed state legislator.

In another South Carolina district, Representative Nancy Mace, who criticized Trump but didn’t support impeaching him, beat a Trump-backed challenger.

In a sign of Republican gains with Latino voters, Mayra Flores, a daughter of Mexican immigrants, flipped a Democratic-held House seat in a Texas special election.

In Nevada, which will be a battleground in November, Trump loyalists prevailed in the Republican primaries, including Adam Laxalt (for senator), Jim Marchant (for secretary of state), and Joe Lombardo (for governor).

Herschel Walker, a Republican Senate candidate from Georgia and a critic of absentee fathers, publicly acknowledged having a son he doesn’t see.

Other Big Stories

Ohio loosened regulations for teachers to carry guns, cutting the required training time to 24 hours, from 700 hours.

The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, built in the 1940s, is slowly crumbling. There’s no plan to fix it.

The F.D.A. approved an alopecia drug that can restore hair growth.
NORTH CAROLINA NEWS
Tillis and Burr Part Bi Partisan Gun Legislation Working Group 
On Sunday June 12, Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut announced that a group of U.S. senators had reached agreement on a package of gun reforms. Both of North Carolina’s senators, Republicans Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, were part of this bipartisan working group. 
Murphy then laid out six elements of the framework:
  • Funding to states so they can “pass and implement crisis intervention orders,” also known as red-flag laws 
  • Funding for mental health and school safety
  • Preventing domestic abusers from buying weapons
  • Fighting gun trafficking and straw purchasing
  • Creating enhanced background checks for gun-buyers under 21
  • Making more commercial gun dealers subject to federal background check obligations

The bill is likely to pass the Senate, considering 10 Republican senators were involved in drafting it — enough to pass the 60-vote filibuster threshold if Democrats all back the bill — and since Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said he was in favor of the bipartisan gun workgroup and their efforts — although he was more vague on whether he supported the details of their plan. 

The more difficult lift could be to pass the legislation through the U.S. House. While there is no filibuster in the House, as there is in the Senate, many progressives have made clear they are unsatisfied with the scope of the plan and many conservatives are skeptical of red-flag laws.
WAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE $1.7 BILLION BUDGET
The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the fiscal year 2023 budget.
The budget will include a 1.95-cent increase to property taxes. For a house worth $337,000, that adds up to an extra $66 a year in taxes.

The tax increase would be used for general funds and create an additional $29 million to help pay for things like staffing as the county deals with a staffing shortage and aims to increase pay and add more jobs.
The county manager initially recommended a 1.5-cent property tax increase in May. The board said the 0.45 cents added by Monday's vote will generate $8.75 million in revenue.

In the new fiscal year, the commissioners will receive a total annual salary of $37,856 with $9,000 in allowances for travel and technology.

In fiscal year 2022, they received $25,288 with $3,300 in allowances.

"This salary adjustment is in line with the county’s efforts to set a living wage for its employees. In the adopted budget, all regular staff will receive at least $18.20 an hour," said the county in a press release.

Education
Funding for the Wake County Public School System comprises 52% of the adopted budget. Investments include a $50 million increase in funding for the Wake County Public School System.

The county manager had initially recommended a $38 million increase for the school district in May. The board opted to raise that amount by $12 million.

The board said these increases bring the county’s total investment in the WCPSS operating budget to more than $594.2 million.

The 2023 fiscal year in Wake County runs from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
Governor Cooper expected to Veto Bill Limiting LGBTQ Education 
North Carolina lawmakers advanced legislation last Wednesday that would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for some public school students, a move decried by opponents as harmful to LGBTQ youth.

The “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” a broad piece of legislation that opponents say mirrors Florida’s so-called Don’t Say Gay bill, cleared the state’s Republican-led Senate and will head to the House of Representatives, which also has a Republican majority.
It could reach the desk of Governor Roy Cooper as soon as this week. Cooper, a Democrat, has spoken against the bill and is all but certain to veto it.

Advocates and civil rights groups have tracked hundreds of bills this year across state legislatures directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, including many that target transgender youth specifically. 

Florida measure, officially titled the Parental Rights in Education Act, was signed into law in March. In April, the governor of Alabama signed a bill prohibiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grades, and similar measures are being considered in Louisiana and Ohio.

The North Carolina measure would prohibit mention of sexual orientation or gender identity in curricula for students from kindergarten through third grade. Schools would also have to notify parents if a student requests to be addressed by a different name or pronoun.

Governor Cooper says he will veto bill if it reaches his desk.  
UPCOMING EVENTS
Black Issues Forum
Watch Sunday at 4pm for a new Forum.

Please watch for the Black Issues Forum on UNC-TV!  Fridays at 7 pm and Sundays at 4 pm!

Engaging discussion at BLACK ISSUES FORUM!
PBS NC

  • Fridays at 7 p.m. (premiere)
  • Sundays at 4 p.m.
  • Thursdays at 1:30 a.m.
NC Channel

  • Fridays at 8:30 p.m.
  • Saturdays at 1:30 a.m.
  • Sundays at 6 p.m.
  • Mondays at 12 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Sunday at 4 pm for our Radio Nyra Interview
Thanks for joining us for our Nyra Interview with Manisha Dass on the NCAAT AAPI Heritage Event on May 21st!

June 11th Juneteenth Celebration
The Town of Morrisville will celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Cedar Fork Community Center, 1050 B Town Hall Drive. Join us as we celebrate the emancipation and achievements of Morrisville’s African-American community. Three distinguished speakers will give presentations, including a historical reenactment. There will also be an exhibition of the history of stepping (accompanied by a step performance), musical performances, food, vendors, and other fun activities.
June 18th BAPS IN the Joy of Others Walkathon
June 18th BAPS IN the Joy of Others Walkathon to support Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure!  9 am at Cedar Fork Community Center (1050 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560)

June 21 International Day of Yoga 4-5 pm.  
June 21 International Day of Yoga at Morrisville Community Park from 4- 5 pm.  
Celebrate International Yoga Day with a free outdoor yoga session on Tuesday, June 21, at Morrisville Community Park. 

Limited spots available.

Register now at https://bit.ly/3MpM8dF
SAVE THE DATE: June 28
Join me on June 28th at the Frontier 800 North Carolina Now Results 9 am to 10:30 am with Brian Hamilton and WRAL anchor and Interim PBS Carolina CEO, David Crabtree.

(more on my involvement in this event in next newsletter)  
July 3rd Family Fun Festival at 5:45 pm at Town Hall Drive!  
Radio / TV
Radio NYRA

Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio NYRA for another update on local issues.
Join us this Sunday at 4 pm for our Radio Nyra program with Democratic Sheriff Candidate Roy Taylor followed by a Sustainability interview with Shanthanu Agarwal, CEO Susteon.

99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!  Listen at www.radionyrausa.com!

99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM! 
POD TV
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.
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