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GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK EDITION | |
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
November 20, 2022
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Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes. | |
One Year Anniversary of Bi Partisan Infrastructure Act!
Last week, we celebrated the one year anniversary of the Bi Partisan Infrastructure Act.
In next weeks’ newsletter, we will take a deeper dive into the levels of investment in a number of key areas, along with looking at the Town of Morrisville plans with ARP money.
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Town Administrative Offices, Cedar Fork Community Center and MAFC closed Thanksgiving Day and Friday. | |
Turkey Bowl was a blast! Great game of Kick Ball between Morrisville’s finest, Fire and Police! It was fun to get in the game! | |
Remember, Saturday, Nov. 26th is Small Business Saturday! Support your Small Businesses!
I will be visiting small businesses on Saturday!
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Book your Call with Santa Claus for Dec 7th 6 pm to 8 pm!
Dec 2nd is Deadline!
See This Week in Morrisville Section!
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President Biden visit
President Biden to visit troops at Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune today.
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Democrats retain control of US Senate!
Democrats retain control of United States Senate with win in Nevada! Cortez Masto seals the deal. House still a tossup.
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Pelosi will down as Democratic Leader US House will be Republican Majority.
Kevin McCarthy to be Speaker.
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India will host 2023 G20 Summit. | |
HOMETOWN HERO: Dr. Priya Kishnani wins NC Science Award!
(More in next newsletter)
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MARIUS PHARMACEUTICALS: A PHARMA COMPANY ON THE MOVE! | |
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https://mariuspharma.com/ and https://www.basehealthcare.com
https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2022/10/11/testosterone-drug-kyzatrex-hits-market-451261/
Thanks to Raleigh based Marius Pharmacaeuticals for hosting the Virtual Testosterone Symposium Last Week! I
Their game changing innovation in Testosterone Therapy (Oral treatment and Telehealth solution) has great promise to both significantly increase patient health and significantly reduce health care costs.
After over a decade of investment, scientific research, this team received FDA Approval on their first attempt in August 2022!
Congratulations to Chairman and Founder, Himanshu Shah and his team for their perseverance and commitment for a healthier country and world
Keep up the great work!
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NATIONAL ENTRPRENEURSHIP MONTH AND GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK | |
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My Message to Start Ups:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/2473283569479401
https://nationaltoday.com/global-entrepreneurship-week/
November is National Entrepreneurship Month in the United States, a time to celebrate the entrepreneurs who serve their communities and bolster the American economy. For one week each November, we also recognize the American spirit of entrepreneurship abroad by celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week. During the week, U.S. embassies and consulates will organize numerous events and inspire thousands of individuals from all backgrounds to follow in the footsteps of generations of American entrepreneurs.
During this week, people from various countries worldwide come together through local, national, and global events to create solutions for worldwide economic growth. Did you know entrepreneurs were first defined as risk-takers in the late 17th century by Richard Cantillon, an Irish-French economist? Entrepreneurs are individuals who start a business, taking a financial risk in the hope of profit. However, with the advent of business analytics methods, these individuals no longer have to hope to make a profit — they can easily forecast the probability of their business being successful by leveraging data.
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NORTH CAROLINA ENTREPRNEURSHIP WEEK! | |
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Last week, many of us had some great opportunities to celebrate the continued growth of entrepreneurship in North Carolina and to be reminded of the reasons of why entrepreneurship growth is so critical to our economic success in North Carolina.
For every start up founded in North Carolina, we create 5.78 jobs in the first year of operation. In 2022, there were 83,583 new companies created, which is about 480,000 new jobs in North Carolina.
I truly believe that if we can accelerate Start ups growth in our region and state, we can claim many of the millions of new jobs to be created in the next decade, right here in the old North State.
Next year, I will be focusing on this theme along with Smart City Initiatives, starting a Listening Tour across the County and State.
See Below for my Playbook!
We can make North Carolina a Start Up State as well as a Smart State
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Message from Tom Rue:
https://ncidea.org/summit/
NC IDEA hosted its annual Ecosystem Summit on November 14-15, 2022 in Winston-Salem, NC during Global Entrepreneurship Week. This year’s Summit, themed “To Be Rather Than to Seem”, will prominently feature our ECOSYSTEM partners and their work to equitably strengthen our economy.
Attendees reconnected in person this year as NC IDEA showcased the growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem that has supported a record-breaking number of new high-propensity firm filings since 2020. Several hundred attendees joined us from around the state representing: Universities, HBCUs, Community Colleges, Small Business Centers, CDFIs, Economic Development Organizations, Public School Administrators, Foundations and Philanthropists, county and local government officials, policy makers and inspirational entrepreneurs.
The Ecosystem Summit is the only statewide conference of its kind that uniquely brings together diverse leaders in the North Carolina entrepreneurial ecosystem and economic development professionals to address what is needed to support all entrepreneurs and create a shared vision of making North Carolina the best place to start and grow a business.
Highlights of the event were the announcement of $2.3 million of NC Idea grants, continued focus on the support of black owned minority businesses ($600,000 grant to NC Black Entrepreneurial Council, and a transparent, data driven analysis of whether our state invests to much in economic development incentives to the detriment of thriving and growing start ups.
A special thanks to Tom Rue and his team for hosting an excellent summit and we look forward to the continued growth and success of start ups!
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FIRST IN FLIGHT HIGH FLYER AWARDS
During the week, there were other events held across the region, at NC State, and also the NC Bio Tech Center, where the focus was on start up activity and success. The Launch events at the Biotech Center, celebrated the progress start ups are making in life sciences and medical devices.
I was honored to attend the High Flyer Awards to cap off Entrepreneurship WEEK IN North Carolina. First Flight celebrated 31 years at the forefront of scientific innovation in North Carolina by hosting the second annual awards luncheon to honor those companies and individuals who have contributed to our community, the scientific field, and entrepreneurship as a whole.
Highlights of the event were Toasting Fred Hutchison for his support of our entrepreneurship community as he was recognized with the High Flyer Lifetime Achievement Award and recognizing Richard West, CEO, of Baebies as the High Flyer of the year!
Join me in congratulating Krista Covey, the First in Flight Board and First Flight for producing over 400 start ups in North Carolina and $10 billion investment over the past three decades.
Looking forward to more High Impact, High Science Innovation!
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Toast To and Insights from Fred:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/440978794891757
I have had the honor of knowing Fred Hutchison for the past twenty plus years and have always admired his dedicated support of our start up community. When I first moved to the Triangle, I got to know him as he serves as a lawyer and advisor to MindLever.com, an elearning company, where I worked as the Director, Business Development, prior to our acquisition by Centra Software.
In 2006, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest public service award in North Carolina!
Here is a list of Fred’s Accomplishments:
- Managing Partner 2018-2021
- Member, French-American Chamber of Commerce of the Carolinas (FACCC)
- CEO of the Year Award, Triangle Business Journal, 2017
- Business North Carolina Legal Elite for Business, 2017
- North Carolina Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, 2016
- Leading Individual, Chambers and Partners, recognized annually since 2013
- Founding President, Council for Entrepreneurial Development
- Former Chairman, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (1993-1994)
- Former Chairman, Business Innovation Technology Advancement Center (1988-1991)
- Founding Chairman, The Sports Council in Raleigh
- Former Chairman, Triangle Community Foundation (2005-2006)
- Former Director, North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association
- Co-Chair of the Sponsorship Committee, 2009 BIO Conference
- Former Director (2004-2020), Former Chairman (2004-2011) of the Board of Directors, First Flight Venture Center
- Former Director (2007-2014), Former Chairman (2009-2011) of the Board of Directors, NC IDEA
- Member, LawExchange International, Executive Committee (2007-2011)
- Board of Advisors, Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator (2005-2013)
- Partner, Research Triangle Ventures, LP (2000-2015)
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, recognized annually since 2006
- Best Lawyers in America, recognized annually since 2001, including 2019 Lawyer of the Year
- Entrebizneur of the Year, Business Leader Magazine, 2007
- Order of the Long Leaf Pine, 2006
- University of Virginia Tech Transfer & Ventures Advisory Group, 2009
- Angel investor over the last 30 years in a variety of life sciences and technology companies
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Richard West , CEO, BAEBIES | |
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Insights from Richard West:
Congratulations to Richard West for receiving the High Flyer of the Year Award.
With over 20 years of life science CEO experience, Richard leads the strategic direction for Baebies. Previously, Richard and Vamsee Pamula led Advanced Liquid Logic, a Duke spinout that developed lab-on-a-chip technology and products for the research tools and diagnostic markets. Advanced Liquid Logic was sold to Illumina, Inc. for $96M. Prior to Advanced Liquid Logic, Richard was Founder and CEO of TriVirix, a venture-funded medical equipment contract manufacturer that he and his team grew to more than 500 employees. He also spent 15 years in the aerospace industry in program, sales, marketing and engineering management, including four years as a commissioned officer in the US Air Force. Richard is currently on the board and executive committee of NCBIO and serves on a number of private company boards. He has an engineering degree from Duke University, an MBA from the University of West Florida and completed all requirements except dissertation for a PhD in management at the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management.
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HIGH FLYER START UPS!
Congrats to the following High Flyer Companies on the move, who were recognized at High Flyer Luncheon!
- Jurata
- Avecris
- Regenava
- AthemBio
- Phase.am
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IMMIGRATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
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My Call To Action:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/837768550892317
WRAL TechWire Guest opinion: Support American innovation – pass the COMPETES Act
by Steve Rao — April 5, 2022
https://wraltechwire.com/2022/04/05/guest-opinion-support-american-innovation-pass-the-competes-act/
WRAL TechWire: A Triangle student wants to lead the fight against Alzheimer’s – Why can’t she stay?
by Steve Rao — February 18, 2022
https://wraltechwire.com/2022/02/18/a-triangle-student-wants-to-lead-the-fight-against-alzheimers-why-cant-she-stay/
This past week, many of us enjoyed Brian Gordon’s informative, and well written article in the Raleigh News and Observer on the local impact current immigration policies are having on Triangle residents. The stories of Maha Shanmugham and family, UNC Chapel Hill student, Shristi Sharma and others featured in the article, were moving and real life stories of why immigration reform is so desperately needed to ensure that we are keeping the best and brightest minds and innovators from around the world in our country, most notably the nation of India.
A few months ago, in a WRAL Tech Wire article, I featured Shristi, Sharma a UNC Chapel Hill student who has developed an app to detect early warning signs of the Alzehimers disease, as an example of a Documented Dreamer, who will soon lose her visa status. Instead of staying and launching a career in the sciences — or even finishing her degree — she’ll be forced to return to India alone.
Shristi’s story is like so many others we hear from, particularly in Morrisville and the Triangle. These Documented Dreamers are Young, Scrappy and Hungry just like their country. .., just like Alexander Hamilton!
We need the next Google, SAS, Cree, Meta, Twitter to be founded in the United States and our current policies will hinder our ability to land our fair share of start ups we will lose these jobs to countries like Canada, Israel, and Australia.
Please encourage your Senators to add the necessary amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act that would documented dreamers to stay in the United States after aging out of their status (21) We also need a comprehensive immigration bill that accelerates the path to citizenship for our H1B visa holders, eliminates restrictions for spouses to work, and reduce the cap on skilled visas so we can address the green card backlog.
Time is of the essence and we need as much global talent to fill the unfilled jobs of today and the jobs of the future.
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THE MORRISVILLE START UP PLAYBOOK | |
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My Start Up Vision for Morrisville:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/865799521266347
I am very excited about the future of entrepreneurship and start ups in Morrisville.
As we close out 2022 and move to a new year, we need to focus on the following goals:
- Bring a Start Up Accelerator to Morrisville Town Center, and work with RIOT NC to leverage IOT innovation in our Town.
- Continue to grow Launch Morrisville, but focus our efforts to invite more Technology, Life Science and Sustainability companies.
- Establish a Morrisville Innovation Program. The goal here is to see more Smart City companies, not only bring their innovative technology to help us solve problems but also fund and grow their companies in Morrisville. I want to see a similar program in place, like Durham.
- Fund a Full Time Economic Development Position for the Town in the upcoming budget, which not only focuses on recruitment and retention of new companies, but a significant focus on establishing a start up ecosystem in Morrisville.
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Suicide Prevention Line to 988 |
On Saturday, July 16, the U.S. will transition the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 988 – an easy-to-remember three-digit number for 24/7 crisis care.
The lifeline, which also links to the Veterans Crisis Line, follows a three-year joint effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to put crisis care more in reach for people in need.
Starting tomorrow, simply calling or texting 988 or chatting https://988Lifeline.org will connect you to compassionate care and support for mental health-related distress. #988Lifeline
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Join us on Radio Nyra on Sunday at 4 pm for our interview with HSS on Darsana Exhibit. 99.9HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
Join us on Radio Nyra Sundays at 4pm for interesting interviews with local thought leaders
99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
Great Radio Nyra interview with North Carolina Asian Americans Together on elections!
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/692128012047450/?t=21
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Great US Open Roku TV Interview with Andy Andrews!
https://youtu.be/-Uy7aX-M2AI?t=79
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On the Porch with Randy Voller on WCHL 97.9 FM!
https://chapelboro.com/?s=on+the+porch
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WPTF Steve O'Bryan show on the Dream Act and DACA!
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Get with the Program with Gary Jones!
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Tune in on Friday at 7 pm and Sunday at 4 pm to PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum for our engaging discussions on trending topics!
Engaging Discussion on PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum on Affirmative Action, Election Security and other matters.
Link to the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIOR-ih-Fg
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This Week in Morrisville: November 21st - 2th | |
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Meetings
Nov. 22 – 6:00 p.m. – Town Council Meeting
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Thanksgiving Holiday
The Town of Morrisville administrative offices, Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center, Cedar Fork Community Center, and Morrisville Senior Center will be closed Thursday, Nov. 24, and Friday, Nov. 25, for Thanksgiving. Cedar Fork Community Center will also be closed on Saturday, Nov. 26, as will the Western Wake Farmers’ Market. The market will be moved to Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 3-6 p.m.
Police, fire, and rescue services will remain available. For life-threatening or in-progress emergencies, call 911.
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Morrisville Police vs. Fire Turkey Bowl II to be November 19
Come watch the Morrisville Police and Fire departments face off in a game of kickball on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 10 a.m. at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway. To attend, you only need to bring one non-perishable Thanksgiving food item. Enjoy a great game while supporting those in need!
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Register Your Child to Receive a Call from Santa
Has your little one been naughty or nice? Register to have Santa Claus give them a call. All calls will be made on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 6-8 p.m. While Santa will leave a message if no one answers, please note that no makeup calls will be made. If you have multiple children who would like a call from Santa, please fill out separate forms for each child. Santa calls are intended for children 10 and under.
Please submit forms by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, to receive a call from Santa!
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COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics to be Offered November 16 and 30
Wake County Public Health is sponsoring free COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout the region. On Nov. 16 and 30, vaccine clinics will be offered at the Western Health and Human Services Center (Wake County), 111 James Jackson Ave., Cary, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is required. Vaccines are available to adults and children, free of charge. No identification or insurance is needed. Click here to get details about the vaccines offered or to find other free vaccine clinics.
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Registration Now Open for Winter Athletics
Registration for youth winter athletics, including boys’ and girls’ basketball, is now open. Browse class offerings, which are separated by age, on ActiveNet.
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Morrisville Youth Invited to Enter Stormwater Photo Contest
Calling all amateur high school-age photographers! Help us achieve our goal of increasing public education regarding stormwater, showcase your talents, and win a gift card by entering the 2022 Town of Morrisville Stormwater Photo Contest. This year’s theme is “We are all downstream.” The deadline for entries is Wednesday, Nov. 30. Click here for more information, official rules, and an entry form.
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Residents Invited to Complete Survey on Morrisville Parks before November 30
The Town of Morrisville Community Enhancement team wants your input on which parks and amenities are the most important to you. Your feedback may be used to influence maintenance practices at various parks and greenways across Morrisville this winter. We appreciate any time you can provide in answering this survey, which can be found here. The survey will close on Nov. 30.
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Small Businesses Invited to Complete Town Outreach Survey
The Town of Morrisville is developing a small business outreach and engagement program. The goals of the program are to:
- Develop a pathyway for ongoing and open communication between the Town and small businesses.
- Understand the needs and barriers to small business success in Morrisville.
- Provide programs and services that support small businesses in Morrisville.
This survey was developed as the first piece of the engagement process. It will be open until Nov. 23. The data collected will be analyzed by Town staff to build program tools that support small businesses in the community. All answers will remain confidential. Click here to complete the survey.
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Morrisville to Host Tree Lighting Ceremony December 2
Join us as we kick off the holiday season with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Indian Creek Trailhead, 101 Town Hall Drive. Santa Claus and the Town Council will count down the lighting of the tree, followed by more fun and entertainment. Trader Joe’s will also be sharing seasonal beverages. Limited parking will be available in the Town Hall parking lot, and a shuttle will be running from Cedar Fork Community Center, 1050 Town Hall Drive. Shuttle service is encouraged.
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Scheduled Blasting to Re-Route Traffic
Residents are advised that blasting will occur on Monday, Nov. 21, at 218 Southport Drive. Blasting will occur within 150 feet of McCrimmon Parkway. Travelers may need to find alternate routes if roads are closed during blasting operations.
Blasting could occur within 60 days from this date. For questions or concerns, contact the Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department at (919) 463-6122.
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Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center Hosting 'Maintain, Don't Gain' Program for Holidays
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC) is hosting its annual community challenge to help participants maintain their weight and stay healthy through the holiday season. “Maintain, Don’t Gain” will run through Jan. 6, and it will include fitness classes, fitness challenges, and regular weigh-ins. Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered into a drawing for prizes, which include personal training sessions, a one-month membership, special entry into classes, and swag. Those who wish to participate must register at the front desk at the MAFC, 1301 Morrisville Parkway, by Nov. 21.
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Now Hiring: Join the MAFC Team
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center is currently recruiting for the following positions:
- Senior Aquatics Specialist (FT)
- Marketing & Membership Coordinator
Both positions provide benefits. Learn more and apply here. The Town is offering financial incentives for part-time lifeguards who can work during the day in the off-season. Experienced swim instructors, as well as, day and early evening desk staff are needed. Learn more and apply here.
Free Lending Library Installed at Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center
The Town of Morrisville has a new lending library! The Dedicated to Our Community North Carolina (DOC NC) volunteer group created and installed a wooden lending library at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center over this past weekend. The DOC NC team has pledged to build, paint and install several little libraries on different locations within Morrisville. Stop by the new library and pick up a book on your way to getting your exercise in!
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Now Hiring: Join the Public Works Team
The Town of Morrisville Public Works Department has three exciting career opportunities open now. Join one of only three North Carolina municipalities with an American Public Works Association (APWA) accredited Public Works Department. We are looking for individuals to serve in our Streets Maintenance, Athletics Maintenance, and Grounds Maintenance divisions. For more information click on the following links:
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Morrisville Smart Shuttle Service is Now Operating! |
The Morrisville Smart Shuttle, the Town’s newest public transit service, allows riders to request a pick-up or drop-off from one of 15 nodes, or stops, located around the Town using the Smart Shuttle application on their smartphone.
Watch this short video on how to use the Morrisville Smart Shuttle App by clicking here!
The service runs seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Additional details on the Morrisville Smart Shuttle visit TownofMorrisville.org/SmartShuttle
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MAFC Smart Shuttle Node Now Available |
The Morrisville Smart Shuttle node at the Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center is now open and available for rides.
With the new MAFC node, the service will connect residents with 15 locations in Morrisville. An additional node is located at the Regional Transit Center near RTP. A Morrisville Smart Shuttle rider can arrange their pick-up and drop-off from their computer or smartphone. Learn more and download the app here.
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Shop Local at the Western Wake Farmers' Market
The Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food and goods from small and local businesses from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. every Saturday. Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to see a complete list of local vendors and shop local.
The market will be closed on Nov. 26, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The market will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 22 that week.
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NC Idea Start Up Summit
Great to be back at NC Idea Start Up Summit in Winston Salem!
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High Flyer Awards
Inspired for more start ups at High Flyer Awards!
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RTP 180
Enjoyed Social Media Night at RTP 180!
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Fall Festival at Farmers Market | |
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Senior Holiday Luncheon
Great time at Senior Holiday Luncheon
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Spiritual and Emotional Health Symposium
Thanks to TAHTS for hosting Spiritual and Emotional Health Symposium at BAPS!
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Small Business Listening Tour: | |
This week I continued by Small Business Listening Tour with visits to a few Small Businesses. Send me an email at sr@steverao.com to book a Business Listening visit to your company. | |
GLOBAL AND NATIONAL UPDATES: | |
THE LATEST NEWS AND WEEK AHEAD | |
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Five people were killed in a shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado.
• What happened? A man opened fire inside Club Q in Colorado Springs on Saturday night, injuring 25 others before he was subdued by people in the club, authorities said.
• The victims: One of the five killed was 28-year-old bartender Daniel Aston, who was transgender. The four others haven’t been named.
• The investigation: A 22-year-old man was arrested, and authorities are looking into whether the attack was a hate crime. It follows a year of bomb threats, drag protests and anti-trans bills.
World leaders agreed this weekend to create a historic climate fund.
• What to know: The deal came out of a U.N. summit in Egypt. It will help developing countries deal with rising temperatures, which are mostly caused by emissions from richer nations.
• What the deal misses: Any meaningful decision to cut emissions more, which means the world is still on track for catastrophic warming and even worse climate disasters.
Elon Musk restored Donald Trump’s Twitter account on Saturday.
• Why? The Tesla CEO and Twitter owner ran a poll asking whether people wanted the former president, who was banned after the 2021 Capitol attack, back on the social media site.
• Why it matters: It could help Trump regain attention as he starts a new presidential election campaign, but he hasn’t tweeted since the account was restored.
Hospitals across the country are overwhelmed.
• Why? A swarm of respiratory illnesses (RSV, coronavirus and flu), staffing shortages, and nursing home closures are combining to strain an already overburdened health-care system.
• What this means: Patients are waiting hours to be seen, and some hospitals have set up overflow tents and are postponing elective procedures.
Disney made a surprising leadership shake-up.
• The details: Robert Iger, who was CEO for 15 years until 2020, was reappointed yesterday, replacing Bob Chapek. He’ll serve for two years and choose a successor, the company said.
• What’s behind this? Chapek’s leadership was controversial, particularly his feud with Florida earlier this year over LGBTQ discussions in the state’s schools.
President Biden turned 80 yesterday.
• Why this matters: He’s by far the oldest U.S. president ever and the first octogenarian in office. (Next behind him is Ronald Reagan, who left office at 77.)
• The big picture: Working past 80 is not as rare as it once was. The number of octogenarians in the U.S. workforce has soared over the past few decades as life expectancy has increased.
The U.S. men’s soccer team will have its first World Cup match today.
• How to watch: The opener against Wales — which was last at the World Cup in 1958 — kicks off at 2 p.m. Eastern time. It will be live on Fox Sports and streaming services.
• What else to know: European teams abandoned plans today to wear LGBTQ armbands at the tournament in Qatar after organizers said they could be disciplined.
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Girl Killed In Raleigh Christmas Parade
A young girl performing in a North Carolina Christmas parade died after a driver lost control of a vehicle towing a float in the procession and hit her.
A GMC Denali had been pulling a float for the CC & Co. Dance in the Raleigh Christmas Parade when the driver began shouting he had lost control of the vehicle, ABC 11 reported.
Raleigh Police later identified Landen C. Glass, 20, as the driver, according to CBS 17.
Glass, of Goode, Va., is facing charges of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving, improper equipment, unsafe movement and carrying a firearm in a parade,
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MacKenzie Scott Donates $18 million to Durham Public Schools
Durham Public Schools (DPS) announced it received an $18 million unsolicited grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
“Ms. Scott’s recent gifts to public and charitable organizations have been focused on fostering equity, opportunity and achievement for American communities,” said Dr. Pascal Mubenga, Superintendent of DPS. “We are pleased and humbled that Ms. Scott has taken note of DPS’s commitment to embrace, educate and empower each student.”
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NC WILL REDRAW MAPS IN 2024
North Carolina evenly split its U.S. House delegation in Tuesday’s midterm election, with Democrats and Republicans each winning seven of the 14 seats up for grabs.
But with Republicans flipping control of the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, it’s highly likely state lawmakers will be allowed to redraw the maps next year in a way that more aggressively favors Republican candidates for elections throughout the rest of the decade.
“The Republican Party has made a significant investment in judicial elections the last two cycles, and it has paid off,” said Bob Orr, a former Republican justice on the N.C. Supreme Court who has become a critic of his former party in the last few years. “For better or worse, whether you like it or not, they have put together a strong slate of candidates, with a lot of funding, and they have won.”
icans swept every statewide judicial race in both 2020 and 2022. Those wins gave the N.C. Court of Appeals a stronger GOP majority and flipped the Supreme Court from a 6-1 Democratic majority in 2019 to, starting in 2023, a 5-2 Republican majority.
On Tuesday Trey Allen defeated incumbent Justice Sam Ervin IV for one seat, and Richard Dietz defeated Lucy Inman in the other seat up for grabs.
Elections for the court are staggered, and all three Republicans currently on the court won in 2020. Since justices serve eight year terms, that means that unless two or more Republican justices leave the court early, Democrats won’t have another chance to take back control until the 2028 elections.
Republican politicians have not tried hiding their anger at the Democrats on the court for handing them a number of high-profile losses in political cases recently. After the election they reveled in taking back control — and the implications that will have for elections throughout most of the rest of the decade.
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NC Senate Wins Supermajority/Falls 1 Short in House
Democrats appear to have prevented Republicans from winning a supermajority in the state House, which would help preserve the strength of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto.
Republicans had been shooting for veto-proof majorities in both chambers, but appeared to have achieved that goal only in the Senate.
“We stopped a GOP supermajority tonight when North Carolinians voted for balance and progress,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a tweet early Wednesday. “I’ll continue to work with this legislature to support a growing economy, more clean energy, better health care and strong public schools.”
Three-fifths majorities are needed to override vetoes. That’s 30 votes in the 50-member Senate and 72 votes in the 120-member House. Republicans needed to pick up only two seats in the Senate and three in the House to win supermajorities that able override Cooper’s vetoes without Democratic lawmakers’ help.
Black Democratic incumbents in the eastern part of state, Reps. Howard Hunter III, Linda Cooper-Suggs, and James Galliard were defeated, as was Sen. Toby Fitch.
Rep. Ricky Hurtado, the only Latino legislator currently serving, appears to have lost to Republican Stephen Ross. Hurtado defeated Ross two years ago to win the seat, but Republicans redrew the boundaries of the district to give Ross a better chance to win.
Results will not be final until absentee ballots are counted and provision ballots reviewed. The State Board of Elections is set to certify results on Nov. 29.
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LEANDRO FUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION COULD BE REVERSED
The election of two new Republican judges to the North Carolina Supreme Court has people on both sides of a long-running lawsuit wondering what will happen next.
In January 2023, Republicans Trey Allen and Richard Dietz are set to join the state’s highest court. On Tuesday, Allen defeated Democratic incumbent state Supreme Court Associate Justice Sam Ervin IV, and Dietz defeated Democratic Appeals Court Judge Lucy Inman.
Critics of the Nov. 4 Leandro ruling are speculating the new state Supreme Court might reverse it. In the ruling, the court ruled the state has not adequately funded education. It directed a lower court to order the transfer of up to $500 million to various agencies.
House Speaker Tim Moore, a Republican, called the ruling ridiculous.
“To think that they can appropriate that, I think we're unified in a message that that's not something this General Assembly supports at all,” Moore
“And [it’s] something that we're going to revisit.
“I feel confident on that on a number of fronts.”
Years ago, Rick Glazier was an attorney on the Leandro case. He said there’s no precedent to overturn it.
“It cannot be that the Constitution lives or dies based on a change of election, or it would render, effectively, any decisions of the court temporary, and that's not what can happen here or what should happen here,” Glazier said.
Raleigh-based Parker Poe partner and lawyer Melanie Black Dubis echoed Glazier's sentiments.
There is no procedural mechanism by which a newly-constituted Supreme Court could revisit and overturn the issues that have already been decided," she wrote in an email to WRAL News. "If the court attempts to overturn the ruling based on the election results, it will lose any semblance of independence and integrity it [ever] had."
However, an attorney for Senate Leader Phil Berger, Brent Woodcox, predicted on Twitter that the ruling would be overturned next year by the Supreme Court’s new Republican majority.
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Wake County Leaders Change Gun Ordinance RULES
Wake County approved updates to decades-old shooting rules for unincorporated areas on Wednesday.
Homeowners had recently raised concerns about bullets coming too close to their homes.
The board of commissioners approved several changes:
- You now have to be 300 yards away from a home, building or livestock before discharging a firearm. That's an increase from 100 yards.
- A backstop is now required to block bullets.
- And it is prohibited to discharge a firearm between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m
- Increasing the maximum fine for violation from $50 to the statutory limit of $500.
There is an exception for the distance requirement. Residents will be able to discharge a firearm within 300 yards of someone else's home if the person first gets written permission from the owner or current resident. The permission form can be downloaded from the county's website and must be signed and dated.
The permission is valid for one year, and anyone shooting must have the form with them.
"For the safety of all our residents in Wake County, we needed to make these improvements," said Sig Hutchinson, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. "We are thankful for the thoughtful input from gun owners and others, including the Wake County Sheriff's Office whose deputies will enforce this ordinance. Our community has grown so much since this ordinance was last updated in 2001, and these changes better reflect that growth."
The ordinance only applies in unincorporated areas of Wake County, meaning outside of any city or town limits where firearms activity, like target practice, is allowed.
The areas inside the boundaries of Wake County's 12 municipalities prohibit shooting at any time of the day or night.
Hunting animals or birds would not be affected by changes to this county ordinance, as they are regulated by state and federal law.
New Rules go into effect on Dec. 9th.
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Tune in on Friday at 7 pm and Sunday at 4 pm to PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum for our engaging discussions on trending topics!
Please watch for the Black Issues Forum on UNC-TV! Fridays at 7 pm and Sundays at 4 pm!
Engaging Discussion on PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum on Affirmative Action, Election Security and other matters.
Link to the Show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIOR-ih-Fg
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PBS NC
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Join us on Radio Nyra on Sunday at 4 pm for our interview with HSS on Darsana Exhibit. 99.9HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
Join me every Sunday at 4pm for a new show. 99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
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Nov 21 Wake County Commissioner Meeting 2 pm!
Sig Hutchison’s last meeting!
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NC Tech Association AWARDS Nov 29th 6 pm Raleigh Convention Center! | |
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Dec 2 Holiday Tree Lighting 6 pm Indian Creek Trail!. | |
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Radio NYRA
Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio NYRA for another update on local issues.
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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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