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PRE RETREAT AND INDIA REPUBLIC DAY EDITION | |
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
January 26, 2023
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Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes. | |
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My Weekly Update
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/584414636369569/
Support our Small Businesses during Triangle Restaurant week:.
https://www.trirestaurantweek.com/
VP Harris Trip postponed until next week.
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Tech Layoffs Update
In the next few weeks, we will explore the massive layoffs in the technology sector, and what we need to be doing in Morrisville and the Triangle to put people back to work, and also focus on our high skilled, H1B labor pool, many in Morrisville, who will have to leave the country, 60 days after losing their job if they do not find gainful employment.
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Jan 27- Jan 29th TOWN COUNCIL RETREAT
Our Council will be headed to Wilmington for retreat Jan 27th – Jan 29th.
Before our Council heads out to our retreat, if you could, please send me any feedback on issues and areas you would like us to address as we kick off the 2023 Budget Process.
Any insight from any resident serving on our Advisory Committees would be greatly appreciated and always, we are grateful for your service to the Town.
In addition, please share your insights at the Budget Connection Portal at Budget Portal Preliminary Poll (qualtrics.com) by Jan 26th by 5 pm.
We look forward to a wonderful retreat and another exciting and productive year in our All America City!
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Provide us Budget Feedback by Jan 26th
Provide us Budget Feedback before we go into Retreat at Budget Portal Preliminary Poll (qualtrics.com) by Jan 26th ay 5 pm. Retreat is Jan 27- Jan 29th.
NC General Assembly kicks off Long Legislative Session on Wednesday.
(See NC General Assembly Section)
Town of Morrisville Advisory Committees Deadline is Feb 1.
www.townofmorrisville.org.
Feb 6 Go Triangle Commuter Open House
from 5 pm to 7 pm at Morrisville Town Hall.
(100 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560)
Visit readyforrailnc.com/feasibility and provide input until Feb 19.
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Breaking News and Important Updates: | |
Mayor of Hyderabad visits Raleigh.
(See Hyderbad visit)
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Morrisville Fitness and Aquatics Center is closed Feb 6-Feb 24
February 6 – 24, MAFC Pool closed for maintenance to keep our pool beautiful. We hope you will use this time to expand your fitness activities.
For participants that want strength training besides the weight room, try our early morning classes, Hard Core 30, Next Level strength, or Interval Training. Our Spin classes can provide the cardio output you may be looking for.
For participants that are looking for a low-impact option, we have added additional Silver Sneakers classes, Low Impact Cardio Strong, and Low Impact Group Equipment Orientation. Don’t forget that Tai Chi is great for balance, coordination, memory, and stabilization.
Remember to sign up for classes at www.tinyurl.com/signupmafc
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HAPPY 74th INDIA REPUBLIC DAY! | |
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India marks its Republic Day annually on January 26. This year, the day falls on Thursday, with citizens of the country marking it as the 74th Republic Day. The celebrations will begin with President Draupadi Murmu unfurling the national flag on the recently unveiled Kartavaya Path, formerly known as Rajpath.
Every year, millions of Indians witness the rich tradition, cultural heritage, spectacle of the nation's progress and achievements, and airshows by the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force on television.
On India's 74th Republic Day, Indians across the world can pay homage to the countless sacrifices of our freedom fighters and vow to make their country a better place.
You can also mark the special occasion by sending best wishes, images, patriotic quotes, greetings, and messages to your friends, colleagues, loved ones and family on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
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MAYOR OF HYDERABAD VISITS RALEIGH | |
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Yesterday evening, I was honored to attend a welcoming reception for the Mayor of Hyderbad, India, Mrs. Gadwal Vijayalakshmi at the home of Dr. Deva and Mrs. Karna Goli, relatives of the Mayor. Hyderbad is the fifth largest city in India, with a population of ever 10 million.
Senator Jay Chaudhuri, Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley, Council Member Satish Garimella, Morrisville Mayor Pro Tem Liz Johnson, and Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Corey Branch graced the occasion along with other community leaders.
During the reception, we had an engaging conversation with the Mayor, discussing the opportunities for collaboration in technology, life sciences, and sustainability/renewable energy markets, and also the possibility of a Sister City Relationship with Raleigh and the Triangle Region, including Morrisville.
This evening reflected how we North Carolina can leverage our connections to India in a positive way, which can further strengthen our economic, political and cultural ties to the world largest democracy and in this case, the fifth largest City in India.
We wish Mayor Vikayalakshmi all the best in her meeting with the Governor on Friday.
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INDIA: ON THE MOVE AND TRANSFORMING THE WORLD | |
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ESSE QUAM VIDERI: To Be Rather than to Seem
On this India Day, we also need to take this opportunity to recognize the remarkable achievements of our Indian American Community in the Triangle, State of North Carolina and the world as we continue to bring economic, political and cultural transformation to the old North State.
Here in North Carolina, over the past years, we have had the honor of recognizing the pioneers of our community, most recently, Padma Bhushah Swadesh Chatterjee, recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, Dr. Priya Kishnani and Dr. Jagdish Narayan, NC Science Award Winners, and also appreciate the Volunteer efforts of the Hindu Society of NC, BAPS, and Triangle Area Hindu Temples and the brilliant community work of Youth Organization, DOC NC.
Our political transformation continues to grow with the great work being done by Senator Jay Chaudhuri, Council Member Satish Garimella, Charlotte Council Member Dimple Ajmera, and of course the advocacy work of NC Association of Indian Americans, and NC Indian American Political Action Committee.
Finally, every day, in Morrisville and Cary, we bring in our cuisine, music, dance, and spiritual ways of life to North Carolina, as our Holi, Diwali and other cultural celebrations are becoming a way of life in the region and state.
At the National stage, we can be inspired by Surgeon General Vivek Murthi Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother immigrated from Chennai, India, and my friends, United States Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Ro Khanna.
And 72 years after Republic Day, a Hindu, British Indian is Prime Minister of Great Britain, something that would have been unimaginable at the time of the Indian Independence movement.
We have much to celebrate here and around the world! Continue to Transform!
Long Live India and Long Live the United States! Happy Republic Day!
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72 YEARS AFTER REPUBLIC DAY, RISHI SUNAK IS PRIME MINISTER ! | |
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It is also so inspiring to know that 72 years after Republic Day and 75 years after Indian Independence Day, a British Indian and Hindu, is Prime Minister of Great Britain. This would have been unimaginable all those years ago, when Indian was under the rule of the British empire.
Maybe, one day, there will be a Hindu or Muslim Indian American President of the Unuted States. Dream Big!
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Here’s a fun party game: shuffle a stack of business cards from a random cross-section of American corporate leaders, then close your eyes, pick one — and see if the card you’ve drawn bears an Indian name. Now look at that person’s address. There’s a good chance that CEO is based in North Carolina.
Okay, perhaps it’s not a great party game. But there’s no question that in the modern business world, Indian-Americans are everywhere: not just in computer rooms and research labs, but increasingly in C-suites and boardrooms, too
Right now, Indian-Americans are running businesses ranging Alphabet to FedEx. Right here in North Carolina, there’s Dhruv Gupta, the founder and CEO of DynPro, a Chapel Hill digital consulting firm with over 1200 employees. There’s former Belk CEO Nir Patel, now a top executive at Gamestop. Or there’s Partha Sen, CEO of Charlotte-based data-science provider Fuzzy Logix. The list goes on: from finance and retail to computing and biotech, scores of Indian-owned, Indian-founded, or Indian-led businesses are creating thousands of well-paid jobs for American workers.
These leaders aren’t just driving job creation and innovation here at home; they’re encouraging business leaders back in India to invest in America—and, specifically, in North Carolina. Remarkably, our state has captured the lion’s share of Indian investment in the United States. Between 2014 and 2018, Indian businesses invested over $409 million here, creating over 4,400 jobs — more than were created by Indian investments in any other state.
JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
All this should serve as a reminder that while Indian-American CEOs are highly visible, they’re just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the contributions made by Indian-Americans. Indian students, alongside other international students, pour $722.3 million a year into our state’s economy, supporting over 9,000 jobs. The skills they gain support our innovation economy and help businesses of all kinds to succeed.
And many Indians wind up starting businesses of their own, often with astounding success: as of 2016 Indian immigrants had founded 14 of the 87 American “unicorn” startups valued at more than $1 billion — more than were founded by immigrant entrepreneurs of any other nationality.
Indian-American CEOs, in other words, are just one part of a much bigger story — a broader ecosystem of South Asian talent that draws opportunity, prosperity, and billions of dollars in foreign capital to our state. The question is, are we doing enough to keep drawing Indians to our shores, and to set the stage for the next generation of Indian executives to power our economy?
FACING CHALLENGES
Unfortunately, our state’s India-friendly brand can only carry us so far. Our current immigration system makes it far too difficult for Indians to gain a foothold in the United States — or to achieve their full potential once they’re here.
In fact, experts say 2023 is set to be the toughest year on record for skilled workers, with over half a million people competing for just 85,000 visas. Worse still, those workers who do gain visas are often unable to graduate to green cards, thanks to “country cap” policies that mean Indians often face a decades-long wait for permanent status. That’s a big problem, because it ties Indian workers to a single employer, and makes it impossible for them to pursue new opportunities or start businesses of their own.
North Carolina has a lot invested in India, as the country’s business community does in us. To keep this partnership strong–and those Indian investments flowing—our nation needs sensible immigration policies.
At a minimum, we need reforms to the skilled-worker visa and green card programs, to help more Indian workers to envision a future for themselves here in North Carolina.
Now is the Time to make this happen.
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We must push Senator Tillis, Senator Burr, and our entire Congressional Delegation in NC that to pass the Dream Act and also advance forward the Dreamer Protections in the National Defense Authorization Act.
In addition, we must urge Senator Tillis and his colleagues to bring back to the Senate Floor the Competes Act, which — among other pro-America policies — reforms the broken immigration system to allow educated and skilled STEM workers who were born in another country to stay and work for American businesses. Earlier this month, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, providing important aid for America’s high-tech manufacturers. But as it made its way through Congress, the law was stripped of vital provisions that would have made it easier for Indian STEM graduates to gain green cards.
On a personal note, I want to thank Congresswoman Deb Ross for her leadership on this issue, and we also need our newest members to our Congressional Delegation, Wiley Nickel, Jeff Jackson, and Valerie Foushee to join us in this fight.
Finally, I am leading efforts at the National Level, working with Swadesh Chatterjee, USINPAC Chair Sanjay Puri and Congressmnan Ro Khanna and Raja Krishnamoorthi to convince as many leaders in the Congress and Senate that we must accelerate these efforts.
Do we want the next Google, SAS, Red Hat, Wolfspeed to be founded in Canada or the United States? This will happen if we do not find a way to retain the best and brightest minds in the United States! (44% of the Fortune 500 in the US were founded by immigrants)
Over the next few weeks, I will be organizing a Town Hall on these issues and planning a trip to Washington D.C, along with starting an on line petition with thousands of signatures to show our Senate and Congress, that we are more than serious.
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2023 NC General Assembly Long Session
https://www.carolinajournal.com/what-to-expect-from-state-legislatures-2023-session/
Wednesday, the North Carolina General Assembly will hold opening ceremonies to kick off the 2023 legislative session. In odd-numbered years, legislators hold a “long session” starting in January. They then adjourn for a “short session” in even-numbered years.
This year, the state legislature plans to start conducting business two weeks after holding opening ceremonies. However, committees are likely to begin meeting in February. Committee assignments are expected to be announced later this week.
In the November elections, Republicans gained two additional seats in the state House and two more in the state Senate. Picking up two seats was enough to secure a supermajority in the Senate, but left Republicans one seat short in the state House.
“North Carolina voters returned a Republican supermajority to the state Senate, and we plan on honoring that endorsement of Republican governance,” said Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, about the agenda for the long session. “Bills that didn’t cross the finish line, whether stalled in the legislative process or vetoed by the governor, could certainly come up again. I know issues including voter ID, parental rights in schools, and tax cuts are on the minds of our members. I look forward to the work that lies ahead of us.”
In 2021 and 2022, Republicans did not have supermajorities in either chamber and struggled to overcome Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto on significant legislation.
This year, that could change.
Here are some of the most high-profile topics likely to be deliberated in North Carolina’s legislature this year:
MEDICAID EXPANSION
Pressure to expand Medicaid in North Carolina has grown as the state becomes one of 11 not to expand. For North Carolina, expansion could put more than 600,000 able-bodied, working-age adults onto the taxpayer-funded health care program. In recent years Republicans have held their ground against expansion, but Berger now says he sees an agreement on the horizon.
“I have told folks that I felt like by the time the two-year session is over, North Carolina will have expanded Medicaid,” Berger said. “There’s a deal in there somewhere.”
In the last legislative session, Berger led the Senate to pass a healthcare proposal that included Medicaid expansion under the federal entitlement program, the Affordable Care Act. House Bill 149 contained work requirements for Medicaid expansion enrollees and measures the senators say would cut regulations on the healthcare industry and expand the number of providers and facilities. However, the N.C. House did not pass the Senate’s proposal.
ABORTION LAW
The ball is in the General Assembly’s court regarding abortion legislation. States can now set their own abortion laws after the U.S. Supreme Court delivered the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision over the summer. Abortion is legal in North Carolina for the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Among restrictions on the procedure, state law requires a 72-hour waiting period, bans telemedicine for chemical abortions, and bans anyone but a licensed physician from performing an abortion.
In December, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and other allied abortion advocates dropped their challenges to five different North Carolina laws pertaining to abortions. In August, Berger told reporters that there was an interest among the lawmakers at that time to limit abortion after the first trimester, normally defined as the 12–13-week mark. House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, has voiced his support for a “heartbeat bill,” which would make abortions illegal once ultrasounds detect a fetal heartbeat. Doctors can typically detect heartbeats at about the six-week mark. Berger and Moore have also stated their support for exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother’s life.
However, both leaders have stated that these positions are personal views, not their respective caucuses’.
REDISTRICTING AND VOTER ID
In December, just before the lame-duck 4-3 Democrat majority N.C. Supreme Court ended, the court issued a 4-3 party-line ruling that threw out the state’s photo voter identification law and the state Senate election map. Voter ID was passed by a majority of North Carolina voters in 2018 as a constitutional amendment, and the General Assembly enacted that voter mandate, but it was vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper. Lawmakers overrode Cooper’s veto, but Senate Bill 824 has been tangled in court ever since. Now that the voters elected a high court that is 5-2 Republican, a voter ID law could survive legal challenges.
The 2022 congressional district maps were drawn for one-time use after the N.C. Supreme Court allowed a three-judge panel to appoint “special masters” to redraw the maps passed by the General Assembly. Lawmakers are likely to redraw the congressional map this year and will now have to go back to the drawing board on the state Senate map as well. The state Supreme Court’s December ruling comes after Senate Republicans won a supermajority in the November 2022 election with maps approved by trial judges.
The N.C. Supreme Court did not rule against the House map. House Republicans came up just shy of a supermajority.
SPORTS BETTING
In the last legislative session, the House voted down a bill to make online sports gambling legal, but there will likely be another push to legalize online wagering in 2023.
Senate Bill 688, which would have legalized online sports betting, was a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate but did not clear the House. It failed by a vote of 49-52 on June 22 last year.
Several companies and legislators have advocated legalizing online sports gambling in North Carolina. With a new class of legislators taking office in 2023, proponents might have the votes to pass legislation similar to S.B. 688.
Additional issues getting lawmakers’ attention going into the next session are school choice, parental rights and learning loss in schools, and energy infrastructure.
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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 Interview on Radio Nyra with Hill Carrow on the 2029 FISU World University Games.
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/596450559170578/?t=18
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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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Sen. Tillis’ immigration bill was a rare display of political courage | Opinion
Read my Op Ed in Raleigh News and Observer
https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article270762997.html
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This Week in Morrisville: January 23rd - 29th | |
Become a Town Advisory Committee Member
The Town is growing, and your opinion matters! Advisory Committees offer residents a chance to be involved in the Town’s decision-making processes by providing input on important matters to Town Council. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m. Apply now on the Town website. Contact Town Clerk Eric Smith with any questions at (919) 463-6168 or esmith@townofmorrisville.org.
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Community Invited to Share Thoughts on 2023-24 Town Budget
Every year, the Town initializes budget development activities with efforts to gauge community needs, appropriate funding levels, and Town priorities. The Town will host various engagement opportunities throughout the budget process seeking input from the community, starting with the Budget Connection Portal, which is now open.
The Budget Connection Portal serves to provide the Town Council information about community concerns and priorities to help them with budget brainstorming activities during their annual retreat Jan. 27-29. Please take 10-15 minutes to complete this quick poll by 5 p.m. on Jan. 26.
Please contact the Budget and Strategic Management Department at BSM@townofmorrisville.org if you have any questions or need help with access. Other engagement opportunities will be posted following the retreat.
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Vendors Wanted for Town's Holi Celebration
Vendors and cultural performers are invited to be a part of the Town's Holi celebration, to be held March 18, from noon-3 p.m. at the Cedar Fork Community Center, 1050B Town Hall Drive. Food and artisan vendors are invited to apply, as well as cultural performers.
Click here to apply as a vendor. Contact Jashi Abhirajan at jabhirajan@gmail.com to apply as a cultural performer.
For questions about the Holi celebration, contact Leslie Haney, cultural resources specialist, at lhaney@townofmorrisville.org.
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Morrisville Senior Center Offering Free Blood Pressure Clinic on January 27
The Morrisville Senior Center (MSC), 4117 Davis Drive, hosts a free blood pressure clinic on the fourth Friday of every month. The next clinic will be on Jan. 27, from noon-1 p.m. In addition to having your blood pressure taken, you can ask questions about medications and get strategies for managing blood pressure. Sign up here.
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Some Greenway Bridges to be Closed for Repairs in January
The Town of Morrisville has contracted with Span Builders to complete maintenance and repairs to pedestrian bridges located on Town greenways. This work will continue through January and may require temporary closures of bridges for short periods of time. The contractor will work with greenway users to ensure safe passage through work zones. For any questions, please contact Public Works at (919) 463-7070.
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Art and Photo Contest Winners Announced
The winners for the Student Art Poster Contest and the Stormwater Photo Contest have been announced. The grand prize winner of “Bees, Seeds, and Butterflies,” hosted by the Morrisville Environment and Stormwater Committee, is Bryce Cao. Check out all the winning entries here. The winner of the “We Are All Upstream” photo contest is Nisarg Mounachar of Panther Creek High School.
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Trees Planted at Cedar Fork District Park
The Public Works Department recently planted 20 new large trees throughout Cedar Fork District Park. A variety of native trees were chosen to continue the Town’s efforts to create more native landscape installations and spread awareness about the benefits to the public. The tree installation was one of many projects meant to provide a more robust and beautiful park for all users.
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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.
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MAFC Hosting Teen Glow Swim Party on January 28
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC), 1301 Morrisville Parkway, is inviting all youth ages 12-18 to join its Teen Glow Swim Party on Jan. 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Participants can enjoy pizza and swimming under glow lights. The event is for youth only. Parents should drop off participants and pick them up at the end. A MAFC membership or single-visit pass is required for entry. Space is limited. Sign up here.
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Indoor Spring Triathlon to be Held at MAFC on February 5
Next Level Physio will host an Indoor Sprint Triathlon at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC), 1301 Morrisville Parkway, on Sunday, Feb. 5, from 7-11 a.m. Each leg of swimming, biking, and running will last only 10 minutes, and participants will be asked to go as far as they can in that time. Participants will receive T-shirts, snacks, and random prizes. Registration is now open for ages 12 and up here.
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Pool at the MAFC to be Closed February 6-24
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC), 1301 Morrisville Parkway, will close its pool for needed repairs from Feb. 6-24. New non-impact exercise classes will be available during this time.
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Now Hiring: Join the MAFC Team
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center is currently recruiting for a Senior Aquatics Specialist (FT), part-time lifeguards who can work during the day in the off season, experienced swim instructors, and desk staff who can work in the day and early evening. Learn more and apply here.
Check out additional employment opportunities in the Town here.
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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 Tech I
Athletics Tech I
Streets Maintenance Supervisor
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Check out additional employment opportunities in the Town here.
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Open House to Provide Information on Proposed Commuter Rail on February 6
GoTriangle, the region’s transit authority, released a report early in January with the results of the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Feasibility study and information about options for a future commuter rail service in the area. The proposed Greater Triangle Commuter Rail would help provide a congestion-free transportation opportunity and serve a region slated to grow by more than a million people in the next 30 years.
GoTriangle will host an open house on Monday, Feb. 6, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., to provide information about the study and the proposed commuter rail plan, which includes passenger service at 15 stations along approximately 43 miles of existing North Carolina Railroad corridor between West Durham and Clayton. The open house will be in Town Council Chambers at Town Hall, 100 Town Hall Drive.
A short presentation will be given at 6 p.m., and then repeated at 7 p.m. The remainder of the time will be available to ask questions about the study and the proposed plan. Participants will also be able to fill out a survey to provide their feedback about the plan.
Visit readyforrailnc.com/feasibility to read the report or to complete a feedback survey. The comment period will be open until Feb. 19.
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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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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 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. every Saturday at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive.
Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to see a complete list of local vendors and shop local.
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Visited Office of Labor Commissioner! | |
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Small Business Listening Tour: | |
Send me an email at sr@steverao.com to book a Business Listening visit to your company. | |
Yeet Street Disc Golf
Visit with Yeet Street Disc Golf at Cedar Fork District Park!
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National and North Carolina News | |
CLEAR Technology Launches at RDU Airport
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is launching a new identity verification system, CLEAR.
RDU will be installing CLEAR lanes where travelers can verify their identity with a scan of their retina or fingerprints. This technology replaces the need for people to show a driver’s license or other identification.
This is not to be mistaken for TSA PreCheck, though, since people who use CLEAR are still required to go through the full security screening. However, members will be escorted from the CLEAR kiosk straight to security, avoiding the lines leading up to the security checkpoint.
"RDU is proud to partner with CLEAR to provide travelers another option to expedite the security screening process," said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. "RDU's commitment to leveraging technology to provide our guests with a world-class experience makes CLEAR an excellent fit."
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Josh Stein Announces Bid for Governor
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein announced a bid for governor in 2024 on Wednesday, with the Democrat pledging to focus on public education, economic opportunity and equality and to provide a sharp contrast with a potential Republican opponent, right wing extremist Mark Robinson.
“We’ll build a better and brighter North Carolina by standing up for what’s right, fighting to fix what’s wrong and doing right by every single North Carolinians, no matter who you are,” Stein said in a short video released by his campaign.
Stein, the state’s top law enforcement officer since being first elected in 2016, was always considered a likely candidate to attempt to succeed Democrat Roy Cooper, who is term-limited from seeking reelection. Cooper himself was attorney general for four terms, and Stein served under him as head of consumer protection division for several years.
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Stein’s early announcement — 14 months before primary elections — could attempt to prevent any other big names to enter the field. He unveiled what his campaign called 150 endorsements, from former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt and current House Minority Leader Robert Reives to ex-Supreme Court justices and big-city mayors. Stein is also a prolific fundraiser and had $3.4 million in his attorney general campaign coffers at the end of June.
But Stein narrowly won both of his general election bids in 2016 and 2020 — by less than 25,000 votes in a state that, save for gubernatorial contests, has been leaning slightly rightward.
And while Stein has co-led a task force on Racial Equity in Criminal Justice, initiated by Cooper, the attorney general at times has taken criticism from left-leaning advocates, saying he has fallen short on protecting civil rights.
Figuring prominently in the campaign video is Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has said it’s extremely likely that he’ll enter the gubernatorial race,too.
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2024 Council of State races
The 2024 Council of State races are taking shape, with a number of candidates announcing early for Lt. Governor, Labor Commissioner, and other offices. We will be updating you on these races in the coming weeks.
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LATEST NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UPDATES | |
BIDEN MEETS WITH DEM LEADERS TO DISCUSS DEBT CEILING
President Joe Biden hosted the Democratic congressional leaders Tuesday at the White House as they face a new era of divided government in Washington, staring down a debt ceiling crisis and running up against a new House Republican majority eager for confrontation.
The president and the top Democrats used the private gathering in the Roosevelt Room to project a unified front against what Biden called “extreme Republican economic plans.” Rather than enter into negotiations with House Republicans to cut spending in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, the White House has stressed repeatedly that it wants Congress to lift the borrowing capacity without conditions. Democrats said it’s up to Republicans to go public about what budget cuts the new House majority wants to make.
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SPACE X LAUNCHES HEAVIEST PAYLOAD
SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket lifted its heaviest payload ever into low Earth orbit on Thursday morning (Jan. 26), launching 56 new Starlink internet-beaming satellites.
The Falcon 9 first-stage booster that propelled the mission during its ascent through Earth's atmosphere had been used eight times previously, including on two crewed missions to the International Space Station (Crew 3 and Crew 4, which launched in November 2021 and April 2022 respectively).
The 56 Starlink satellites, weighing a combined 17.4 metric tonnes (19.4 tons), according to a SpaceX commentator, were protected by a five times reused fairing during the ascent.
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GUN TRAGEDY IN MONTEREY, CA
The gunman who killed 10 people and wounded at least 10 others at a ballroom dance hall in Monterey Park, Calif., shot and killed himself after being pulled over for a traffic stop, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said late Sunday.
Luna identified the shooter as Huu Can Tran, a 72-year-old man of Asian decent. After a sweeping manhunt across Los Angeles, law enforcement converged on a white van that they pinned between two armored police trucks in a Torrance parking lot, a roughly 40-minute drive from the suburb east of downtown Los Angeles where the rampage began. Following a tense standoff, officers approached the van, finding Tran’s body in the driver’s seat and evidence that tied him to the shooting in the van, Luna said.
The shooting cut short the festivities planned for Lunar New Year in the predominantly Asian American communLunar New Year event was scheduled to end, authorities said. The second day of the festival was canceled, the city of Monterey Park announced Sunday.weapon away from him, authorities said.
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JEFF ZIENTS TO BECOME BIDEN’s NEW CHIEF OF STAFF
Jeff Zients, who ran President Joe Biden’s Covid-19 response effort and served in high-ranking roles in the Obama administration, is expected to replace Ron Klain as the next White House chief of staff, according to three people briefed on the matter.
Klain is expected to step down in the coming weeks.
The move to replace Klain is particularly important for Biden, who has entered a critical moment in his presidency and his political future. As he continues to weigh whether to seek reelection in 2024, the early stages of a special counsel investigation into his handling of classified documents has rattled Democrats and emboldened congressional Republicans, who now hold the House majority and have pledged their own probes.
Biden decided on Zients after an internal search when it became clear that Klain favored Zients as his successor, a factor that played a big role in the president’s decision. Klain had tapped Zients to lead a talent search for expected staff turnover following the midterm elections, but that didn’t ultimately materialize after Democrats performed better than expected. Klain is now the most significant departure and is being replaced by the person he picked to help bring in new team members.
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POLAND PUSHES FOR MORE GERMAN TANKS IN KYIV
Poland will ask Germany for permission to send some of the Polish army’s Leopard tanks to Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Monday, as he pushes Europe to send more military hardware to Kyiv amid complaints that Germany is being too slow in helping to thwart Russia’s invasion.
Morawiecki didn’t specify when the request will be made. He said that Poland is building a coalition of nations ready to send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.
Poland needs the consent of Germany, which builds the tanks, to send them to a non-NATO country.
But even if there is no permission from Germany, Warsaw will make its own decisions, Morawiecki said.
Poland has become a leading advocate in the European Union for giving Ukraine the military aid that could help it prevail over the Kremlin’s invading forces 11 months after the war started. Germany’s hesitation has drawn criticism, particularly from Poland and the Baltic states, countries on NATO’s eastern flank that feel especially threatened by Russia’s renewed aggression.
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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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- Sundays at 4 p.m.
- Thursdays at 1:30 a.m.
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NC Channel
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Sunday at 4 pm for our Radio Nyra Interview | Join me every Sunday at 4pm for a new show. 99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM! | |
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Radio NYRA
Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio NYRA for another update on local issues.
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99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM! Listen at www.radionyrausa.com!
99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
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Join us every Friday on World Edition at 10 am for the Great America Project Panel where we discuss how we rebuild Americas' image with leaders from around the country and world.
OFFICIAL International Broadcast Media
Public Open Dialogue TV is a worldwide multilingual, multi-demographic network focused on inspiring, educating and entertaining the global community. We provide unique programming in areas not covered by traditional media, and provide a platform for the audience to engage with those shows. Formerly IBMTV.
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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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