North Carolina ranked # 1 place to do business by CNBC!  More on this in next newsletter!  

Former NC Commerce Secretary John Skvarla loses battle to Cancer.  We pray for his family.

Tom Stith steps down as NC Community College President.  

Next British Prime Minister will be either British Foreign Minister Liz Truss or Finance Minister Rishi Sunak.

The Town of Morrisville will break ground on Fire Station No. 3, located at 1021 Harris Mill Road, on Wednesday, July 27, at 10 a.m. Members of the Morrisville Town Council, Wake County Commissioners and other local leaders will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. Morrisville residents and media are invited to attend.

Get out and watch Cricket this weekend! 

Congrats to Cam Smith for winning US Open!  

Visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-early-person and See Early Voting Section for more information on how to vote early and to find your polling site.

Apply to Launch Morrisville Program at www.launchmorrisville.org!  

Thanks to everyone who came out to the July 21st Information Session. We will send recording and there will be another!  

BA 5 Variant increases NC Covid Case Numbers.  Be Careful.

41 of 100 Counties currently carry a higher risk of cases and hospitalizations, a jump from 18 last week!

For Covid Updates and Data, visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard and for Covid Testing visit https://www.wakegov.com/covid-19-information.

The Hum Sub Youth Achievement Award recognizes youth who have attained outstanding achievements in various fields such as Volunteering, Community Service, Leadership, Research, Academics, Extra-curricular activities such as sports, music and arts, etc. This award is based on Lord Buddha’s parting message to his disciples “Aapo Deepo Bhava” which means “Be a light unto yourself.”

11:59pm ET September 11th, 2022

On Saturday, July 16, the U.S. will transition the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 988 – an easy-to-remember three-digit number for 24/7 crisis care.

The lifeline, which also links to the Veterans Crisis Line, follows a three-year joint effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to put crisis care more in reach for people in need.

Starting tomorrow, simply calling or texting 988 or chatting https://988Lifeline.org will connect you to compassionate care and support for mental health-related distress. #988Lifeline

Learn more at https://www.samhsa.gov/

I want to remind you that there is a primary runoff for Wake County sheriff and Cary Municipal Elections. Tuesday, July 26.

For its convenience, I recommend voting by mail-in ballot.

Request your mail in ballot at: https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/board-elections/election-information/absentee-mail-voting now; it will be mailed to you on or about June 28th; BE ON THE SAFE SIDE: return it at least a week prior to the election (July 19).

Find All Details for July 26th Primary Election at https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/board-elections/election-information/upcoming-election-information

Thursday, July 7, 2022, begins the 17-day one-stop early voting period for the municipals and local second primary elections on July 26 (where applicable).

Confirm local election contests and dates (as they become available) at the Local Voter Tool.

During the early voting period, voters may cast a ballot at any one-stop site in their county. Eligible individuals may register and vote at the same time.

Find details about early voting at Vote Early in Person.

The early voting period for the 2022 municipal and local second primary elections (where applicable) begins Thursday, July 7, 2022, and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022. Registered voters or eligible individuals in North Carolina may cast an absentee ballot in person during this time. This period is sometimes called “one-stop early voting.”

During early voting, voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county, and would-be voters may same-day register and vote. This is different than Election Day, where registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place. For an overview of the 2022 municipal and local second primary elections (where applicable), visit Upcoming Election.

Unsure if you are registered? Find out if you are registered to vote by entering your information into the Voter Search.

When you check in to vote at an early voting site, you may update your name or address within the same county if necessary. Individuals who are not registered to vote in a county may register and immediately vote at that same site. This process is called “same-day registration.” Find more information at Register in Person During Early Voting.

Early voting sites and schedules will be posted to the One-Stop Early Voting Site Search when they become available.

To view sample ballots, registered voters must enter their information into the Voter Search and navigate to “Your Sample Ballot.” Voters can practice making selections with the accessible sample ballot: “Option 4” at the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.

Note: Sample ballots for each election are only available once finalized.

Your elections officials have implemented plans to minimize viral spread at voting locations. View the safety precautions and guidelines for in-person voting, and find answers to frequently asked questions at Voting and Coronavirus.

Voters who receive an absentee ballot by mail may deliver their ballot to an election official at a one-stop early voting site during any time that site is open for voting. Ballots will be kept securely and delivered to the county board of elections for processing.

To see what your county uses for one-stop early voting, go to the Voting Equipment page, and see the map for “One-Stop Early Voting Equipment, by County.”

Any voter who qualifies for assistance may ask for help at an early voting site. N.C.G.S. § 163-166.8. To find more information, visit Help for Voters with Disabilities.

Curbside voting is available for eligible individuals. For more information, see Curbside Voting.

Thanks for Joining us on Radio Nyra for our interview with North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell!  99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Interview with State Treasurer Dale Folwell

On the Porch with Randy Voller on WCHL 97.9 FM!

WPTF Steve O'Bryan show on the Dream Act and DACA!

Get with the Program with Gary Jones!

Tune in on Friday at 7 pm and Sunday at 4 pm to PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum for our engaging discussion on Inflation, Gas Prices, and the upcoming Primary Elections!

Thanks for joining us on PBS Black Issues Forum to talk about Gun Reform, Red Flag Laws, Inflation, and Other Updates!

Sonia Rao is a student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She has previously written for the Virginian-Pilot and the Charlotte Observer.

Steverao app can be downloaded at Apple App store by searching for "Steverao" app in Apple store and Google Play store.

Other Way to download the app is by below scan for Apple store scan code and Google Play store link.

Below are two links to download app from Apple App store and Google Playstore.

July 26th, 6 pm - Town Council Meeting 

Stream at www.townofmorrisville.org. 

Big Chief will play at the second Music in the Park concert of the season July 22 at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive. The band will take the stage at 6:30 p.m.

Big Chief is known for playing music for all ages, and their set list ranges from authentic New Orleans music to older country and rock, classic music from the 1950s, and children's songs. The food truck Belly Busting BBQ will be on site during the concert, selling barbecue plates, sandwiches, desserts, and drinks. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to relax during this free concert, and bring cash for food and drinks.

Check the Music in the Park page for additional dates.

Morrisville, NC— The Town of Morrisville will break ground on Fire Station No. 3, located at 1021 Harris Mill Road, on Wednesday, July 27, at 10 a.m. Members of the Morrisville Town Council, Wake County Commissioners and other local leaders will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. Morrisville residents and media are invited to attend.

The new fire station is being built to improve the distribution and level of service for areas north and east of Town. Doing so will reduce response times, improve the reliability of fire protection to all areas of Town, and increase capacity. Once the new fire station is completed, the Town will also be able to relocate fire resources that are currently at a shared site in the Town of Cary.

“We are excited about all of the opportunities building this facility offers the department and residents,” said Morrisville Fire Chief Scott Criddle. “For the department, the station will include the latest in station design to reduce response times, protect equipment, and improve the health and safety for our staff. Our entire community will benefit from improved response times leading to improved outcomes.”

Construction cost for the fire station is $8.8 million, with much of the funding coming from the 2021 Morrisville Bond Referendum, which passed in November 2021 and provided $8 million for public safety improvements. Wake County contributed approximately $1.4 million to the project.

The Town acquired 6.3 acres of land at the location of the new fire station. Approximately 2.7 acres will be used for the station, and the remaining land will be allocated for other uses, which have yet to be determined.

“Breaking ground on what will become Fire Station No. 3 is a momentous occasion for the Town of Morrisville,” said Morrisville Town Manager Martha Paige. “Improving our public safety facilities is a high priority for Town Council and staff, and this fire station is a direct result of important work performed by many stakeholders.”

The fire station, which will be approximately 15,700 square feet, will have double deep bays and administration and personnel quarters for four to nine staff per day. A third bay will be available for a Wake County EMS station.

Construction is estimated to be completed in the summer of 2023, and the project will include landscaping improvements at the site.

For more information about the project, please visit https://bit.ly/firestation3. For questions, please contact Eric Pearson, the Capital Projects Manager, at (919) 463-6214 or epearson@townofmorrisville.org.

For more information or questions about the groundbreaking ceremony, please contact Public Information Officer Maria Bajgain at (919) 463-6207 or mbajgain@townofmorrisville.org.

Phase 3 work on the Morrisville Carpenter Road Improvements Project between Page Street and Old Savannah Drive is estimated to begin near the end of July or early August. During this phase of the project, the contractor will pour the median on Morrisville Carpenter Road in front of Church Street, which will require a traffic shift. Traffic will become "right-in/right-out" only on Church Street at the intersection of Morrisville Carpenter Road.

For more information on the Morrisville Carpenter Road Improvements Project, and for regular updates, please visit the project page.

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

The Town has contracted with Precision Infrastructure Management (PIM) to develop an ADA Transition Plan. As part of the plan development, sidewalks along public streets throughout the town will be surveyed and assessed. Over the next several weeks, you may notice PIM vehicles and personnel throughout Town performing this assessment.

The Morrisville Community Park Phase III construction is taking shape. The contractor has finished 99 percent of the building pad grading, and is continuing stormwater pipe installation. Additionally, the contractor has started installing concrete storm structures. The crew has finished excavating the footing for the retaining wall and poured concrete and rebar.

The tennis court lights have been installed, and work is commencing on finishing the grading at the tennis court area before they start pouring the asphalt for the court surfacing. The invoice has been processed for Duke Energy to conduct electrical utility boring and to run electric power to the site.

The contractor has begun work on constructing the boardwalk and bridges onsite for the walking trails. These are currently anticipated to be complete within the next four weeks or so. Work will be continuing on establishment of the foundation and utilities for the restroom shelter building.

Click here to read more on MCP Phase III.

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.

The Town’s first sustainability newsletter was sent out on July 1. This quarterly publication will include a message from MESC, information on current projects, a sustainability spotlight feature, and information about upcoming or past events.

If you’d like to subscribe to the newsletter, contact sustainability@townofmorrisville.org.

Morrisville residents are invited to take part in National S’mores Day in “S’Morrisville” on Wednesday, Aug. 10. The Town will change its name to S’Morrisville for the day, and we’ll be serving up these beloved treats from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway.

Residents are also invited to create a short video (one minute or less) sharing a fond memory related to s’mores and upload it to social media. Use the hashtag #smorrisville and tag the Town of Morrisville on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or LinkedIn.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

The Morrisville Smart Shuttle node at the Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center is now open and available for rides.

With the new MAFC node, the service will connect residents with 15 locations in Morrisville. An additional node is located at the Regional Transit Center near RTP. A Morrisville Smart Shuttle rider can arrange their pick-up and drop-off from their computer or smartphone. Learn more and download the app here.

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!

Congrats to Officer Derrick Schmitt and Fire Engineer Kirk Miller for being First Responders of the Year!

Governor Cooper and Rufus Edmisten inspire us at Wiley Nickel for Congress Event in Cary! 

The E.U. asked member countries to ration natural gas, warning that Russia might further cut supplies.

Russia said that it might extend territorial claims over Ukraine to include parts of the south.

Ukrainian troops retook a village in the east, a rare success after months of being on the back foot.

A bipartisan Senate group introduced legislation intended to prevent the electoral tactics that Donald Trump tried in 2020.

The amount of Republican support in the House for a bill to codify marriage equality surprised both parties, suggesting a narrow path to enactment.

A heat wave in the U.S. isn’t letting up. About 100 million people are under heat advisories.

When it comes to climate action, delay is the new denial for Republican lawmakers.

Ivana Trump was buried in a gold-hued coffin. “She had brains, she had beauty, and she had grit,” her son Eric Trump said.

After Italy’s governing coalition collapsed, its prime minister, Mario Draghi, resigned for a second time.

Buenos Aires banned teachers from using gender-inclusive language.

One of these two people will be Britain’s next prime minister: Rishi Sunak, the former top finance official, or Liz Truss, the foreign secretary.

North Carolina officials have confirmed 11 cases of monkeypox, a disease caused by the monkeypox virus, in the state as of Wednesday.

Of those cases, 10 involve North Carolina residents, and one involves a nonresident.

At least 929 people in the United States — and over 7,500 people around the globe — have been infected with it since May 18, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

North Carolina’s first case during this outbreak was diagnosed in Haywood County and announced by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on June 23. Mecklenburg County announced its first case four days later on June 27. Durham County confirmed its first case on Tuesday.

While some individual counties are announcing infections, DHHS said it is not providing a county-by-county breakdown or saying where new cases have occurred, citing a desire to protect patient privacy.

Monkeypox is part of the Orthopoxvirus genus, which also contains the virus that causes smallpox. According to the CDC, most outbreaks of monkeypox are linked to countries in central and western Africa.

The West African strain involved in this outbreak has a high survival rate but can be “extremely painful” and leave lifelong scars, according to the CDC.

U.S. Attorney Michael Easley Jr. is urging for violent crime to stop in central North Carolina.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the establishment of the Violent Crime Action Partnership (VCAP) in Raleigh.

Easley said on Tuesday that there have already been 24 homicides so far this year in Raleigh. He said the city had 33 homicides total in 2021.

The Partnership will prioritize cases involving the illegal possession of firearms, gun trafficking and straw purchases, armed gangs and drug trafficking organizations and shootings in our community.”

Several area law enforcement agencies joined Easley on Tuesday to announce that grand juries have indicted 27 people in the last three weeks in Raleigh. Easley said those people face a total of 50 federal and 25 state charges.

Law enforcement agencies seized significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack. Authorities have also seized 26 guns, including one ghost gun, and more than 200 rounds of ammunition, Easley said.

Easley said law enforcement has a vital role in protecting people and safeguarding communities.

Former Raleigh City Council Member John Odom, 75, filed to run for one of the two At Large Seats on the Raleigh Council.

He served on the Raleigh City Council from 1993 to 2015 in the District B Seat, which covers Northeast Raleigh.  Filing ended on Friday.

Tune in on Friday at 7 pm and Sunday at 4 pm to PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum for our engaging discussion on Inflation, Gas Prices, and the upcoming Primary Elections!

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

Website: https://video.pbsnc.org/search/?q=black+issues+forum

Join me every Sunday at 4pm for a new show. 99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Thanks for Joining us on Radio Nyra for our interview with North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell!

Interview with State Treasurer Dale Folwell

On Aug. 2, community leaders, stakeholders and members will come together to discuss how best to use money from the National #OpioidSettlement Fund to help those harmed by the opioid epidemic. We'll hear from a keynote speaker and then break out into groups to talk about possibilities and priorities.

The meeting takes place from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Wake County Commons. You can also attend virtually if you prefer.

Learn more about register at wakegov.com/opioidsettlement.

Join us Aug. 16th at 8 am for the NC Vet Biz Procurement Summit at McKimmon Center.

RSVP at https://www.ncvetbiz.org/upcomingevents.

JJoin us on Sunday at 4 pm on Radio Nyra for our interview with North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell!

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

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.

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.