MAFC Alerts: 

Mar 12 Pickleball Clinic: 11 am to 1 pm! 

Mar. 19 Community Racketball: 2:30pm- 4:30 pm!

Transportation Alert:

Town Council cuts Ribbon on Morrisville Carpenter Road!

MARCH 18 Town of Morrisville Green Day 

8 am- 11:30 am at Church Street Park! 

MARCH 18 Town of Morrisville Holi Celebration

at Cedar Fork Community Center (1050 Town Hall Morrisville, NC 27560)

from noon to 3 pm!  

My Remarks at Event: 

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1952601521751127

Morrisville Carpenter Road Completion Message:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/715357390071539

My Holi Message:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/731611668299403

Radio Nyra Interview On Holi with Bob Butler:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/3403265946578115

WHAT IS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH?

Women's History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8, and during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of Persons Day on October 18.

The commemoration began in 1978 as "Women's History day" in Sonoma County, California, and was championed by Gerda Lerner and the National Women's History Alliance to be recognized as a national week (1980) and then month (1987) in the United States, spreading internationally after that.

Women Owned Business Small Business Tour

This month, as part of my small business tour, I am dropping by Women owned businesses.  

Please email me at sr@steverao.com to set up a visit to your company! 

Why March is National Women’s History Month

As recently as the 1970s, women’s history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum or in general public consciousness. To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration for 1978.

The week March 8th, International Women’s Day, was chosen as the focal point of the observance. The local Women’s History Week activities met with enthusiastic response, and dozens of schools planned special programs for Women’s History Week. Over one-hundred community women participated by doing special presentations in classrooms throughout the country and an annual “Real Woman” Essay Contest drew hundreds of entries. The finale for the week was a celebratory parade and program held in the center of downtown Santa Rosa, California.

Mobilizing a Movement

In 1979, Molly Murphy MacGregor, a member of our group, was invited to participate in The Women’s History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, which was chaired by noted historian, Gerda Lerner and attended by the national leaders of organizations for women and girls. When the participants learned about the success of the Sonoma County’s Women’s History Week celebration, they decided to initiate similar celebrations within their own organizations, communities, and school districts. They also agreed to support an effort to secure a “National Women’s History Week.”

Presidential and Congressional Support

The first steps toward success came in February 1980 when President Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week. In the same year, Representative Barbara Mikulski, who at the time was in the House of Representatives, and Senator Orrin Hatch co-sponsored a Congressional Resolution for National Women’s History Week 1981. This co-sponsorship demonstrated the wide-ranging political support for recognizing, honoring, and celebrating the achievements of American women.

A National Lobbying Effort

As word spread rapidly across the nation, state departments of education encouraged celebrations of National Women’s History Week as an effective means to achieving equity goals within classrooms. Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon, Alaska, and other states developed and distributed curriculum materials for all of their public schools.

Organizations sponsored essay contests and other special programs in their local areas. Within a few years, thousands of schools and communities were celebrating National Women’s History Week, supported and encouraged by resolutions from governors, city councils, school boards, and the U.S. Congress.

Each year, the dates of National Women’s History Week, (the week of March 8th) changed and every year a new lobbying effort was needed. Yearly, a national effort that included thousands of individuals and hundreds of educational and women’s organizations was spearheaded by the National Women’s History Alliance.

National Women’s History Month

By 1986, 14 states had already declared March as Women’s History Month. This momentum and state-by-state action was used as the rational to lobby Congress to declare the entire month of March 1987 as National Women’s History Month. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.

CELEBRATING WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS

During this Women’s History Month, we want to celebrate Women Trailblazers in our Nation and Around the World. Women have had such a remarkable impact on the political, economic, and social/cultural fabric of society.  

I also commend them for balancing career, and family, to successfully launch their careers. My mom, my wife, and mother in law have all inspired me as some of the smartest women I have ever known!

This month, please share with me on Social Media, your ideas on Women we should be talking about! I will try to share some of my favorite Female Trailblazers this week!

Here are a few to get us started and we will do this throughout the month!

• Kamala Harris: First Female Vice President of the United States 
• Madeline Albright: First Female Secretary of State.
• Ursula Burns: First Black Female to Serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 Company. 
• Hilary Rodham Clinton: First Female Nominee of a Major Party for President of the United States. 
• Loretta Lynch: First Black Female to Become Attorney General of the United States.
• Arethra Franklin: First Female to be Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 
• Nikki Haley: First Indian American Female Governor of South Carolina and UN Ambassador. 
• Nancy Pelosi: First Female Speaker of the House. 
• Serena Williams: First Female to win 23 Major Grand Slam Titles in the Open Era. 

Kamala Harris

Hilary Rodham Clinton

Nikki Haley

Madeline Albright

Loretta Lynch

Nancy Pelosi

Ursula Burns

Arethra Franklin

Serena Williams

ANOTHER INSPIRATIONAL WAKE TECH IGNITE EVENT 

"When you champion Wake Tech, your champion our community,You shorten the journey that our students have to take to reach their goals.” - Dr. Scott Ralls, Wake Tech President 

Hosted by the Wake Tech Foundation, this year's theme was "Wake County Runs on Wake Tech" and showcased how the college strives to serve its neighbors by helping them achieve their dreams.

The event included impact testimonials from students, graduates, employees and community partners:

• Taj Hewitt

Wake Tech student and Scott Scholar Taj Hewitt shared how he has taken advantage of every opportunity possible at Wake Tech since moving to Raleigh from Jamaica to pursue an Associate in Science degree. Hewitt received the merit-based Scott Scholarship, the college's most prestigious and sought-after honor, designed to provide leadership development opportunities for outstanding students in associate degree programs. Hewitt also served as a member of the Student Government Association and participated in the college's STEM Academic Research and Training program. Hewitt, who plans to transfer to North Carolina State University after he graduates in May, says his education runs on Wake Tech. "Wake Tech has really built a unique culture where it provides students like me with opportunities to grow inside and outside of the classroom," he said. Hewitt's goal is to return to Jamaica and work alongside his father in the agriculture industry to address hunger and food insecurity. "I never knew that my journey would be international."

• Karen Schaefer

Retired Cisco software engineer, Wake Tech graduate, former Wake Tech faculty member and donor Karen Schaefer talked about the benefits of students getting excited about Wake Tech as a first-choice path to a career. She highlighted the high wages offered to STEM grads, the small businesses created after completing a degree in the trades and the lifetime of job opportunities available to Health Sciences graduates. "We, as parents and business leaders, are missing out by not educating our high school students about the opportunities that a technical college can provide for them," she said. Schaefer created the Karen Downer Schaefer Scholarship Endowment for students to attend Wake Tech right after high school graduation. It funds tuition and basic needs. She also created a plan to fund a person to embed in Title I high schools, where more than 40% of students are registered or eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. Shaefer says focusing on students who are most at risk in Wake County is critical. "We can empower them and inspire them that they can go on to higher education, make great grades, graduate and earn a solid living wage. It's important to have a vision of your success before you can realize it!"

• Anthony Garnes

Wake Tech Director of College Access Anthony Garnes discussed his plan to help underserved students in Wake County begin thinking about the possibilities for success. He developed a program for Title I high school students that focuses on three key areas: counseling, assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and help with college applications. Garnes visits high schools every week to meet with students and offer guidance. "I want to help put them on the right course for the next phase of their lives," he said. "I want them to say yes to a secondary education and yes to a brighter future." Garnes' efforts are working. Wake Tech found that helping Title I students in these three core areas increases the likelihood that they will pursue a two-year college degree or higher. "These students often have a gap between high school and their next step. My job is to fill that gap with options and encouragement and to make the door wider and easier to walk through."

• Christyn Brookover

East Wake High School graduate and current Wake Tech student Christyn Brookover is one of the students who benefited from the Title I clinics developed by Garnes. Brookover shared how she was struggling with a difficult home life and living in poverty when she turned to Garnes for help filling out the FAFSA. "It was a game-changer or, really, for me, a life-changer," she said. "With perseverance and the help of Mr. Garnes, my education didn't stop at high school." Brookover enrolled at Wake Tech after graduating from East Wake High. She plans to transfer to Appalachian State University in the fall. "Wake Tech helped me get a jump start on college, and with funds from FAFSA, I get the chance to do something with my life. My education and my future runs on Wake Tech," she said.

• Casey Tart

Wake Tech graduate and Global Head of Digital Support Services at Credit Suisse Casey Tart highlighted how the popularity of either reskilling by learning a new skill or upskilling by advancing knowledge related to a current role has opened a diverse talent pipeline for employers. Tart turned to Wake Tech to pursue industry-recognized certifications after attending West Point and North Carolina State University. He says those certifications allowed him to go from an entry-level job in IT support to his current role as an IT director leading digital support for Credit Suisse – managing teams in the U.S., Poland and India. "Only with education was I able to advance my career," he said. Tart shared how Credit Suisse partnered with Wake Tech to improve the company's information technology talent pipeline. The company has hired nine Wake Tech students through the program. "Wake Tech is a teammate of Credit Suisse; they’re a teammate of our whole community. The college is committed to helping people like me – and maybe like you – transition into a career you love or upskill into a career that better fits your goals. We all run on Wake Tech."

• Dr. Jamie Wicker

Wake Tech Public Safety Education and Training Provost Dr. Jamie Wicker highlighted Wake Tech's commitment to train public safety personnel. "With about a 15% vacancy rate in our public safety roles, Wake Tech wants individuals who are interested in this field to have the opportunity to pursue it," she said. Wicker discussed the training facility under construction at Wake Tech's future Eastern Wake Campus in Wendell to augment the Public Safety Education Campus in Raleigh. This building will provide reality-based training that will aid law enforcement, EMS and fire personnel who need cutting-edge technology. "With a need for more first responders in Wake County, our college is ready to partner with local agencies to address the shortages in this profession and to give our first responders the finest training in the nation. Wake Tech is your support team to help you when you need it the most."

• Carrie Fisher and Valerie Bishop

Wake Tech graduate Carrie Fisher and Assistant Professor of Cosmetology Valerie Bishop shared their story of a priceless gift. Fisher, who worked as a chef for more than 20 years, enrolled in Wake Tech's Cosmetology program after deciding to change her career. Bishop had an immediate impact. "Professor Bishop was more than just an instructor; she was invested in her students and was always available to support them both in and out of the classroom," said Fisher. So, when Fisher found out that Bishop needed a kidney to survive, she raised her hand as her donor. "Sometimes the race you run isn't the one you anticipate." The operation was a success, and Bishop says she is profoundly grateful. She told the audience how the support of her family, friends and Wake Tech has been overwhelming and that she and Fisher are connected forever. "I can't wait to see all of the good things coming to my dear friend Carrie because of the priceless gift she chose to give me: life."

Wake Tech IGNITE is focused on strengthening community relationships and developing new partnerships. The Wake Tech Foundation cultivates and manages a variety of resources critical to the college's success: corporate investments, private grants, alumni and employee contributions and financial and in-kind support from many other friends of the college. These resources fund diverse projects, from student scholarships to broader instructional and institutional needs

Morrisville Thanks Employees on National Employee Appreciation Day

From Budget to Communications to Public Works to Inspections, the Town of Morrisville has over 200 full- and part-time employees working hard every day to make Morrisville one of the best places in the state and country to live, work and play. We are thankful for them every day, and today, on National Employee Appreciation Day, we celebrate them all!

We also encourage our residents to take time out to thank a staff member if you see them around Town or to thank them on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Registration for Teen Morrisville 101 is Now Open

Teen Morrisville 101 is an annual academy for teens interested in local government. This free program for grades 9-12 will feature hands-on learning with Town departments, including Stormwater, Sustainability, Fire/Rescue, and Police. The program begins May 10 and will be held from 4-6 p.m., once a week, for four weeks. Click here to register. Registration closes on Friday, April 21.

Have You Joined Engage Morrisville?

Engage Morrisville is a place for residents and businesses to get involved by sharing ideas and feedback with Town staff on various projects and topics affecting the Morrisville community. Current topics of conversation include the Town Center Project, What's Happening Around Town, and the Morrisville Smart Shuttle. Register and join the conversation today.

Registration Opens March 7 for Shotokan Karate at MAFC

The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center, 1301 Morrisville Parkway, will offer Shotokan Karate classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 28-April 27. The youth class (ages 7-12) will meet from 6:30-7:20 p.m., and the teen and adult class will meet from 7:30-8:20 p.m. The

cost is $53 for residents and $79 for non-residents. Registration opens March 7 for residents and March 9 for non-residents. Click here for more information. 

Free Beginner Pickleball Clinic Offered at MAFC on March 12

Cary Pickleball Ambassadors will host a free beginner pickleball clinic at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center, 1301 Morrisville Parkway, on Sunday, March 12, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The clinic is open to everyone ages 14 and up. Registration will open March 5. 

Spring Lifeguarding Classes Offered at MAFC in April

Spring lifeguarding classes will be offered at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center, 1301 Morrisville Parkway, in April. Participants must be 15 years old on or before the final scheduled class, and they must pass physical tests. Training is provided to those who agree to work 200 hours. Dates for the classes have not been confirmed, but interested parties are asked to contact the aquatics manager, PJ Nettesheim, at pnettesheim@townofmorrisville.org.

Spring White Goods Collection to be March 9

The spring white goods collection will take place March 9. The white goods collection is offered every three months to pick up old appliances, including washing machines, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, stoves and ovens, and dehumidifiers. Registration is required to participate in the event, and registration must be received by March 6 at 5 p.m. Click here to register for the spring collection. Note that microwaves are not included in the white goods collection. Microwaves can be taken to the South Wake Landfill at 6130 Old Smithfield Road in Apex.

Residents Invited to Recycle Household Items at Green Day Event on March 18

The bi-annual Green Day event will take place on March 18, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Church Street Park, 5800 Cricket Pitch Way. Drive-thru stations will be set up to accept items for recycling that cannot be placed in residential recycling bins, for safely disposing of hazardous items, and for donating needed items to community groups. Stations will include textile recycling, laptop donation, paper shredding, medication take-back, e-recycling, batteries and CFLs, and collection of fats, oils, and greases. For more information, please visit the website.

Morrisville to Host Holi Celebration on March 18

Join us on Saturday, March 18, 2023, from Noon-3 p.m., at the Cedar Fork Community Center (CFCC), 1050B Town Hall Drive, as we celebrate Holi, the ancient Hindu festival marking the end of winter and welcoming the spring season. There will be music, dancing, artisan vendors, cultural performances, food, and fun. The festival is free, and will feature dancing, Holi powders, and food for purchase. The Town will provide Holi powder to attendees to get the event started, but attendees are strongly encouraged to bring their own Holi powder to keep the fun going. Please note that this will be a DRY Holi celebration, so participants are asked to leave water toys at home.

Limited parking will be available at CFCC. Shuttle transportation will run to and from Iron Mountain (826 Church Street) and Church Street Park (5800 Cricket Pitch Way). Check here for additional details.

Morrisville Creek Week Set for March 18-25

The Town of Morrisville will once again celebrate the N.C. Clean Water Education Partnership (NC CWEP)’s Regional Creek Week program, March 18-25, with fun, informative activities to educate our community about reducing stormwater pollution and the importance of keeping our waterways clear and clean. The theme for 2023 is "Water Connects Us."

Events for the week will include volunteer stream cleans and litter pickups, educational booths at community centers and the Western Wake Farmers' Market, and installation of markers on stormwater drains at various locations around Town. Check the website for more information and a complete schedule of events as they are confirmed.

Wake County Hosting COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in March

Wake County is offering several COVID-19 vaccine clinics in March. Two clinics will be offered at the Western Health and Human Services Center, 111 James Jackson Ave., Cary, on March 9 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The same location will offer two additional vaccine clinics on March 16 and 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two additional COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be offered on March 9 and 23 at Kirk of Kildaire, 200 High Meadow Dr., Cary, from Noon to 4 p.m. No appointments are required, and no ID or insurance is needed to get a vaccine. For more information, call 888-675-4567 or visit wakegov.com/vaccine.

Public Comment Period Open for Wake Transit and Bus Plans through March 22

A draft of the 2023-24 Wake Transit Work Plan and the 2024-30 Wake Bus Plan Update are now available online. The public is invited to review these plans and to provide feedback that can inform changes to transit routes across the region. The plan includes changes to the GoTriangle 310 route that serves Morrisville, as well as GoCary routes that connect people to Cary and Morrisville. The public comment period will be open through March 22. Click here to view the plans and provide feedback. Representatives from GoTriangle will also be at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market on March 18, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, to provide information and answer questions.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training to be April 22-23

Sign up for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to learn basic disaster response skills to safely help yourself and those around you when disaster strikes and when professional responders aren’t available. The hybrid training class includes both online an in-person training. The in-person class will take place April 22 and 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Morrisville Fire Station No. 1, 200 Town Hall Dr. The virtual portion of the class is available now, and it must be completed by April 14 to attend the in-person sessions. Register here for the training.

Now Hiring: Join the Public Works Team

The Town of Morrisville Public Works Department has exciting career opportunities available now. Join one of only three North Carolina municipalities with an American Public Works Association (APWA) accredited Public Works Department. For more information, click on the following links:

Streets Maintenance Supervisor

Check out additional employment opportunities in the Town here.

Insights from Mo Davis:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/874939467059013

Insights on how Mo worked with SBA:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/722241869551650

Governor Cooper Delivers Final State of the State Address 

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper gave his State of the State address last night in Raleigh.

Cooper spoke for just under 40 minutes and touched on several topics, including the state's growing economy, Medicaid expansion and the youth mental health crisis.

A big focus for the governor revolved around education, jobs and childcare. He said those are three areas that have to work hand-in-hand to keep North Carolina moving forward.

"A great workforce requires real investment from cradle to career, and it starts with early childhood education at quality childcare centers. With federal resources initiated by the Biden administration, we have invested more than $800 million to stabilize childcare, helping centers with great teachers stay open, and helping North Carolina parents get back to work. It's a triple play, guys: education for the child, a job earning money for the parent, and a badly needed employee for the business," Cooper said.

In the GOP response, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson touched on education, the economy and providing more support to law enforcement.

"We see law enforcement officers today demonized and vilified, and our communities are paying the price. police departments are struggling to fill positions...and this isn't just in places like San Franciso or Chicago. it's happening right here in North Carolina, in places like Asheville," Robinson said.

There were some kind words on both sides of the aisle tonight. Cooper credited Republicans for coming together to expand Medicaid, while Robinson credited Cooper and legislators for their work on expanding high-speed internet access.

NC House and Senate Reach a Deal on Medicaid Expansion

After months of failed negotiations, North Carolina House and Senate leaders announced an agreement to expand Medicaid on Thursday.

The proposal would expand the government-funded health care program to an estimated 600,000 people. North Carolina has been one of a handful of states that haven’t expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

The federal government pays the majority of the cost of expansion. Until last year, Republicans in the state legislature had opposed the idea. They changed their minds, but couldn’t agree on whether to include other new health care regulations. The Senate had sought to reduce health care facility regulations known as Certificate of Need, but the state’s hospitals — and the House — initially said no.

The compromise now calls for a less dramatic reduction in those regulations. Senate Leader Phil Berger said his chamber will modify a Medicaid expansion bill that passed the House last month and pass it in the coming weeks.

“We will move with all deliberate speed to move this forward,” Berger said.

Expansion wouldn’t take effect until this year’s budget is approved, likely this summer.

“Expanding Medicaid is a big deal for North Carolina and the more than half a million people it would help,” House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said in a statement. “It would increase access to care and help rural hospitals stay open. This is long overdue, but we still have work to do so that ensure this deal allows us to fully access federal funds.”

The bill would also add North Carolina to another federal health care funding program known as HASP.

Between HASP, which sends funding directly to health care providers, and a federal “signing bonus” for new Medicaid expansion states, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services says the state will get $8 billion annually "with no additional cost to the state, along with $1.8 billion which can support behavioral health, public safety support, rural health care, and other needs.”

For comparison, the state government’s total budget this year is about $28 billion. Berger said the urgency to approve HASP was a major factor in getting various health care industry groups to reach an agreement. The deal came together Wednesday night.

Several health care proposals that the Senate included with its Medicaid expansion bill last year didn’t make the final cut.

One of them is the “SAVE Act,” legislation that would expand the role of advanced nurses and allow them more freedom to practice without a doctor’s supervision. Some House leaders oppose that change, thanks in part to strong opposition from groups representing doctors and anesthesiologists.

The reduction in Certificate of Need regulations reflects a compromise with the state’s hospitals. Under the plan announced Thursday, health care providers would no longer need to compete for regulatory approval to build new behavioral health and addiction treatment facilities, as well as new surgical centers in urban counties.

“I believe that this agreement represents the most significant modification of CON law in North Carolina since we began having a Certificate of Need requirement,” Berger said.

The N.C. Healthcare Association, which represents hospitals, said in an email that the CON compromise will “continue to protect access to care for all, especially in rural communities.”

A handful of Republicans still oppose Medicaid expansion. When the bill passed the House last month, 22 GOP lawmakers voted no.

Donald Bryson, president of the conservative John Locke Foundation and Civitas Action, reacted to a Tweet regarding the source of the funding.

"Let's not act like this is a fiscally conservative stance," he said highlighting that it is "taxpayer money" from the federal level.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MAKES MOVE IN NC

Legislation is pending to regulate medical cannabis for patients in North Carolina. Senate Bill 711 is supported by both Republicans and Democrats. This bill would allow qualifying patients, with a physician's recommendation, to access a 30-day supply of medical cannabis at a time via licensed retail outlets.

According to statewide polling data, 82 percent of North Carolinians believe that “marijuana should be legalized [in the state] for medical purposes," — including 75% of GOP.

NC REPUBLICANS MOVE FORWARD WITH ANTI CRITICAL RACE THEORY BILL

A bill filed by Republicans on Thursday would prevent educators from promoting Critical Race Theory to students (CRT). House Bill 187 is like a bill filed by Republicans in 2021 that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed.

CRT is an academic discipline that examines how racism has shaped the nation’s legal and social systems. Educators say CRT is not taught in America’s K-12 schools.

HB 187 has much of the same language as the previous bill, House Bill 324. It would, for example, prohibit teachers from promoting concepts that suggest America is racist or that people are inherently racist or sexist. It would also prohibit teaching that whites or anyone else are responsible for the sins of their forefathers.

If passed into law, HB 187 would also prevent educators from teaching that an “individual, solely by virtue of` his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.”

Here’s what Cooper had to say about HB 324 in 2021” “The legislature should be focused on supporting teachers, helping students recover lost learning, and investing in our public schools. Instead, this bill pushes calculated, conspiracy-laden politics into public education.”

A veto of HB 187 might prove difficult for Cooper this time around. Republicans have enough votes in the Senate to override Cooper. The GOP is one vote short in the House.

According to Education Week, since January 2021, 44 states have introduced bills or taken other steps to restrict teaching critical race theory or limit how teachers discuss racism and sexism.

NC SENATE OKAYS GUN BILL WITH PISTOL PERMIT REPEAL

North Carolina's Senate voted Thursday to scrap a century-old requirement that a sheriff formally signs off before a person can purchase a handgun as part of a broader firearms bill.

The Republican senators approved the legislation 29-19 in a party-line vote.

The firearms bill would also allow people with a concealed weapons permit — separate from the pistol purchase permit — to carry a gun while attending religious services at a private school or some charter schools. Permitted gun owners can already carry at standalone church buildings if the congregation allows it.

The measure, which also creates and funds a two-year education campaign on the safe storage of firearms, contains “common-sense laws to ensure that the rights of law-abiding citizens are not being infringed,” Sen. Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican and chief sponsor, said in a press release.

Using parliamentary maneuvers, GOP senators blocked floor votes on several proposed Democratic amendments to tighten gun laws, such as universal background checks for all weapon sales and “red-flag” orders. Senate Democrats, who would support the safe storage campaign language if voted on in separate legislation, said Thursday the permit repeal would lead to more gun injuries and deaths at a time of increased mass shootings.

The bill “is the antithesis of common-sense gun reform,” Sen. Natasha Marcus, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, during floor debate. “It’s a relinquishment of our job to protect North Carolinians from violence.”

In 2021, separate bills containing the pistol permit repeal and gun access within more houses of worship passed the General Assembly but were vetoed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. He said at the time that educators and children need protections from gun violence and the permit system reduces gun-related deaths.

But Republicans made enough seat gains during the November elections so that the GOP holds a veto-proof majority in the Senate and are within one seat of similar control in the House.

The House advanced these proposals this week in their own competing measures. The bill addressing religious meeting places passed the full House chamber on Wednesday with the support of six Democrats — signaling that any veto override of a measure on that specific topic this year could be successful. GOP leaders in both chambers will have to hash out which of the gun bills they want to put on Cooper's desk.