My RDU Airport Town Hall Message: 

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/453154733425025

International Festival

Join us at the International Festival this Saturday!: 

My Message International Festival:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/457274033096309

National Voter Registration Day

Remember it is National Voter Registration Day!  In North Carolina, you have until Oct. 14th to register to Vote!  Early Voting begins on Oct 20 and you can register and vote at the same time! 

Visit https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/ and https://www.ncsbe.gov/.  

Visit https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/events/ to learn of in-person and virtual events that the Initiative and our federal partners are hosting during Hispanic Heritage Month.

7 Ways to Celebrate in the Hispanic Heritage Month in the Triangle at https://triangleonthecheap.com/hispanic-heritage-month/. 

Farewell to Queen Elizabeth II

The World Bids Farewell to Queen Elizabeth II.  

God Save the King.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/19/politics/biden-world-leaders-queen-elizabeth-funeral/index.html

Hurricane Fiona

Hurricane Fiona strikes Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. 

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/hurricane-fiona-slams-dominican-republic-after-leaving-puerto-rico-mostly-2022-09-19/

The Morrisville International Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 2-6 p.m., on Town Hall Drive near the Healthy Food Hub (280 Town Hall Drive). The event will celebrate the diversity in the Morrisville community. The festival will include live musical performances, food trucks representing cuisine from a variety of cultures, lawn games, mini-workshops on Cricket, an artisan market with items from around the world, and an exhibition on Hindu civilization.

The exhibition, "Darshana: A Glimpse into the Hindu Civilization,” presents a colorful overview of Hindu concepts and practices, offering an opportunity to learn about one of the oldest civilizations in the world that has a continuing global presence today. The Darshana exhibition, which will be on display in the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce (accessible from Town Hall Drive), features a variety of topics, ranging from yoga and divinity to mathematics and administration, demonstrating how Hindu knowledge has manifested in all aspects of human endeavor. 

Compiled by a group of Hindu-Americans, the aim of the exhibition is to clear misconceptions, introduce some key terms, and inspire further research into the rich Hindu culture that has found its home in the United States and globally. 

After the festival, the free exhibition will also be on display in the Morrisville Town Hall Lobby, 100 Town Hall Drive, Sept. 27-30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours will be available for the exhibition during the Town Council Meeting on Sept. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Learn more about the exhibition at https://hindudarshana.com/.

A complete list of vendors and food trucks that will be at the International Festival can be found at https://bit.ly/3LvlelH.

My Hispanic Heritage Month Edition:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/3249940581888236

Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community.

Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This year’s theme is Building Prosperous and Healthy Communities. Building upon the theme will different weeks of action focusing on how the Administration has been supporting the Latino community:

• September 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off Day 
• Week of September 19th: Jobs and the Economy 
• Week of September 26th: Climate 
• Week of October 3rd: Education and Investing in HSIs  
• Week of October 10th: Mental Health and Wellness 
• October 15: Last Day of Hispanic Heritage Month

My Constitution Day Message:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/413831917561051

We celebrated Constitution Day on Saturday. What is it?

Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day), is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is normally observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.

When Constitution Day falls on a weekend or on another holiday, schools and other institutions observe the holiday on an adjacent weekday.

The law establishing the present holiday was created in 2004 with the passage of an amendment by Senator Robert Byrd to the Omnibus spending bill of 2004. Before this law was enacted, the holiday was known as "Citizenship Day" and celebrated on the third Sunday in May. In addition to renaming the holiday "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," the act mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions, and all federal agencies, provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on that day. In May 2005, the United States Department of Education announced the enactment of this law and that it would apply to any school receiving federal funds of any kind.

In Person Voter Registration is Oct 14: 

North Carolina offers online voter registration to existing customers of the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. You can register by mail to vote in North Carolina by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer.

Registration deadlines

• In person during early voting : Oct 20 - Nov 5
• In-person at local election office : Oct 14
• Online : Oct 14
• By mail (postmarked by) : Oct 14

Teen Morrisville 101 Registration Now Open!:

The annual citizen’s academy for teens will be held on four consecutive Wednesdays, October 5-26, from 4-6 p.m. The deadline for registration is Sept. 23.

More information can be found here:

https://www.townofmorrisville.org/residents/community-programs/teen-morrisville-101

Fall Into Fitness

Fall Into Fitness starts Friday, September 23 Learn the Essentials of Running at 5:30 pm at Morrisville Community Park.!

All classes and activities will be held on Fridays from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park - Field 1.

Get details and SIGN-UP AT WWW.TINYURL.COM/MAFCFALL starting September 2.

Critical Conversations Podcast

Made by Debut on the Podcast Critical Conversations with Kenia Thompson.

https://www.facebook.com/kenia.c.thompson/videos/2135504183293818

88.1 FM Geet Bazaar

Wonderful interview with Secretary of State Elaine Marshall on 88.1 FM Geet Bazaar!  

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/454623026620604

Next Meeting on Sept. 27th  

American with Disabilities (ADA) Policy Statement: Town Council formally adopted a policy statement expressing the Town’s commitment to providing access and reasonable accommodation for all to town facilities, buildings, and state-maintained roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks. The Town is currently underway with Phase 1 of an ADA Transition Plan. 

Hispanic Heritage Month: Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 – October 15 each year. Town Council encourages the community to learn more of the Hispanic culture, people, traditions and values that have positively enriched our community. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Month: Town Council recognized September as "Big Brothers, Big Sisters Month” and encouraged the people of Morrisville to unite and support their mentoring movement. Erin Callahan, CEO Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Triangle, encouraged people to become “Bigs”, especially men that are needed to mentor young boys. 

National Preparedness Month: Town Council proclaimed September as “PREPAREDNESS MONTH” in Morrisville and encouraged all residents to plan and prepare for weather-related and manmade disasters by assembling their emergency supply kits and updating their emergency plans. 

Recognition of Wake County Staff for COVID-19 Support: Wake County Fire/Emergency Management and Wake County Public Health were recognized for their support of the Town of Morrisville throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Darrell Alford (Fire/Emergency Management Director) and Jennifer Brown (Environmental Health & Safety Division Director) received plaques for each department. Other staff from both departments were also present and recognized with certificates of appreciation. 

Grants Team Introduction/Safe Streets for All Grant Support Request: The Town has established an internal staff team to work in collaboration with the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) to expand access to additional grants resources, including research, grant writing, and community/regional partner grant interest. 

Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan: Grant was also presented to Council for consensus support. The SS4A Action Plan grant would allow staff to work with internal and external partners to establish a plan with a "Vision Zero" focus - aiming for zero traffic or pedestrian fatalities by a certain timeframe, along with actionable steps to help us attain that goal. The SS4A Action Plan requires an 80/20 cost share of recipients; no additional budget appropriation is needed as the Town's 20% match could be met with approved FY2023 funds. Town Council supported the grant application. 

Morrisville International Festival: Leslie Haney, Cultural Resources Specialist, provided an overview of the upcoming Morrisville International Festival. The event, which will be held Saturday, September 24 from 2:00 – 6:00 pm on Town Hall Drive, is an event that will offer educational opportunities to learn about the various cultures represented in Morrisville and the wider community. It will include a wide variety of food trucks, music from all over the globe, an "International Alley" with an artisan market and a variety of cultural organizations represented, cricket demonstrations and mini workshops, a new version of the Agents of Discovery Augmented Reality Game created especially for the festival, and the Darshana Exhibition (a traveling educational exhibition about the Hindu Culture). 

Land Use Plan Implementation Phase I Introduction: Town staff provided an overview of Land Use Plan implementation to kickoff zoning updates and additional TOD planning to implement some of the recommendations in the 2021 Land Use Plan. Staff provided an overview of the three phases of the project. Phase I of the project is focused on creating a small area plan and zoning standards for the Transit Oriented Development Zoning District (TOD). Staff reviewed the purpose of the TOD, its location in Town, and the goals of the district. A workshop is planned for October 18. Morrisville Geographic District Maps: Rodney Wadkins, GIS Manager, presented for formal adoption by Town Council the preferred district map option for rebalancing of geographic residency districts following the 2020 census. Town Council preferred the least disruptive map. Final action is anticipated on September 27. 

Small Business Program Update: Staff provided an overview of the factors/criteria to be considered in the development of the definition of small business for the Town’s programmatic efforts and for the grant program/administration. A future work session will be scheduled to synthesize Town Council’s input. Staff also provided an update on the status of the $300,000 Small Business Administration grant and provided an overview of the business database.

Town Council Calendar and Meeting Management/FY 2023 Budget Feedback: Staff provided an overview of the collective feedback from Town Council on the F2023 budget development process and timeline. Staff shared high level general takeaways and shared interests, and possible suggestions to meet some needs. Staff also reviewed items discussed during the summer meeting to further explore Town Council meeting and calendar management. Staff plans to facilitate Council's discussion of these topics at the September 27 Town Council meeting work session.

Cedar Fork Community Center Hiring Before and After-School Counselors

The Cedar Fork Community Center is looking for counselors for its before and after-school programming. Before-school counselors work Monday through Friday from 6:50 to 9 a.m. and make $13 per hour. After-school counselors work Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and make $11 per hour. After-school counselors must also be available to work on school early release days. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/morrisvillenc. 

Morrisville Senior Center Hosts Durham Bulls Baseball Game Outing September 25

Those ages 55 and older are invited to join the Morrisville Senior Center for a Durham Bulls baseball game on Sept. 25 at 1:05 p.m. Watch the Durham Bulls take on the Norfolk Tides. The group will be leaving the MSC at 4117 Davis Drive at 12 p.m. The cost is $22 for residents and $25 for non-residents. Lunch will be a separate cost. The group should arrive back at the center around 5 p.m. For more information and to register, please call (919) 463-7140 or click here. 

Morrisville Senior Center to Start Closing on Saturdays

Beginning Saturday, Sept. 3, the Morrisville Senior Center will be closed on Saturdays except for special events or scheduled program hours.

Please contact the Senior Center at 919-463-7140 or seniorcenter@townofmorrisville.org if you have any questions.

September 23 Fall into Fitness Class is Fun*damentals of Running 

The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center is offering free fall fitness classes through October 28. All classes and activities will be held on Fridays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park, first field on the left, 1520 Morrisville Parkway. The Sept. 23 class will focus on running fundamentals for ages 10 years and up. The class will include instruction on proper warm-ups, running form, injury prevention, and more.

Sign up at www.tinyurl.com/mafcfall. 

Puttin around Town to be at Morrisville Community Park in September

The Puttin Around Town program puts a temporary disc golf basket in a different Morrisville park each month to encourage area park users to get out and enjoy the Town’s green spaces while participating in healthy activity. The basket will be in Morrisville Community Park through Sept. 30.

In October, the basket will be in Northwest Park.

In November, it will be at Cedar Fork Community Center.  

Morrisville International Festival to be September 24

The Morrisville International Festival will celebrate the diversity of cultures in the Town of Morrisville. Residents are encouraged to join the festivities on Sept. 24 on Town Hall Drive from 2-6 p.m. There will be live performances, an artisan market, food trucks, and more. Shuttles to and from the event will be available at Cedar Fork Community Center and Cedar Fork District Park. No parking will be available on Town Hall Drive.

Check out the website for more information. 

Darshana Exhibition to be on Display at Chamber of Commerce, Town Hall Lobby

“Darshana: A Glimpse into the Hindu Civilization” is an exhibition that presents a colorful overview of Hindu concepts and practices, offering an opportunity to learn about one of the oldest civilizations in the world with continuing global presence today. The exhibition features a variety of topics, ranging from yoga and divinity to mathematics and administration, demonstrating how Hindu knowledge has manifested in all aspects of human endeavor.

The exhibition, which is created to raise awareness on Hindu thinking, contributions, and common practices, will be on display in the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce during the Morrisville International Festival on Sept. 24, from 2 to 6 p.m. It will also be on display in the Town Hall Lobby, 100 Town Hall Drive, Sept. 27-30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours will be available for the exhibition during the Town Council Meeting on Sept. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. 

English Vinglish to Play at Movies in the Park September 30

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources will be hosting a Movies in the Park at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway. on Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. The movie will be English Vinglish. The showing is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets for the lawn, as well as dinner or snacks. Trader Joe’s will be on site sampling snacks and beverages. 

Residents Invited to Provide Feedback on Town Center Project October 4 & 6

Three Town Center public input sessions have been scheduled for October, including two in-person sessions at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive, and one virtual session. The public input sessions will provide an opportunity for residents to give feedback on Town Green amenities, public art, and potential for a welcome area at the Healthy Food Hub. RSVP for the following sessions:

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2-3 pm.: https://www.addevent.com/event/Uv14858190

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 6-7 p.m. (held in conjunction with National Night Out): https://www.addevent.com/event/En14858192

A virtual session will be held on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. https://www.addevent.com/event/FE14858185

Check out renderings, project details and more at bit.ly/MSVTownCenter

Morrisville Businesses Invited to Participate in Trick or Treat the Trail Event

The Town of Morrisville has six open tables for this year’s Trick or Treat the Trail, a family friendly event for children to walk the Hatcher Creek Greenway and collect Halloween candy and treats. This is a great opportunity to showcase your business – and your creative side – to the Morrisville community.

There is no charge for businesses to participate, and the six slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Requirements: 

• You must bring your own table or tent
• You must bring minimum of 2,000 pieces of candy to hand out to children
• You must be creative and decorate your table for Halloween

Businesses will be assigned a volunteer to help set up, pass out candy and materials, and break down your area. Interested? Email lgough@townofmorrisville.org for more information. 

Morrisville Police Department to Host National Night Out October 4

This year the Town of Morrisville Police Department will celebrate National Night Out on Oct. 4, from 6-9 p.m., at the Western Wake Farmers' Market, 280 Town Hall Drive. Residents can meet with members of the Morrisville Police Department, view safety displays, get information about Town services, and enjoy fun games and inflatables. Food trucks will also be on hand to sell food and drinks.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation in crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community relations, and send the message that your neighborhood is a safe place to live. 

Fall Bulk Item Pick-Up Week to be October 3-7

The Town’s 2022 fall bulk item pick-up will take place the week of Oct. 3-7. During this week, residents receiving residential curbside solid waste services from GFL may leave a total of five acceptable bulk items curbside on their regular trash or 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. Registration is not required for this special collection. Please visit the Public Works Department Page for additional information on acceptable and unacceptable items. 

Town Survey Invites Feedback on ADA Accessibility to Programs and Services

The Town of Morrisville is committed to ensuring equal access to all of its facilities, services, programs, and events and to ensuring compliance with the policies of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Town is currently in the process of conducting a self-evaluation for ADA compliance and is preparing a transition plan to address any areas of need and become fully compliant. The goal of the transition plan is the make Town services and facilities more comfortable, welcoming, and accessible to everyone.

To help develop the transition plan, the Town has created a survey seeking feedback about accessibility to Town programs, services, and facilities, such as participating in recreational programs, attending a public meeting, or obtaining a permit. All responses to the survey are subject to becoming public record. Please click here to take the survey. It will be available until Sept. 30. 

Tech for the Demystified

Thanks to NCAD Director Sanjay Pal for hosting Tech for the Demystified at RTP Boxyard!  Tech for the intimidated was a program featuring leaders and board directors in the latest areas of technology, to help board directors elevate their ability to provide oversight in this critically important area.  

Insights from Sanjay Pal

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/843966520347723

Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships

Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships!  Congrats to Michael Mmoh of United States for his win and Cary for a wonderful week of tennis!  

Insights from Anthony Blackman:  

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/7994109773996621

Insights from Mayor Weinbrecht: 

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1220155055511962

Insights from Michael Mmoh:  

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/814587792891208

NC AAPI Caucus Event

NC AAPI Caucus Event for Wiley Nickel!

Asia Fest

Asia Fest was a blast! 

Annual Chamber Meeting

Annual Chamber Meeting!  Billie Redmond wins AE Finley Distinguished Service Award!  Great to spend time with our Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin!

E Sports Kick off 

Wonderful time at the E Sports Kick off at Wake Tech RTP!  

Insights from Wake Tech Athletic Director:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/2877574979212421

MAPAC Candidate Forum

Attended MAPAC Candidate Forum for Congressional Candidate Sen. Wiley Nickel! 

Insights from MAPAC Candidate Forum

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/456377613203366

World University Games Reception

World University Games Reception at Umstead on Sunday!  Let's get the Games! Thanks to Hill Carrow for all his work! Governor Cooper presents bid today to International Committee.

Insights from World University Games Reception

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1079525629416642

Rush Hour Karting

Visit with Adam and Tamer Saad Rush Hour Karting! Opening this year near Wake Competition Center!

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1403043800177000

Chutney’s

Thanks to Chutney’s for hosting India Pakistan Cricket Match!  Great Match!

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/808974113609759

Wake County and Raleigh pull funding from Non Profit Leading Homelessness 

A four-person call center that takes about 200 calls a day from people experiencing homelessness and others on the brink of losing their homes will soon be operating without the support of Wake County and the city of Raleigh.

The Access Hub, run by the nonprofit Raleigh/Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness, helps connect callers with shelters, street outreach and financial assistance programs.

The Access Hub, which is heavily promoted by service providers, has taken about 45,000 calls since it launched at the onset of the pandemic. In August, the Partnership said the line received about 6,000 calls.

“Homelessness is life and death,” said Kim Crawford, the Partnership’s executive director. “Every single call is a person in crisis because they are already homeless or they are very soon to be homeless.”

The Partnership was projected to receive a combined $539,500. from county and city leaders in the current fiscal year which started in July.

While a contract was reached with the city for $184,500 in funding, the Partnership could not reach an agreement with county leaders for an additional $355,000.

In addition to The Access Hub, the Partnership is the lead agency of the Wake County Continuum of Care (CoC) — one of 12 such programs in the state that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to curb homelessness in the community.

The Wake CoC is comprised of nearly 60 community organizations and service providers, including Wake County and the city of Raleigh.

The Partnership secured $4.1 million in funding last year, an increase from $3.3 million in 2019.

Crawford said she took issue with a portion of Wake County’s proposed contract that would have forced the Partnership to “monitor and evaluate” the county’s performance as a service provider.

Crawford said there could have been a perceived conflict of interest among other members of the CoC in rating the performance of the county which has given the Partnership funding for administrative costs and the Access Hub.

On Sept. 9, the city and county notified Crawford in a joint letter that they lost confidence in the nonprofit to serve as the county’s lead agency in preventing homelessness.

The termination letter is signed by David Ellis, Wake County manager, and Marchell Adams-David, Raleigh’s city manager.

The letter said the Partnership’s unwillingness to enter into a contract with the county and be listed as the lead agency was a reason for the termination.

The letter also said the Access Hub is “not functioning at a satisfactory level” and the Partnership is not making “appropriate matches, further slowing down the process of residents getting to housing and resources.”

The city and county tell WRAL News that they will continue funding the Partnership through September with $46,000 and $88,750, respectively.

Both governments said they will redirect the leftover funds towards efforts that combat homelessness.

Crawford took over as executive director of the Partnership in March 2020. Since then, she said the city has evaluated the nonprofit’s performance three times and never issued any concerns or corrective actions.

In a CoC meeting on Monday, the county’s top leader overseeing housing said there has been “an uncomfortableness to fund this agency for years.”

We have had issues with the Partnership for years; this community has, as well,” said Lorena McDowell, director of the Wake County Department of Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization.

Crawford said the Access Hub’s overwhelming demand often times results in people waiting 10-15 minutes on hold or having to call back.

She believes the demand demonstrates a failure of the entire community and not just the Partnership.

“It’s a failure of our entire system,” Crawford said. “It’s an indication that we need to bring up safe [and] affordable housing now. Not in a year. Not in two years. Now.”

An estimated 1,534 people are currently unsheltered in Wake County, according to a point-in-time count conducted in January. That is a 68% increase from the 912 unsheltered people in 2021.

“Our shelters are full. Every single one of them. You may wait 4-12 weeks. Everything is backed up. It’s like a traffic jam,” Crawford said.

Plans to add call takers to the Access Hub have been put on hold because of the reduction in funding, Crawford said.

The Partnership still receives funding from HUD, the state, private foundations and individual donors.

Crawford said the Partnership will continue operating the Access Hub without the help of local government, but she hopes they will reverse their decision.

“Our performance and the things that we have accomplished in the last two years is unbelievable,” Crawford said. “We have done the best we possibly could operating a pandemic inside a pandemic — because homelessness is a pandemic.”

Wake County Commissioners Approves $5 million to fight Opioid Crisis.  

The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved $4.85 million in opioid abatement funding from the National Opioid Settlement.

Forman’s office has been working alongside community members for months to help understand the greatest needs to help those facing opioid addiction. The plan, which the Wake County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Tuesday, budgets $4.85 million from the national settlement for opioid abatement programs in Wake County for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

North Carolina accepted its portion of the settlement in November 2021, opening the door for roughly $750 million to be given statewide. Wake will get $36 million of the $750 million over the next 18 years.

Of the roughly $6.85 million available to the county next fiscal year, just under $5 million will “frontload” programs tackling immediate needs, Forman explained. The remaining $2 million in uncommitted funds will be rolled over for future projects.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced in March that an average of nine North Carolinians died each day from a drug overdose in 2020, a 40% increase from the previous year. In Wake County, 222 people died from overdoses last year.

Here’s a breakdown of how the funds are currently slated to be allocated:

• Opioid Use Disorder Treatment- $2 million
• Fund medication for uninsured or underinsured patients
• Assist in continuity of care from local providers
• Provide additional resources to patients in treatment
• Care Navigation – $1.5 million
• Early Identification and Intervention – $600,000
• Expand educational training for youth, parents, teachers, coaches, youth ministers, employers and others who encounter young people
• Training in Youth Mental Health First Aid and Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Housing Access and Support – $750,000
• Includes supportive housing, housing assistance and recovery housing for patients
• Training for housing providers

Where to get help

Those in crisis can also call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357.

34% of NC Schools are low performing.  

North Carolina education officials released testing results for each district statewide for the 2021-22 school year Thursday, and the results showed most schools are still feeling the effects of learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nearly 400 more schools will be on the state's "low-performing" schools list this fall, according to the data released Thursday. About one in three schools will now be on the list, with 864 total designated under new test scores, up from 488 during the 2018-19 school year, WRAL found. 

The Department of Public Instruction released full data for each district in the state, including breakdowns by race and other subgroups for every school in North Carolina. State leaders said there was an improvement from the 2020-21 school year, when districts struggled to establish effective teaching habits at the onset of the pandemic. 

Schools placed on the low-performing list must draft plans to improve their test results. Schools that have been on the list for two out of the past three testing years will be considered "recurring" or "continually" low-performing. 

Those schools will be eligible to apply for the Restart program, which gives public schools charter school-like flexibility to change how they operate for the sake of improved academic performance. 

The North Carolina General assembly defines low-performing schools as those that receive a school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "met expected growth" or "not met expected growth". 

Growth is a measurement of how much a student has learned. The NC DPI says it's determined by measuring expected progress against actual progress.

North Carolina Supreme Court Hears Leandro Case

North Carolina Supreme Court justices questioned attorneys Wednesday over a riddle that’s key to unlocking billions of dollars to fix deficiencies in the state’s public schools: who has the authority to order such a spending plan — and is one needed in the first place?

Lawyers for parents, school boards and legislative leaders argued over whether a court can even order a remedy to the problems it finds.

Lawmakers’ attorneys argued that the court doesn’t have that authority, and that problems with the state’s schools were isolated to one county. Meanwhile, attorneys for parents and school boards say the deficiencies are statewide, that they require billions of dollars to fix, and that the court indeed has the right to order the funding.

The remedial plan that was borne from the lawsuit calls for $785 million this year, and eventually billions more, toward increased funding for students with disabilities and other disadvantaged students, as well as other education programs and policy changes.

The plan comes from a consent order in 2021, agreed to by plaintiffs in the Leandro case and the state’s executive branch.

Despite the agreement, which was signed by a judge, lawmakers didn’t fund the plan in the months immediately following its approval.

Judge W. David Lee, who previously presided over the case, issued another order in November telling a handful of state executives to cut a check of state surplus funds to do so. A North Carolina Court of Appeals panel halted the order, and the parties in the lawsuit appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court.

How the court rules could determine whether the state’s 1.5 million public schoolchildren see a resolution to this case any time soon. Justices have not issued a timetable for ruling.

The Leandro lawsuit — known for a former plaintiff — was filed against the state in 1994 by five lower-income school boards and families who said they were being denied an adequate education. The state Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that students had been denied the opportunity to access a “sound basic education” and ordered the state to fix that, leaving it up to lawmakers and the governor for the time being.

The so-called Leandro Plan from 2021 calls for at least $5.6 billion in new, annual education spending by 2028, as well as numerous policy changes concerning school improvement and accountability.

The state’s education budget is more than $11 billion.

On Wednesday, Justices heard oral arguments on the appeal for more than an hour and a half. Arguments rehashed months of debate but featured two new things: The first state Supreme Court appearance in the case for the state’s top two legislative leaders and extensive debate brought by those legislators over whether shortcomings in the state’s education system had ever really been proven.

This is not a contest between those that want to fund education and those that don’t,” Matthew Tilley—a lawyer for state Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, who are intervenors—told justices.

Rather, Tilley said, the state Supreme Court must weigh whether a judge can order lawmakers or others to fix — in a specific way — what the court says they’re failing to do and determine the extent a resolution is necessary. Berger and Moore don’t like the plan, though Democratic lawmakers favor it. Berger and Moore argue only lawmakers have the power to decide how to spend the state’s money.

Meanwhile, plaintiffs and attorneys for the governor and attorney general argued the court must be able to order a resolution.

For years since the state Supreme Court found the state was not providing an adequate education, the state’s legislative and executive branches — including prior governors and attorneys general, including current Gov. Roy Cooper — had not come up with a plan to fix the situation, lawyers for the legislators argued

TAHTS HEALTHFAIR

Registration for TAHTS HEALTHFAIR is Sept 1.  

Fair is Oct. 22 at HSNC from 9 am to 1 pm! 

Oct. 8th, 10 am- 2 pm - Fire Safety Day 

Oct. 8th Fire Safety Day 10 am- 2 pm

Target Parking Lot in Park West.  

Oct 8th - Diwali

Oct 8th Hum Sub Diwali!