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UKRAINE WAR AND READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY UPDATE: |
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
March 1, 2024
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Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes. | |
Help my Friend Prince:
Prince is on end stage renal failure and will be on dialysis soon. We are looking for kidney donors at this point. As you all know, that is the only option to have a quality life going forward for him, while dialysis will keep him going for now. If you all know of anyone that would be willing to donate a kidney and help spread the word about the need, much appreciated 🙏 Contact Lydia - 404.316.1236
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WAKE COUNTY CLEAR BAG POLICY IN EFFECT | |
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Last day of Early Voting is Saturday. You can register and vote at the same time! You will need a form of identification!
If you live in Cary or Morrisville area, the closest sites are Herb Young Community Center (101 Wilkison Avenue, Cary), Bond Park Senior Center ( 150 Metro Park Dr, Cary, NC 27513), or the Apex Community Center (73 Hunter Street, Apex, NC)
To find your polling sites across the state, please visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-early-person.
For Voter ID, please visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-id.
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I have endorsed for the Democratic Primaries for Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General, and State Superintendent of Education and you can read about these endorsements in the Primary Endorsement Section. | |
APPLY FOR TEEN MORRISVILLE 101 | |
Registration is now open for Teen Morrisville 101! Teen Morrisville 101 is a FREE resident academy for teens (grades 9-12) interested in local government. It will feature hands-on learning with multiple Town departments, and includes a graduation ceremony at a Morrisville Town Council meeting. Learn more and
register today at bit.ly/TeenMSV101
Tentative dates are:
• Wednesday, May 8: 4-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 15: 4-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 22: 4-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 29: 4-6 p.m.
While the program is open to all high school students, preference will be given to those who live in Morrisville. Registration is open until Friday, April 26.
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BREAKING NEWS AND IMPORTANT UPDATES | |
Mar 23- Green Day
From 8am to 12pm at Church Street Park
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From 5pm to 7pm at Morrisville Community Park
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April 19– Movie in the Park
8pm at Morrisville Community Park
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WPTF Wake County Round Up SHOW!
Join me every week for a new show I am hosting, The Wake County Round Up Show on WPTF Radio! If you are a Wake County leader and interested in being on the show, please email me at sr@steverao.com!
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MORRISVILLE SMART CITY ALERT | |
My Message on Facility Vision: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/949723939830043
The Town of Morrisville announced today that it has been named a finalist in the IDC Government Insights’ seventh annual Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA) in the Smart Buildings category. The awards recognize the progress North American municipalities have made in executing Smart Cities projects, as well as provide a forum for sharing best practices to help accelerate Smart City development in the region.
As a next step in the nomination process, IDC invites the public to vote on the named finalists at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCNAA24. Voting will be open through Friday, March 8. Winners will be announced March 27 and honored at Smart Cities Connect being held May 7-10 in Raleigh. To learn more about the event, please visit https://spring.smartcitiesconnect.org.
Finalists in the SCNAA illustrate best practice examples of how forward-thinking municipalities are effectively leveraging technology and innovation to offer new services and economic opportunities and to meet the needs and expectations of residents. The Town of Morrisville was recognized for unprecedented progress in creating and sustaining smart city projects in the Smart Buildings category for the Facility Vision initiative.
What is Facility Vision?
Morrisville’s Facility Vision initiative was created to transform the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC) into a truly innovative smart building. The goal of Facility Vision is to deploy a network of IoT sensors to deliver data that will drive decisions for leadership, staff, and eventually residents of the Town. Room monitoring, vibration, and machine vision sensors have been deployed throughout the facility, enabling staff to gather anonymous data of room utilization and equipment usage, and also allows them to see facility operation at a glance. This data also enables staff to concentrate on better serving the community, while allowing leadership to make more informed decisions on programming. In the near future, the Town will be launching a public-facing dashboard to provide residents with insights into how busy the facility is and which equipment is currently in use. This will also help provide predictive analytics across the MAFC, allowing residents to make more informed decisions about their visits.
Congratulations to our staff for continuing to execute our nationally recognized
smart city programs.
We are on our way to be the smartest city in the state.
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MARCH 2 IS READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY! | |
Read Across America Day Events
Wake County: https://www.wake.gov/events/read-across-america-school-age-march-2nd-2022-0600pm
Read Across America Day is an annual event in the United States that promotes reading and literacy. It is typically celebrated on March 2nd, which is also the birthday of the famous children's book author Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel). The event is organized by the National Education Association (NEA) and encourages schools, libraries, and communities to come together to celebrate the joy of reading.
On Read Across America Day, various activities such as reading events, book fairs, and storytelling sessions are organized to encourage children and adults alike to develop a love for reading. Schools often invite guest readers, including community leaders, parents, and local celebrities, to read books to students. The goal is to emphasize the importance of literacy and make reading a fun and enjoyable experience for people of all ages.
Visit your libraries and read some books on this Day
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2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE WAR | |
Donate to Ukraine at https://eu-solidarity-ukraine.ec.europa.eu/helping-ukrainians-how-you-can-donate-and-engage_en
Read about the impact of the War on our Triangle Ukranian community: https://wraltechwire.com/2022/03/25/in-midst-of-war-ukrainians-like-misha-shvets-keep-working-in-nc-tech-sector-they-deserve-our-suppo
Last Saturday was the 2 year anniversary of the Ukraine War.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that started in 2014. The invasion became the largest attack on a European country since World War II. It is estimated to have caused tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties and hundreds of thousands of military casualties. By June 2022, Russian troops occupied about 20% of Ukrainian territory. From a population of 41 million in January 2022, about 8 million Ukrainians had been internally displaced and more than 8.2 million had fled the country by April 2023, creating Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. Extensive environmental damage caused by the war, widely described as an ecocide, contributed to food crises worldwide.
Before the invasion, Russian troops massed near Ukraine's borders as Russian officials denied any plans to attack. Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" to support the Russian-backed breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, whose paramilitary forces had been fighting Ukraine in the Donbas conflict since 2014. Putin espoused irredentist views challenging Ukraine's right to exist, and falsely claimed that Ukraine was governed by neo-Nazis persecuting the Russian minority. He said his goal was to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine. Russian air strikes and a ground invasion were launched at a northern front from Belarus towards Kyiv, a southern front from Crimea, and an eastern front from the Donbas and towards Kharkiv. Ukraine enacted martial law, ordered a general mobilization and severed diplomatic relations with Russia.
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RUSSIA'S INITIAL REACTION | |
Russian troops retreated from the northern front by April 2022 after encountering logistical challenges and stiff Ukrainian resistance. On the southern and southeastern fronts, Russia captured Kherson in March and Mariupol in May after a destructive siege. Russia launched a renewed offensive in the Donbas and continued to bomb military and civilian targets far from the front line, including the energy grid through the winter. In late 2022, Ukraine launched successful counteroffensives in the south and east. Soon after, Russia announced the illegal annexation of four partly occupied regions. In November, Ukraine retook parts of Kherson Oblast, including the city of Kherson itself. In June 2023, Ukraine launched another counteroffensive in the southeast.
The invasion was met with international condemnation. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the invasion and demanding a full Russian withdrawal in March 2022. The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to suspend military operations and the Council of Europe expelled Russia. Many countries imposed sanctions on Russia and its ally Belarus, and provided humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. The Baltic states all declared Russia a terrorist state. Protests occurred around the world, along with mass arrests of anti-war protesters in Russia, which also enacted a law enabling greater media censorship. Over 1,000 companies closed their operations in Russia and Belarus as a result of the invasion.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) opened investigations into possible crimes against humanity, war crimes, abduction of children, and genocide. The court issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023, alleging responsibility for the unlawful deportation of children.
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WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM? | |
Language Access Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og4l75jFkyE
CBS 17 story: https://www.cbs17.com/video/morrisville-language-access-plan/9472301/
At this week’s Council meeting, Council approved and presented the Language Access Plan Resolution to Deputy Manager Giselle Rodriquez and our partners, Hini Vikas Mandal.
I continue to be inspired by the Town of Morrisville’s successful implementation of the Language Collaborative program, currently focusing on Hindi translation services for our Indian community.
The Town of Morrisville is a participant in the Local Government Language Access Collaborative, a one-year interactive course designed to build capacity for North Carolina local governments to communicate with residents in community languages. The Language Access Collaborative builds relationships between local governments and community partners, who must come together as a team to design a language access plan for their city, town, or county. Morrisville is joined in our efforts by Hindi Vikas Mandal (HVM), a community organization who is a part of the Hindu Society of North Carolina (HSNC). Because Morrisville’s demographics include approximately 46 percent Asian Indian residents, and Hindi is the most spoken language other than English, the Town selected Hindi as the language to address in our language access plan.
Monthly activities began in January 2023 and will take place until January 2024. The program features seven virtual workshops and two in-person events in Chapel Hill. Following the completion of the course, which is administered by Building Integrated Communities (BIC) and funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, the local government teams will be eligible for funding to assist with the implementation of their language access plan. At least one component of the language access plan must be completed by Jan. 2, 2025.
Communities joining Morrisville in the collaborative are Apex, Buncombe County, Concord, High Point, New Hanover County, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem.
Members of the Town of Morrisville staff involved in the course include Town Manager Martha Paige, Deputy Town Manager Brandon Zuidema, Assistant Town Manager Giselle Rodriguez-Villanueva, Director of Management Services Jeanne Hooks, and Communications & Outreach Director Wil Glenn. HVM participants are Program Coordinator Arundhati Baba and Program Coordinator Sushma Maheshwari.
In addition to the monthly virtual workshops, which include all the local governments and community partners, the Morrisville group has been regularly having lunch meetings between workshops to strategize and prepare important pieces for the language access plan.
This has also become a Town-wide effort as we assess our programs and services to identify a plan that brings value to the community and increases their access to key services.
In Morrisville, we embrace our cultural diversity. Language access is an essential step in our journey.
Last night, we voted to accept the Resolution supporting the Language Access Program.
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MARCH PRIMARY ENDORSEMENT ALERTS | |
I am starting off with a few key endorsements and will roll out new ones in the next few weeks before the March 5th Primary. | |
Governor Josh Stein
For Governor, I am supporting Attorney General Josh Stein. I have known Josh since 2007 prior to him becoming a State Senator. Josh Stein is a husband and a father, a proud North Carolinian, and the current Attorney General. Josh is running for Governor to build a better and brighter future. He believes in a North Carolina grounded in our shared values of freedom, justice, and opportunity for everyone. I believe that he has the most experience to continue the great leadership of Governor Roy Cooper, who has endorsed Josh has his successor.
Josh is ready to take on the very important job as the Chief Executive of the eighth largest state in the nation. He will be able to lead North Carolina immediately upon taking the oath as our next Governnor. His wife Anna Stein will be a wonderful first lady and is an accomplished professional in Public Health at the NC DHHS. His children Sam, Adam and Leah have grown up to be very young adults.
On a personal note, I also value the service of former Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan, and do believe that he has much to offer our state in the future.
Stein has far outspent him in the primary and he jumped in too late into the Primary.
Learn More at www.joshstein.org.
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Treasurer Gabe Esparza
Today I enthusiastically endorse my friend @Gabriel Esparza for North Carolina State Treasurer. During his tenure at the US Small Business Administration, I worked with Gabe to organize the US-India Business Conference here in Morrisville where we brought together business and government leaders from across the country to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. The highlight of the conference was welcoming Indian Ambassador Taranjt Sandhu to kick off the Conference and to share insights on how our small businesses in North Carolina can connect with the Indian Markets, and also explore how we strengthen the ties between North Carolina and India.
Gabe is a cutting-edge thinker - someone who will bring competence, experience, and ingenuity to the State Treasurer's office.
We need people like Gabe in elected office, so please join me in supporting his campaign - volunteer, contribute, invite him to your events, and when we get to the March 2024 primary - vote!
Pictured with Gabe Esparza and Allen Thomas SBA Southest Director.
Gabe is in center and SBA Southease Director Alen Thomas is on the right.
Learn More at https://www.gabefornorthcarolina.com/
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ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF JACKSON
For Attorney General, I am endorsing United States Congressman Jeff Jackson. Jeff became the second-youngest senator in the state Senate in 2014. He was new to political office, but not new to public service, having enlisted after the attacks of September 11th, trained at Ft. Bragg, and served in Afghanistan. He continues to serve today as a Major in the Army National Guard. He is currently in his 19th year of military service.
In the state Senate and in Congress, Jeff has built a reputation for being transparent, accessible, and candid. Jeff has helped lead the fight against gerrymandering, stood against discriminatory legislation like HB2, supported investments in early childhood education, repeatedly called for raising teacher pay and expanding Medicaid, passed reforms for our criminal justice system, and called out corruption when he saw it.
Learn More at www.jeffjacksonnc.com
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NC Superintendent of Public Instruction MO GREEN
Maurice “Mo” Green has strived to be a champion for public education in North Carolina throughout a professional career that has included being a school district superintendent, a chief executive for a large foundation that awards grants supporting public education and a school board attorney.
Mo served as the executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation from 2016-2023. Prior to ZSR, Mo served more than seven years as superintendent of Guilford County Schools – the third largest district in North Carolina. Before Guilford County Schools, Mo joined Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in 2001 as general counsel. In 2006, he was named chief operating officer and later moved into the role of deputy superintendent. Mo began his career as a lawyer in private practice after doing two United States judicial clerkships. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics and a law degree, both from Duke University. Mo is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi (the Boulé) fraternities. Mo is a longtime resident of North Carolina. He is married and has two adult children.
Learn More at https://www.mogreenfornc.com/.
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NC Senate Dist. 22 Mike Woodard
If you live in Durham, please vote for Senator Mike Woodard. He has been a longtime champion for Durham at the local, state, and national level and has also been a very effective Senator. Mike began his political career as a Durham City Council Member, and always address the needs of local governments in the State Senate. We do not have many members in our Senate that have local government experience. Senator Woodard is one of them.
Mike has fought for public education, increasing access to healthcare, protecting our environment, improving our infrastructure, and expanding our voting rights. He now looks forward to bringing the Durham community together, looking past political divisions, and addressing our most urgent needs like affordable housing, public safety, and combating the climate crisis.
Learn More at www.mikewoodard.com
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MORRISVILLE BLACK HISTORY MOMENT | |
Every week, I want to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth by sharing the history of the Black community in Morrisville.
In July 1939, photographer Dorothea Lange spent the afternoon with Zollie Lyon and his family on their farm southwest of Morrisville.
Lange was tasked by the Farm Security Administration of the federal government to document the Great Depression across America. Most people know her for the photograph titled "Migrant Mother." #MorrisvilleBlackHistoryMonth
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BLACK HISTORY SMALL BUSINESS VISITS | |
Integrate Health and Wellness
Doctors Anthony and Shavahn Witherspoon are chiropractors serving Morrisville and
surrounding areas. Their chiropractors and wellness team are committed to providing
chiropractic, massage, acupuncture and esthetic solutions to address your unique needs, whether you are experiencing back pain, neck pain, headaches, muscular tightness, skin problems or just looking to improve your overall health, our wellness team can help you attain your everyday wellness goals.
We are proud to have Integrate Health and Wellness, PLLC in our Town.
https://www.in2greathealth.com
Facebook: Integrate Health and Wellness, PLLC
Integrate Health and Wellness, PLLC
133 Keybridge Drive, Suite B, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560
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Visual Arts:
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Jean-Michel Basquiat: A renowned neo-expressionist painter whose work explores social issues and the African diaspora.
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Kara Walker: Known for her provocative and thought-provoking silhouetted figures that address themes of race, gender, and identity.
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Music:
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Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul, an iconic singer and songwriter who made significant contributions to soul, gospel, and R&B music.
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John Coltrane: A legendary jazz saxophonist and composer who played a crucial role in the development of jazz.
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Literature:
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Toni Morrison: An acclaimed novelist and Nobel Prize winner known for works like "Beloved" and "Song of Solomon."
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Langston Hughes: A prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes was a poet, social activist, and playwright.
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Performing Arts:
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Sidney Poitier: An iconic actor, film director, and author, known for breaking racial barriers in Hollywood.
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Misty Copeland: The first African American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, breaking barriers in the world of classical ballet.
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Film and Television:
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Chadwick Boseman: Known for his powerful performances in films like "Black Panther" and "42," Boseman left a lasting impact on the film industry.
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Ava DuVernay: A highly respected filmmaker and director, known for her work in films like "Selma" and the documentary "13th."
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Activism:
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Maya Angelou: A poet, author, and civil rights activist known for her autobiographical works, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
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Malcolm X: A prominent human rights activist and a key figure in the civil rights movement.
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Mark Dean who transformed the personal computers (PC).
In the spirit of Black History Month, I celebrate Mark E. Dean, an inventor and computer engineer who left a lasting technological legacy on our nation.
Mark Dean is an American computer engineer and inventor who played a significant role in the development of personal computers. Born on March 2, 1957, in Jefferson City, Tennessee, Mark Dean is best known for his work at IBM (International Business Machines Corporation).
One of Mark Dean's notable achievements was his contribution to the design of the IBM Personal Computer (PC) introduced in 1981. He holds three of the original nine IBM PC patents. Additionally, Dean was instrumental in the development of the ISA bus architecture, which allows peripherals like printers and disk drives to be connected to computers.
Mark Dean's contributions extend beyond personal computers; he has also been involved in advancements related to color monitors, gigahertz processors, and the development of the first gigahertz chip. Over the years, Dean has received several awards and honors for his work in the field of computer science and engineering.
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Alexa Canady, the first African American woman neurosurgeon in the US.
Dr. Alexa Canady is an American neurosurgeon who made history as the first African-American woman to become a neurosurgeon in the United States. She was born on November 7, 1950, in Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Canady earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan and went on to attend the University of Michigan Medical School, where she received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1975.
After completing her medical education, Dr. Canady specialized in neurosurgery and became a pioneer in her field. She has been an advocate for diversity in medicine and has contributed significantly to the advancement of neurosurgery.
It's worth noting that my information might not be up-to-date, so it's advisable to check more recent sources for any developments in Dr. Alexa Canady's life or career.
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Guion Bluford, the first African American in space.
Guion Bluford is a retired American aerospace engineer, fighter pilot, and NASA astronaut. Born on November 22, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bluford became the first African-American astronaut to travel to space.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 1964 and later obtained master's and doctorate degrees in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. Bluford served as a pilot in the United States Air Force and flew 144 combat missions during the Vietnam War.
Guion Bluford made history on August 30, 1983, when he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger during the STS-8 mission. He went on to participate in three additional space shuttle missions: STS-61-A (1985), STS-39 (1991), and STS-53 (1992).
Bluford's career has been marked by numerous accomplishments and honors, and he has inspired many aspiring astronauts and individuals pursuing careers in science and engineering. After leaving NASA, he continued to work in the aerospace industry and held various leadership positions.
Read about their inspiring stories and many more STEM Icons as rhyming biographies in STEM Icons - Celebrating Black History. Available to buy or read on Kindle for free today together with hands-on STEM activities for teachers. https://teach4d.stemforkids.net
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SEND US IDEAS ON THE TOWN BUDGET! | |
Please send us an email to towncouncil@townofmorrisville.org and also Let us know by taking the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Community Input Survey at
https://bit.ly/48vLbwe.
This is a quick poll for our community members to share some preliminary insight into your needs and wants as we look forward to the future.
Contact the Budget and Strategic Management Department at
MSVBudget@townofmorrisville.org.
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DOWNLOAD THE MORRISVILLE APP | |
Have you downloaded the Morrisville Central mobile app?
Learn about free community events, view an interactive map of Town facilities and parks to learn about court and field status, and get the latest information about the Town straight from the source.
Download via Apple Store: https://apple.co/3pKCNrg
Download via Google Play: https://bit.ly/3IfPctA
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Meeting the Democratic Governors in Washington D.C
Last Thursday, I enjoyed attending the reception in Washington D.C hosted by the Democratic Governors Association. I met and got to interact with a number of Governors and was very impressed with the strong sense of community among these Governors! I look forward to Josh Stein being there next year!
- Gavin Newsom, California
- Daniel Mckee, Rhode Island
- Tim Walz, Minnesota
- Phil Murphy, New Jersey
-Terry Mcaullife, Virginia (former)
-Kathy Hochul, New York
-Michelle Lujan Grisham
-Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania
And the best in the house:
-Roy Cooper, North Carolina!
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- Gavin Newsom, California | |
- Daniel Mckee, Rhode Island | |
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- Phil Murphy, New Jersey | |
-Terry Mcaullife, Virginia (former) | |
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-Terry Mcaullife, Virginia (former) | |
-Roy Cooper, North Carolina! | |
ROBOTLab Opening!
Insights from Kalpesh Patel: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1213872466688240
Last Monday, I was honored to attend, the opening of RobotLAb at Copley Parkway in Morrisville. Congratulations to Kalpesh Patel and his team, who have developed a state of the art lab, with Artificial Intelligence powered robots, serving a number of industries including cleaning,assisted living, restaurants, and other service industries.
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Forward Party Founder Andrew Yang
Radio Nyra Interview: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1064334161519567
Last Wednesday, I was honored to have lunch and spend some time with Andrew Yang, 2020 Presidential Candidate and Chair of the Forward Party! I enjoyed interviewing him on Radio Nyra and spending time with him at WPTF! I recommend his book Forward, Notes on the Future of our Democracy!
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2 Year Anniversary of Ukraine War Rally
Radio Nyra Interview on War in Ukraine: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/364712639720073
I was honored to attend the Ukraine War Rally as a guest. We continue to pray for the 25,000 Ukranians in the Triangle and for the nation of Ukraine. I urge us to reach out to our Senators and Congress to support the Aid Package! I enjoyed doing a live interview with Michal Breziecki.
Long Live Ukraine!
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Town of Cary Black History Month STEM event
I enjoyed a very informative program on STEM, with inspiring talks from entrpepreneur James Montague and other artists and media personalities. Renee Daugherty from Cisco, who is working on a Stem Center in South Raleigh with James gave a great talk on AI. Thanks to Cary for hosting great events.
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Tamil Sangam Pongal Event!
My Remarks to Tamil Community https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/806450637968843
I enjoyed attending the Pongal event at HSNC with Congressman Nickel, Congresswoman Ross, and Cary Council Member Sarika Bansal! It was a very special event and thanks to the organizers and volunteers!
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Dr. Subhash Gumber Receives Order of the Long Leaf
On Saturday, I was honored to attend a celebration of Dr. Gumber’s retirement and his receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award from Attorney General Josh Stein. Dr. Gumber and his wife Kawal were surrounded by friends and family and their story is a very inspiring one! Proud of both of you!
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THINKERS LUNCH
I attended a very informative Thinkers Lunch at Cantina 18 in Raleigh, where we heard from Political Science Superstars Dr. Michael Blitzer and Chris Cooper on the upcoming Primary elections. It was great to catch up with my PBS Carolinas Crew, Kelly Mcullen, and Andrea Corona! A special thanks to Joe Stewart for hosting these lunches!
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COMMUNITY SUCCESS FORUM
I enjoyed attending the Raleigh Chamber Community Success Forum, where we heard from engaging speakers on the continued focus on talent and the important role in plays in our economic development strategy as a region. The highlight for me was to hear from NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson, who continues to work with all stakeholders in our region to address these issues! I will be sharing his insights in my next newsletter!
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PRODUCTIVE COUNCIL MEETING!
Highlights from the February 27, 2024 Morrisville Town Council meeting include:
• Proclamation Recognizing “Read Across America Day”
• Town Center Amenities Update
• Resolution Adopting the Language Access Plan
• Mural Design Selection Read the full details at https://bit.ly/49TmaLC
#LiveConnectedLiveWell
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SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY VISITS | |
THIS WEEK IN MORRISVILLE FEB26- MAR1 | |
Morrisville Celebrates International Mother Language Day
On February 21, the Town of Morrisville celebrated International Mother Language Day – a day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. Click here to view a video that highlights the important work we are doing in the area of language access.
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Volunteers Needed for Morrisville Creek Week
With the support of the North Carolina Clean Water Education Partnership (NC CWEP) and the Town of Morrisville's Stormwater Division, the Town of Morrisville will once again celebrate NC CWEP’s Regional Creek Week program March 16-24, with fun, informative activities that will help to educate our community about reducing stormwater pollution and the importance of keeping our waterways clear and clean.
Register to be a volunteer at https://bit.ly/CW24Volunteer for the following:
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Stormwater Runoff 5K: We’re celebrating our waterways with a 5K on March 17. Volunteers will help with registration, water, parking, set-up, and more.
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Drain Marking: Volunteers work with drain marking leaders to mark drains throughout the week at designated locations.
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Stream Cleans: Hosted by one of our stewardship groups, stream cleans are done to help preserve and protect our community’s waterways.
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Spring League Coaches Needed
Morrisville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources is looking for volunteer coaches for the upcoming spring season! Volunteer coaches are needed for baseball, softball, volleyball and junior basketball. If you are interested in coaching, please contact athletics@townofmorrisville.org.
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Creek Week Volunteer Registration Open
With the support of the North Carolina Clean Water Education Partnership (NC CWEP) and the Town of Morrisville's Stormwater Division, the Town of Morrisville will once again celebrate NC CWEP’s Regional Creek Week program March 16-24, with fun, informative activities that will help to educate our community about reducing stormwater pollution and the importance of keeping our waterways clear and clean. Events for the week will include volunteer stream cleans and litter pickups by Morrisville stream stewardship groups and installation of markers on stormwater drains at various locations around Town. Check the Creek Week webpage for more information and a complete schedule of events when it becomes available. To register to volunteer for Creek Week, please click here.
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Creek Week 5K Registration Open
This year, Creek Week will also include a Stormwater Runoff 5K on Sunday, March 17, at Cedar Fork District Park (228 Aviation Pkwy.), to help educate the public and focus attention on stormwater issues, especially the importance of keeping stormwater clean. Get more information and register to run here.
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Registration Open
Get Certified, Morrisville! Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Certification is two steps:
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Online Training: Now- April 3 (12 hours of classes—your own pace, at your convenience)
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In-Person, Hands-on Skills Training: April 24-28, 2024 Click here to learn more and register.
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Pop-Up Dog Park Registration Open
Registration is now open for the pop-up dog parks going on this spring/summer at the Morrisville Community Park (1520 Morrisville Pkwy.). The dates are April 21, May 5 & 19 and June 2. The dog parks will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Registration is free, but we will require proof of vaccination. Register to attend here.
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Cybersecurity One-Day Class March 22
The Town of Morrisville, in partnership with Norwich University, is hosting a one-day class on Internet of Things (IoT) security on March 22 at the Historic Christian Church (222 Church St.). The class will be free to members of the community. This National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC) training course is developed and delivered by Norwich University Applied Research Institutes. For full details and to register click here.
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Spring White Goods Pick-up is March 7
The spring White Goods Collection Day will be Thursday, March 7. Registration is required and must be received by Monday, March 4, at 5 p.m. Click here to register. Items to be collected include washing machines, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, stoves/ovens, and dehumidifiers. Microwaves should be dropped off at the South Wake Landfill, 6130 Old Smithfield Road, Apex.
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Summer Camp Registration Opens Feb. 19
Cedar Fork Community Center (1050 B Town Hall Dr.) will host nine weeks of summer camp beginning the week of June 17 and running through the week of Aug. 16. Camp sessions are scheduled Monday to Friday, running from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Two camps will be offered, one for ages 5-11 and one for ages 12-14. Camp days will be filled with arts and crafts, games, park trips, pool visits and exciting field trips! Registration is on a weekly basis. The cost per week is $168 for residents and $218 for non-residents. A $50 deposit is due at the time of registration, which will contribute towards the overall program cost. Click here to register.
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Camp Cedar Fork Slots Still Available for Ages 12-14
Limited spots are available for Camp Cedar Fork Senior, ages 12-14. Cedar Fork Community Center (CFCC, 1050 B Town Hall Dr.) will host nine weeks of summer camp beginning the week of June 17 and running through the week of Aug. 16. Camp sessions are scheduled Monday to Friday, running from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Camp days will be filled with arts & crafts, games, park trips, pool visits and exciting field trips! Registration is on a weekly basis. The cost per week is $168 for residents and $218 for non-residents. A $50 deposit is due at the time of registration, which will contribute towards the overall program cost. Register here or in-person at CFCC
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Water Disinfection Change Starts Feb. 28
Each year, the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility (the source of water for Morrisville residents) temporarily suspends the use of ammonia in the water treatment process. This follows the state’s recommendation that all water systems that use chloramines (a compound of chlorine and ammonia) for disinfection temporarily switch to chlorine only. During this process, they also release water from fire hydrants to help ensure chlorine flows through the entire system. These short-term changes are an important part of maintaining our water system and help ensure our award-winning water remains safe.
If you use water for kidney dialysis, fish aquariums, and other chlorine sensitive uses, be aware that from Feb. 28, to several days after April 11, the water may contain chlorine or a mixture of both chlorine and ammonia. While the water may have a more distinct chlorine odor during this time, it remains safe to drink. Have a question? Visit carync.gov/waterchange or call 311 for more information.
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Western Wake Farmers Market
The Western Wake Farmers Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food and goods from small and local businesses from 9:30 a.m.-noon every Saturday at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive.
Beginning this Saturday, CompostNow.org will start a compost collection site at the market’s information tent. Residents are invited to bring their food scraps and select other items for collection during market hours. Visit wwfm.ag to learn more.
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Now Hiring
The Town of Morrisville is now hiring for both full- and part-time positions. Check out employment opportunities here.
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A visit with Wendy Coulter from Hummingbird Creative at Cary Business Expo | | | |
Hanging out with Secretary of State at Dr. Gumber’s Celebration! | | |
Time with Marbles Museum Chief Learning Officer, Hardin Englehardt! | | |
Hanging out with Secretary of State at Dr. Gumber’s Celebration! | | |
A visit with Rebecca Corbin from the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) at Cary Business Expo. | | |
A visit with Gandhi at Marbles! Stay tuned for an exciting Announcement! | | |
A visit with President Lincoln in D.C! | | |
OTHER NORTH CAROLINA NEWS | |
WAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS CLEAR BAG POLICY IN EFFECT/EXPECT A TAX INCREASE FOR SCHOOLS….
Starting Friday, new rules are going into place at Wake County schools to keep people safe at school events.
Also, keep in mind Wake County taxpayers will likely face a request this year for another $50 million increase in funding from the school system. School administrators said Friday they've already identified $44 million in funding needs this year because of required increases and the loss of federal COVID aid.
It's the first day for the district's new clear bag rule for spectators at sports and other large-scale gatherings for Wake high schools.
The intent of the clear bag rule is to deter people from bringing knives or other weapons to plays or sporting events or other extracurricular activities.
For students or parents coming to Friday night's basketball game, here's what that new rule looks like in practice:
- No traditional purses or bags. Bags must be clear.
- People and bags will be searched upon entry.
- Wristlets and diaper bags will still be allowed.
- Guests can also bring bags that are medically necessary - like containers for menstrual products or an oxygen tank.
- Exceptions may also be made for certain baby carriers, coats, blankets and seat cushions.
- People are otherwise limited to one clear bag that's 12 inches by 15 inches by 3 inches and one clutch or wristlet bag that's no more than 4 inches by 6 inches by 1 inch.
- No more backpacks or belt bags unless they are small and clear.
- The rule only applies to extracurricular events that would have spectators and not to the regular school day.
Read More at #
TRUITT WANTS TO OVERHAUL SCHOOLGRADING SYSTEM
On Monday, Catherine Truitt, superintendent of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), introduced her plan to overhaul the A-F accountability system for North Carolina public schools.
The current system grades North Carolina schools on an A-F scale with End-of-Grade test scores making up 80% of the school’s letter grade, and the other 20% comes from how the scores have improved compared to prior years. Truitt says the scoring should be more robust and give families a deeper level of information, offering a plan with four letter grades instead of one.
“They don’t know what a D actually says about their child’s school, or what an A says about their child’s school,” said Truitt in her opening statement on Monday. “So, we have an opportunity here to right this ship, to change how we define what a high-performing school is and what student success looks like. And that’s what we are excited to share with you all today.”
Truitt is requesting that lawmakers introduce legislation for a three-year pilot program starting this fall where volunteer district would run both the old model of accountability and her new one, comparing the results. Only the new model would be utilized in school districts in the third year. She and her team have identified three primary problems with the current system: She says there is no meaningful accountability for schools at either the state or federal level, no support for low-performing schools, and parents don’t know what the grades mean.
Read More at https://www.carolinajournal.com/truitt-introduces-plan-to-overhaul-school-grading-system/#:~:text=The%20new%20grading%20system%20wo
NC SUPREME COURT HEARS ORAL ARGUMENTS ON LEANDRO
On Thursday, Feb. 22, the N.C. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the latest hearing of the long-running Leandro cases on public education funding.
In 1997, the state supreme court ruled in Leandro I that every student has a constitutional right to a sound, basic education. Then, in 2004, the state supreme court decided in Hoke County Board of Education v. North Carolina — or Leandro II — that the state is responsible for staffing each classroom with a competent teacher, hiring a competent principal for every school and providing adequate resources to ensure an equitable learning environment.
Thursday's hearing was the fifth time the Hoke County case has been presented to the state supreme court.
After a court order in 2019, an independent consultant company WestEd recommended North Carolina spend $6.8 billion in total over the course of eight years. In 2020, Judge David Lee ordered the state to create a plan to improve the quality of public education. The state then submitted a Comprehensive Remedial Plan based on WestEd's recommendations.
When Lee ordered the legislature to report to the court on its implementation of the CRP and the legislature did not respond, Lee ordered the allocation of $1.7 billion from the state's general fund toward public education. In 2022, the N.C. Supreme Court upheld a lower court's decision to allocate about $1.7 billion from North Carolina's general funds to N.C. public schools — just three days before the court flipped to a 5-2 Republican majority in the 2022 elections. The new 5-2 majority decided last March along party lines to accept new filings in the case following a request from Republican state legislative leaders.
Read more at https://www.americanprogress.org/article/how-inflation-reduction-act-electric-vehicle-incentives-are-driving-a-u-s-manufacturing-renaissance/?fbclid=IwAR1Ktt
CASINOS WILL NOT BE A PART OF BUDGET. BERGER FOLDS
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) rarely loses a hand in the political games that play such a prominent role in the work of North Carolina General Assembly.
But on Tuesday, Berger seemed to abide by the admonition in the famous Kenny Rogers’ song, “The Gambler”: “You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.”
At an evening joint appearance with House Speaker Tim Moore, the Senate leader announced that he is, for the time being, abandoning his full court press to greatly expand casino gambling in the state.
Last week when the most conservative members of his own party balked at including four casinos in the state budget, an idea was hatched to pass a standalone bill tying Medicaid expansion to the casino legislation.
Casino supporters believed the lure of Medicaid expansion would win over enough Democrats to make up for the Republicans who were willing to vote “no.”
Democrats were not swayed. On Monday, the minority party in each chamber issued strongly worded statements of opposition. By Tuesday afternoon, Governor Roy Cooper called out the backroom casino plan.
“The Republican supermajority is breaking their promise to expand Medicaid and instead are using it to extort a shady, sole source casino deal that many of their own members find suspicious,” said Cooper. “Democratic legislators are rightfully disgusted and strongly oppose this scheme.”
In a late-night press conference at the legislature, Berger conceded the casinos and video lottery terminals (VLTs) would not advance as outlined under House Bill 149.
“Medicaid expansion will still be contingent on the budget becoming law,” said Berger. “The conference budget will not include any of the VLTs or the rural tourism districts. We think this is the best, the most prudent way for us to move forward.”
Asked whether the announcement meant no casinos at all or just not in the budget bill, Berger was resigned.
“Not in the budget, I do not see us voting on those at any point in coming weeks.”
Read More at https://ncnewsline.com/2023/09/20/senate-leader-folds-his-hand-casinos-will-not-be-part-of-north-carolinas-budget/
COUNCIL OF STATE FILINGS!
Scores of candidates filed for nearly a dozen high-profile elected positions in North Carolina where the incumbents aren't running in 2024 because of redistricting, retirements or term limits.
The two-week candidate filing period for next year's elections ended at noon Friday at the State Board of Elections and at all 100 county boards. Primaries will be held March 5 to whittle down the field where multiple candidates are running for their
party's nominations.
Six of the 10 statewide elected officials making up the Council of State — with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper heading the list — and five of the 14 members of the U.S. House delegation aren't running again or are seeking new positions.
The state constitution prevents Cooper from running for a third consecutive term. Nearly a dozen people across four parties filed candidacy papers to succeed him, according to a state elections board list. They include Democrats Attorney General Josh Stein and former Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan and Republicans Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, State Treasurer Dale Folwell and attorney Bill Graham.
Missing from the elections board list was former state GOP Sen. Andy Wells, who had announced his candidacy for governor months ago. He didn't immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.
State Auditor Beth Wood and Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson also aren't seeking reelection. Wood prepared to resign on Friday from the auditor's position that she has held in 2009. Cooper's choice to finish out her term, Jessica Holmes, is an auditor candidate next year.
For lieutenant governor, 15 people signed up to succeed Robinson, including four current or former state legislators. Filing for the post minutes before the noon deadline was Mark H. Robinson, a Sampson County Democrat who has been running for several months.
Mark H. Robinson, a former Navy officer, said Friday that his campaign isn't designed to cause voter confusion with the other Mark Robinson, saying he has believed for decades that he would run for statewide office.
While the two names won't appear on the same primary ballot, they could if both advance to the general election, albeit for different positions.
"I'm not trying to confuse anyone," Mark H. Robinson, 62, told reporters. "I think this is what my calling is, and that is to help as many people in the state of North Carolina before I die."
A leading candidate must get more than 30% of the primary vote to win the nomination outright. Otherwise runoffs are possible later in the spring.
Three of the five members of Congress who aren't running are Democratic Reps. Jeff Jackson, Kathy Manning and Wiley Nickel. Each of them said it was futile to seek reelection given that the redrawing of the congressional map by the Republican-controlled General Assembly this fall makes their districts lean strongly Republican. Jackson is now running for attorney general.
Fourteen Republicans alone are seeking the GOP nomination in Nickel's now-reconfigured 13th District, which includes part of Raleigh but stretches north to rural counties on the Virginia border and points south.
The Republicans not running a Bishop, who is also running for state attorney general, and Rep. Patrick McHenry.
Six Republicans are running for the 6th District seat currently held by Manning. The GOP field includes former Rep. Mark Walker, 2022 congressional candidate Bo Hines and Addison McDowell, a recent entry who received former President Donald Trump's endorsement.
Six GOP candidates also are seeking the nomination in the south-central 8th District that Bishop is leaving and five are running for the nomination in McHenry's reconfigured 10th District, which now ranges from Winston-Salem to counties north and west of Charlotte.
State House Speaker Tim Moore is one of three Republicans seeking the GOP nomination in the 14th District that will stretch from Charlotte west to foothills counties. Jackson is the current 14th District representative.
Republicans appeared all but assured to win the 6th District and 3rd District seats because Democrats failed to field candidates in either race. GOP Rep. Greg Murphy, the 3rd District incumbent, currently only faces a Libertarian challenger.
One state Supreme Court and three Court of Appeals seats, and all 170 General Assembly seats also will be on ballots. Republicans currently hold narrow veto-proof majorities in both the House and Senate.
Several legislators had already announced that they wouldn't seek reelection. Late additions to that list on Friday were Senate Majority Whip Jim Perry of Lenoir County and first-term Democratic Sen. Mary Wills Bode of Granville County.
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LATEST NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UPDATES | |
1. Mitch McConnell will step down in November as the Republican leader in America’s Senate, a role he has held longer than anyone. The announcement follows speculation about the 82-year-old’s health. Mr McConnell will serve out his full term in the Senate, which ends in January 2027. A firm supporter of Ukraine, he will try to overcome Republican opposition to send more aid to the country.
2. America’s Supreme Court agreed to rule on whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in his federal election-interference case. Mr Trump’s claim—that he cannot be tried for acts he carried out while in office—has been rejected by two lower courts. His appeals have already delayed the trial, which had been due to start on March 4th. The Supreme Court scheduled arguments for the week of April 22nd. Separately, a court in Illinois ruled that Mr Trump should be removed from the state’s presidential primary because of his role in the insurrection on January 6th 2021. Illinois is the third state to strike him from the ballot.
3. Reliance Industries, India’s biggest firm, said it would merge its Indian television and streaming media assets as part of a joint venture with Walt Disney. The entity, valued at $8.5bn, will have over 750m viewers across India. Mukesh Ambani, Reliance’s boss and Asia’s richest man, will inject $1.4bn into the joint venture, giving him a 63% stake.
4. Joe Biden and Donald Trump won their respective party’s nominations in Michigan’s presidential primary, according to projections. But Mr Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza appears to have prompted tens of thousands of people to vote “uncommitted” in the Democrats’ poll. Michigan has one of the highest Arab-American populations of any state. Mr Trump cruised to a comfortable victory in the Republican race. Nikki Haley, who has lost to the former president in every primary so far, is vowing to carry on.
5. In his annual state-of-the-nation address President Vladimir Putin claimed Russian forces have the upper hand on the battlefield in Ukraine. Speaking just over two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Mr Putin accused the West of trying to turn his country into a “fading, dying space” and implored his citizens to “devote most of their time to the family”.
6. Apple pulled the plug on its attempt to build an electric car, according to widespread reports. The project, one of the tech giant’s more quixotic, had been running for a decade and received billions in investment. Nonetheless, a commercially available, fully autonomous vehicle was thought to be years away. Investors—and Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla—cheered the news.
7. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said that the EU should use windfall profits from Russian central-bank assets in Western accounts to procure weapons for Ukraine. It is the first time the EU has linked the use of frozen Russian assets to arm Ukraine. More than €200bn ($216bn) of Russian assets are frozen in the bloc.
8. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said that the EU should use windfall profits from Russian central-bank assets in Western accounts to procure weapons for Ukraine. It is the first time the EU has linked the use of frozen Russian assets to arm Ukraine. More than €200bn ($216bn) of Russian assets are frozen in the bloc.
9. Country Garden, a beleaguered Chinese property developer, is facing liquidation after the firm was hit with a winding-up petition. A creditor filed the petition in Hong Kong over the non-payment of a loan worth around $200m. A court hearing will take place on May 17th. Country Garden, which defaulted on dollar bonds in October, is one of several Chinese property firms in crisis.
10. South Korea’s fertility rate—already one of the world’s lowest—fell to an all-time low of just 0.72 in 2023. That is far below the “replacement rate” of 2.1, at which a country’s non-migrant population remains stable. Fertility rates have dropped across East Asia, but South Korea’s demographic woes are particularly acute. The high cost of bringing up a child, and antipathy towards marriage, are among the reasons for Asia’s declining fertility rates.
11. Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic senator, promised to bring federal legislation protecting in-vitro fertilisation to America’s Senate floor. Last week Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled that embryos were children, leaving Republicans scrambling to publicly back IVF as several fertility clinics paused treatment. Earlier Democrats convinced Republican lawmakers in Florida to halt progress on a bill that would have broadly protected an “unborn child”.
12. Congress sent a short-term funding bill to President Joe Biden's desk Thursday, averting a partial government shutdown this weekend and buying lawmakers more time to fund federal agencies through September. The Senate passed the stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, on a 77-13 vote; 60 votes were needed for passage under an agreement between the parties. Earlier in the day, the legislation cleared the House on a 320-99 vote.
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Council Member Rao holds office hours on Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM by appointment only at 100 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville.
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Council Member Steve Rao
Town of Morrisville
Dedicated to transforming Morrisville into an ideal place to work and raise a family!
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