MAY 9th SUPPORT HIGHER WAGES FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WAKE COUNTY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING 

The Wake County Board of Commissioners will host the first of four budget public hearings on Tuesday, May 9, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Wake Tech RTP Campus, 10908 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville, in Building 1, Credit Suisse Auditorium, which is room 162.

Attendees can park in Lot B.1 off of Knowledge Drive, or in overflow Lot B. Accessible parking spaces are available on Knowledge Drive, in front of Building 2. An interactive campus map is available online.

You can read the recommended budget and view the County Manager’s budget presentation at wake.gov/budget. 

Residents can also share their thoughts with the board by filling out this online budget comment form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HRCK9V2 before Friday, May 19, at 5 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION AT: https://www.wake.gov/events/budget-public-hearing-wake-tech-rtp-morrisville-may-9th-2023-0600pm

School employees need a living wage, just like county employees

Good schools are an economic engine that helps drive Wake County in pursuit of high tech jobs and industry. 

Lets support increased the funding request so we can ensure a world class educational system for our kids! 

IT IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

https://www.nea.org/TAW

A Belated Happy Cinco De Mayo!   

Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Friday, May 5 in 2023, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Anti Abortion On The Move In North Carolina:

On Wednesday the North Carolina approved a Republican package of abortion restrictions that would tighten the state's ban on the procedure from after 20 weeks to after 12 weeks, while creating new exceptions but also more requirements for pregnant women and physicians.  

Stay tuned for what happens in the Senate and to see if the Governor’s Veto will be overridden with a Supermajority.  

Select USA Reception at the India House

On Wednesday evening, I had the honor of attending the Select USA Reception hosted for the Indian Delegation at the invitation of Indian Ambassador Taranjit Sandhu and the Indian Embassy.  I was very excited to see in attendance soon to be US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, Governor Roy Cooper, our Commerce Secretary Machelle Sanders, EDPNC CEO, Chris Chung and many Governors and states in attendance at this US Commerce event, focused on global foreign direct investment to the United States. 

More on this event and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) report of Indian FDI in my next newsletter!  

Check out Live in the District Concert Series this Month on Thursdays!

https://parkwestvillage.com/events/live-in-the-district/

CANES STILL LEAD 2-1!  

Next game Tuesday in Raleigh! 

Mage wins the Derby!  

US prepares for Border Chaos as Title 42 expires this week.

https://www.axios.com/2023/05/02/title-42-expiration-biden-border-chaos

Town of Morrisville Small Business Recovery Program

In September 2022, Morrisville received a $300,000 grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA).   The goal of the grant is to develop a small business program that includes Covid 19 Relief micro-grants.  To best understand what the small business program should include, the Town put out a Survey to businesses in late 2022.  Using these results, we have developed and are now offering Direct 1:1 Business Assistance and Counseling and Financial Assistance ($4500 Micro Grants for Covid 19 Impacted Businesses)  

I will be sharing more details in my next newsletter on these programs  but please contact Julia Walker at (919) 463-6129 or at jwalker@townofmorrisville.org for more information.  

NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK VISITS

SWADESH CHATTERJEE NAMED TO UNC BOARD OF GOVERNORS.  

Council Member Satish Garimella sworn into his second term at the North Carolina League of Municipalities! 

HISTORY OF ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

https://asianpacificheritage.gov/about/

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

Like most commemorative months, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In the same year, Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 72. 

Neither of these resolutions passed, so in June 1978, Rep. Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007. This resolution proposed that the President should “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” This joint resolution was passed by the House and then the Senate and was signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978 to become Public Law 95-419 (PDF, 158kb). This law amended the original language of the bill and directed the President to issue a proclamation for the “7 day period beginning on May 4, 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” 

During the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1990 when Congress passed Public Law 101-283 (PDF, 166kb) which expanded the observance to a month for 1990. Then in 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 (PDF, 285kb) which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. 

The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. 

ASIAN AMERICAN STEM TRAILBLAZERS

https://www.challenger.org/2021/05/20/honoring-asian-american-pacific-islander-stem-trailblazers/

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made, and continue to make, extraordinary contributions in STEM fields. This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re celebrating some of the heroes of past and present that are critical to the advancement of science and space exploration.

Ellison Onizuka

Challenger Mission Specialist 

Ellison Onizuka was the first Asian American in space. He was born in 1946 in Hawaii and studied aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1969. He served in the United States Air Force before being selected as an astronaut in 1978. Onizuka’s first flight to space took place on January 24, 1985 on the Space Shuttle Discovery. Onizuka became the first Asian American to reach space and the first person of Japanese ancestry to reach space, but sadly died in the Challenger tragedy. Onizuka was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor

Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu

Physicist 

Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu, commonly referred to as the First Lady of Physics, was a pioneer in particle and experimental physics. She was born in 1912 in China and graduated at the top of her class with a degree in physics from the National Central University in Nanking, China. After immigrating to the United States, she enrolled at the University of California Berkley and graduated in 1940 with a PhD in physics. She made significant contributions in atomic science, including the Manhattan Project: the code name for research into atomic weapons during World War II. Specifically, she improved existing technology to detect radiation and the enrichment of uranium in large quantities.

Kalpana Chawla

Flight Engineer and Columbia Mission Specialist

Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian woman to go to space. Chawla was born in 1962 in India. She had a fascination with planes when she was young. After getting a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in India, she moved to the United States in 1982 and earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas as well as a second master’s and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado. In 1994, she was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate. She worked on the development of Robotic Situational Awareness Displays and testing space shuttle control software in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory. In 1996, Kalpana Chawla was assigned as mission specialist and prime robotic arm operator on STS-87. She flew on STS-87 (1997) and STS-107 (2003), logging 30 days, 14 hours and 54 minutes in space. Tragically, the STS-107 mission ended abruptly on February 1, 2003, when the crew perished during entry. Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. 

Jonny Kim

Navy Lieutenant and NASA Astronaut 

Born in 1984 in Los Angeles to Korean American immigrants, Jonny Kim was selected as part of the 22nd NASA Astronaut Group in 2017 and is awaiting assignment with the Artemis program. Kim is currently a Navy Lieutenant (and former SEAL) and was deployed to the Middle East twice, serving in over 100 combat missions. He was awarded a Silver Star medal for rescuing several wounded Iraqi soldiers during his service. While studying at Harvard Medical School, Kim met and was inspired to apply to be an astronaut. In 2017, he was one of twelve candidates chosen from a pool of over 18,300 applicants to join NASA Astronaut Group 22 and is now training for the 2024 Moon landing.

LOCAL ASIAN AMERICAN TRAILBLAZERS

Swadesh Chatterjee 

Swadesh Chatterjee is an Indian American leader and activist dedicated to fostering a better relationship among American and Indian people, politicians and businesses. In recognition of his contributions, the President of India conferred on him the Padma Bhushan award in 2001. He was the first Indian American to receive this award in the public affairs category. Chatterjee was inducted as a member of India's Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians in January 2009.

Chatterjee was chairman and co-founder of the U.S.-India Friendship Council, a coalition of prominent Indian American individuals and associations that lobbied U.S. Senators and House members that was instrumental in the passage of the US-India Civilian Nuclear Deal. The historic bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on Wednesday, October 8, 2008.

Last year, he was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, by Governor Roy Cooper, and recently, hosted Indian Ambassador Taranjit Sandhu with the Chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill, NC Commerce Secretary Machelle Sanders, Speaker Moore and the General Assembly and other North Carolina Leaders.    

I encourage everyone to read his book, Building Bridges, which talks about his personal journey on strengthening the US-India Relationship. 

Swadesh was just appointed last week to the UNC Board of Governors! 

NC Senator Jay Chaudhuri

Democratic Minority Whip  

Jay Chaudhuri (born August 6, 1969) is an American attorney, professor, politician and a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate. First appointed to fill a vacancy in April 2016 caused by the resignation of Josh Stein (to run for North Carolina Attorney General), Chaudhuri was later elected and re-elected, becoming North Carolina's first Indian-American state legislator.[5] In January 2019, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate Minority (Democratic) Whip, the second-highest ranking position in the Democratic caucus.   

Some of his landmark achievements were working to recruit Infosys to start their global innovation hub in Wake County, getting HOLI as a Teacher Workday, sponsoring hate crime legislation (focus on Asian Americans).   I thank him for his support and friendship, and most importantly, his service to the citizens of North Carolina!  

Council Member Satish Garimella

Town of Morrisville 

Satish Garimella occupies a unique position in Morrisville—one that goes well beyond the typical scope of a locally elected councilperson. It’s not something bestowed on him by election at all. Rather, it’s built on a burgeoning reputation for effectiveness and representation, both towards the town as a whole and the individuals that reside in it. Garimella was born and raised in Mumbai, and nearly 47 percent of Morrisville is of Asian descent—the vast majority being Indian. “Morrisville has a lot of immigrants, and they want someone they can relate and talk to about shared experiences and opportunities to be a part of this community,” said Garimella. “They want someone to help provide them a voice for awareness and understanding.”

Today, Satish works as a Vice

President in Data/Analytics at GSK, and is also a Board Member for the North Carolina League of Municipalities and at Wake Med.  

I am proud to call him a friend, and colleague.  

Read More at https://www.southerncitymagazine.org/morrisville-councilman-satish-garimella-is-on-call/. 

Charlotte Council Member

Dimple Ajmera 

Dimple Ajmera, City Council At Large, is proud to be living the American dream. With little means, her parents immigrated to the U.S. to provide their children with greater opportunities. Proving her tenacity, Ajmera graduated from Southern High School in Durham, graduated from the University of Southern California and later became a certified public accountant. After joining City Council, Ajmera left her six-figure career in order to devote her full attention to her City Council position and a mission she values – helping to make Charlotte a place where everyone has a chance to succeed and prosper, regardless of background or geography. As a mother, she is dedicated to ensuring that all children in Charlotte are given equal opportunity to succeed including access to healthcare and housing.

Ajmera became the first Asian American and youngest woman to be elected to City Council with her historic victory in 2017. Ajmera received the 2018 Global Service Award by Rotary International, the 2019 Blue Sky Award for Public Policy Work by Clean Air Carolina, the Community Advocate Award by Café Mocha Radio, and one of Longleaf Politics' 54 Top Young Political Stars in North Carolina. She has been recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Mecklenburg County by The Mecklenburg Times and named Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Most recently, she received the NAACP Excellence in Leadership Award.

REPRESENTATIVE YA LIU 

Democrat Ya Liu was elected to the state House in November, making her one of the first two Asian American women ever elected to the state legislature.  She was elected in 2019 to the Cary Town Council as the first Asian Councilmember.   Ya’s story is so inspiring as she came to the United States to pursue a high education and better opportunities.  She came with no connections, no money, and spoke very little English.  Now she represents House District 21.  

The American Dream is powerful. 

SARIKA BANSAL

CANDIDATE FOR CARY COUNCIL DISTRICT D

Indian American businesswoman, Sarika Bansal announced her campaign for Cary Town Council District D on February 16, 2023. “I am running for Town Council because we must embrace Cary’s potential. We must include more voices from the community so the town can make strategic investments for future generations,” Bansal said launching her campaign.

The cybersecurity professional said her focus as an elected member will be on public safety, smart growth, and investments in the town’s future. “I know the importance of community services. By providing access to essential services, it will help improve the well-being of individuals and families, build relationships, engage meaningful activities, and strengthen overall vitality of the community.  

If elected, Sarika will become the first Indian American elected to the Cary Town Council and the third Asian American woman to serve as an elected official.  

I am looking forward to her joining the Trailblazer Club! 

To Learn more, visit https://www.sarika4cary.com/. 

NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

The Town of Morrisville has been recognized as one of the top 10 best small cities in the country to start a business by WalletHub, a leading personal finance education website. Morrisville ranked No. 10 on the list, coming behind cities in Utah, Montana, Florida, and Idaho. No other North Carolina cities were in the top 40. WalletHub drew on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the FDIC, Yelp, Indeed, and other sources to create its rankings. 

Congratulations to our Council, Staff and Chamber for this great accomplishment, and how fitting that this was announced after our Small Business Event!  

'Smart Cities' on the rise, Morrisville leading the way

WRAL May 1, 2023

https://www.wral.com/story/smart-cities-on-the-rise-morrisville-leading-the-way/20836541/#:~:text=Councilmember%20Steve%20Rao%20said%20the,also%20bri

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 following committees have vacancies or expiring terms that may be filled during this appointment cycle: Environment and Stormwater, Smart City Steering, Parks and Recreation, Performance Measures, Public Education, Senior Advisory and Public Safety.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 31, 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.

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.

Join the Talk Morrisville Group on Facebook

Have you wanted the chance to connect with your fellow Town residents but weren’t sure where to start? Join us in the Talk Morrisville group on Facebook! Talk Morrisville is a way not just for us to connect with you, but also to help you connect with fellow members of the community. Together, we want to foster a welcoming space for all your Morrisville-related questions and content – and maybe even share some of our own. Let's Talk Morrisville. Join the group here.

Town Invites Feedback on Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

The Town manager’s recommended budget and CIP will be presented to Town Council on May 9 for deliberations, direction, and adoption. A public hearing is scheduled for May 23 at 6 p.m.

To stay engaged and in-the-know during the budget process, please visit the budget website. Additional engagement and feedback opportunities will be shared on the webpage and on the Town’s social media. Email Budget@townofmorrisville.org for any questions about the process and to provide feedback once the budget is posted. (All emails are reviewed by the budget staff and shared with Town Council.)

Morrisville Senior Center Hosting Tour of N.C. Governor's Mansion May 10

Join the Morrisville Senior Center (MSC) for a day at the N.C. Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday, May 10. The trip will be facilitated by Effie Tours, and attendees will leave the MSC, 4117 Davis Drive, at 9 a.m. and return at 1 p.m. The cost is $5 for residents and $7 for non-residents. Lunch will be at a local eatery, and it will be a separate cost. Click here to register for the tour.

Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department Hosting Several Recruiting Open Houses in May

The Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department is now recruiting for new firefighters, and it will be hosting several recruiting events through May. An open house will be held on May 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Fire Station No. 1, 200 Town Hall Drive, in conjunction with its public open house. Two other recruiting open houses will be held on May 13 and 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Fire Station No. 2, 10632 Chapel Hill Road. Interested candidates will have the chance to tour the firehouse, interact with the tools and protective equipment used by firefighters, and talk with other firefighters about their experiences. Visit the fire department recruiting webpage to learn about other open houses, agility practice tests, and information about training and a sign-on bonus.

Sign Up for Fortnite Leagues and Tournaments through Mission Control

The Town of Morrisville invites youth ages 9 to 18 to sign up for Mission Control to join leagues and tournaments to play Fortnite competitively with other players. The Mission Control platform allows users to sign up for open leagues or tournaments that they can then join from anywhere they feel most comfortable playing. Players can build community and gain experience. Current opportunities include the MSV Solo Cup Fortnite League starting on May 20, and the MSV Duo Console Challenge and MSV Cup Tune Up, both starting on May 24. Learn more about the Mission Control tournament experience here, and sign up through this link. Participants must create an account through Mission Control and join the Town of Morrisville esports community to be a part of the leagues and tournaments.

SpringFest to Offer Family Fun, Live Music, More on Town Hall Drive May 13

The Town of Morrisville’s SpringFest turns Town Hall Drive into fun for the whole family! The Town will shut down a section of Town Hall Drive (between Morrisville Carpenter Road and Carolina Street) on May 13, beginning at 8 a.m., until about 10:30 p.m. The event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. and offer live entertainment, games, food trucks, and a few inflatable rides. This year’s event will also include a beer garden, where beer and cider can be purchased. The event is free, but be sure to bring money for the food trucks, games, and rides.

A new attraction to this year’s SpringFest, the Town will collaborate with CADL Inc. to hold a nine-hole disc golf event – dubbed the SpringFest Urban Disc Golf Open. This is a one-day, one-round, temporary, non-sanctioned basket course that will be set up from 8 a.m. to noon on Town Hall Drive and the adjacent woods and park areas.

For more information about the event and details about parking, including accessible parking, please visit the event webpage.

Solarize the Triangle to Host Information Session about Solar Buying on May 15

Solarize the Triangle will launch a new, limited-time solar buying campaign and community celebration at Hi-Wire Brewing, 800 Taylor St. in Durham, on Monday, May 15, from 6-8 p.m. Representatives will share details about a new campaign for home and business owners to buy solar energy. There will also be free food and drinks. Click here to register for the event.

Aerobics Room, Treadmills at Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center to be Closed on May 11

The aerobics room at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC), 1301 Morrisville Parkway, will be closed on May 11, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., so that workers can install a TV and camera. All fitness classes scheduled during this time will be moved outdoors. Treadmills will also be unavailable during that time, as workers will be installing two new treadmills and electrical outlets. Access to other cardio equipment will be available.

Free Lifeguard Training Course Starts at MAFC on May 16

Signups are open for the May session of free lifeguard training at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC), 1301 Morrisville Parkway. The course will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays May 16-25, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., and May 20-21, from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Attendance at all sessions will be required to complete the course. This training is available to those applying to work part-time at MAFC. To signup, please email Water Safety Specialist Kasey Martin at kmartin@townofmorrisville.org.

Construction Work at Smart Shuttle Node on Morrisville Carpenter Road Ongoing through May

The Town of Morrisville is installing a shelter at the Smart Shuttle node on Morrisville Carpenter Road near Madres Lane, as well as replacing the concrete shelter pad and performing associated improvements. The work began on April 25, and it will be ongoing for three to four weeks. There will be short-term closures to the right-side, eastbound street lane, sidewalks, and the bus pad while this work is being performed. Please contact Project Manager Kitty Thomas at 919-463-6917 for questions or more information.

Insights from ExtoBio:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/969332764115332

I had a wonderful visit with Jose Pecheco, CEO of ExtoBio, whose company pitched at the TIE Carolinas Launch Event at the American Underground Bull Penn in Durham.  Leading with scientific research and a thorough dedication to data, ExstoBio is disrupting the pharmaceutical industry, formalizing cannabis-as-a-medicine, and personalizing patient care.

Congratulations to all of the Companies who pitched to the Expert Pitch Panel and a special congrats to Pitch Winner, Wolfspider. Wolfspider is an Ag Tech company that brings together genetics and robotics to ensure confidence in crop yield and limiting chemical use. The company would love to connect individuals with experience in the ag tech space. 

Thanks to ExstoBio (UNC), Aurganics (Duke), Vistara (NCSU), WolfSpider (NCSU), BioSensys (NCSU), and Collab (UNC) for participating in the event.  

WolfSpider will be going to Silicon Valley for a global pitch tournament with ~40 other companies to compete for $100K+ in cash prizes.

And Thanks to Tim Scales from American Underground for hosting and to all the judges and attendees!   

Visit with New York Deli:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/596452855872694

Visit with Acme Pizza:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/971277980525504

Visit with Empanadas and More:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/607568900925114

NC House Passes Anti Abortion Bill Amid Protests 

The state House voted 71-46 along party lines late Wednesday night to pass proposed new abortion restrictions, with all Democrats opposing the measure. Final votes in the House and Senate are expected on Thursday morning.

Current state law bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with few exceptions after that point. The new proposal would ban abortions after 12 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, fetal anomalies, and threats to the life of the mother. It's a somewhat less restrictive approach that some other GOP-led states have taken on the issue.

House Democrats complained that the vote — held shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the bill was released — was rushed, and they sought unsuccessfully to drop the bill from the agenda. Some lodged a ceremonial "constitutional protest" against the bill.

Hundreds of protesters attended a rally across the street from the Legislative Building ahead of Wednesday’s vote. Democratic Party leaders, like North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, told the crowd that the 12-week ban is just a first step for the GOP majority.

“This Republican legislature will keep coming, and keep coming, until they have completely and totally banned abortion and taken away our freedom and our power. But friends, we will not let them,” Stein said. He pointed to his likely opponent in next year’s race for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has advocated for a total ban with no exceptions.

The protesters headed to the House chamber gallery after the rally to watch the vote, forming a line that wrapped around the building to go through the legislature’s security checkpoint. Speakers at the rally called on the group to take action in next year’s election.

“We need more anger, we need more protest, we need more people coming out. So I want everyone to tell your neighbors, your friends, that they need to get down here,” Rep. Julie von Haefen, D-Wake, told the crowd.

Opponents of abortion spoke during a brief public comment period on the bill Wednesday morning. Some said the 12-week ban was less restrictive than they wanted.

“Quite honestly, this bill is not what we had hoped for,” said John Rustin with the N.C. Family Policy Council. “It's not what we had prayed for. … The reality is that this bill is a significant improvement over our current law. It will save thousands of lives every year. It will provide critical support to women and families facing unplanned and crisis pregnancies.”

Sen. Vickie Sawyer, R-Iredell, says she’s heard opponents’ concerns. “I am confident that this is the best piece of compromise, mainstream legislation that we could put forward,” she said.

But some medical professionals who spoke in committee Wednesday said the regulations in the bill would make it difficult for many vulnerable people to access abortions.

“I can tell you that I see patients every day that are not protected by this bill — the 15-year-old who has unstable housing, who can't make an in-person visit … or the patient who has four kids already, who's the 1% whose birth control failed, and can't get child care to be seen in person for her consent, or for her medically unnecessary medication abortion follow-up,” said Dr. Abby Schultz, a Durham OB-GYN.

Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday that he’ll veto the bill, saying it’s an “extreme ban and he “needs everyone’s help to hold it.” But Republicans say their members are united in support of the measure, which would be enough to override a veto. Rep. Tricia Cotham, R-Mecklenburg, who recently switched parties and had previous opposed abortion restrictions, was among the House Republicans voting yes.

CRUNCH TIME AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2023/05/02/crunch-time-at-the-n-c--general-assembly--here-are-the-bills-we-re-watching

One bill would allow people in North Carolina to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. Another would allow the State Bureau of Investigation to track phones without a warrant in an emergency. A third would spend hundreds of millions more for private school vouchers in North Carolina.

These are just a fraction of the dozens of pieces of legislation on the table in various committees at the General Assembly Tuesday.

Wednesday is crossover at the General Assembly, the deadline for non-budget bills to pass at least one chamber in the legislature. With the cut-off date looming, there’s a flurry of legislation up for debate on Jones Street.

What You Need To Know

• The crossover deadline at the North Carolina General Assembly is Wednesday. That is the cutoff for when a bill has to pass at least one chamber in the legislature
• The deadline does not apply to budget bills. Legislators can also use a "proposed committee substitute" to strip the language from an existing bill and add in something completely different
• The Republicans now have supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, thanks to a defection by a Democrat in the House. They have a long list of priorities to get through this session
• There are still some big items outstanding in the General Assembly, most notably a new state budget and a proposal on new abortion restrictions

There are exceptions to the deadline. Bills dealing with the budget can still come up.

There is also a legislative maneuver called a “proposed committee substitute,” PCS for short, that allows legislators to essentially strip everything out of a bill and put a new one in its place.

The House rules committee passed 35 bills Tuesday afternoon, sending them to the floor for a vote. Another 11 bills are on the agenda for the Senate’s floor session Tuesday.

Two of the bills that have attracted the most attention in recent months, medical marijuana and sports gambling, have already passed in one chamber and made it through the crossover deadline. Those are expected to be taken up again in the coming weeks. The Senate budget proposal is also expected in the coming weeks.

Republicans, thanks to a Democratic defection in the House, now have a supermajority in both chambers of the North Carolina legislature. The GOP came into the new session with a laundry list of priorities, and so far they’ve been successful at passing legislation, even overriding the governor’s veto on a gun bill.

Guns

The legislature already passed a bill, and voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto, to end the pistol purchase permit program. That program required people to get a permit from their county sheriff’s office before buying a handgun.

The North Carolina Constitutional Carry Act would allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit. Current law requires people to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun. The bill passed a key House committee Tuesday morning.

The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association opposed the bill Tuesday.

“Right now sheriffs can make sure people who carry concealed weapons know the law, have a minimal level of accuracy, they run mental health checks and make sure they don’t have any types of criminal histories,” said Marie Evitt, with the sheriffs’ association.

“This bill would allow folks themselves to determine whether they are capable of carrying a concealed weapon. Sheriffs now have trained staff who have trouble determining that sometimes,” she said.

Another bill in the House would change the rules to get a concealed gun permit. Currently, military veterans are only allowed to get a concealed gun permit if they received an honorable discharge. The bill changes that to say they can only be denied a permit if they received a dishonorable discharge, not other types of discharges.

A third bill dealing with concealed-carry permits would create a temporary permit program for people moving to North Carolina. New residents in the state who have an out-of-state permit to carry a concealed gun could get a temporary permit in North Carolina while they apply for the state-issued permit.

LGBT issues

A bill that could ban drag shows as obscene was filed last month in the House. That legislation has not moved forward in committee.

There are companion bills in the House and Senate that would ban gender-affirming care for minors. In the House, that is sitting in the rules committee, the last stop before a potential floor vote. The Senate bill was filed in early April and hasn’t moved since.

The Senate passed a bill in April that would stop transgender athletes from playing on school teams consistent with their gender identity. That bill is now in the House.

The “Parents’ Bill of Rights” also passed the Senate and is awaiting hearings in the House. This bill would require schools to tell a child’s parents if they change their name or pronouns. It would also limit what schools could teach on LGBT issues and make a system for parents to request banning books from school libraries.

Schools

Companion bills in the House and Senate propose spending more than $400 million for private school vouchers starting in 2025. That figure would increase to $550 million by 2032.

The state currently spends about $130 million on school vouchers.

Private school voucher programs have long been debated in the North Carolina legislature, with opinions generally falling on party lines.

Republicans like vouchers to give parents options for where to send their kids to school. Democrats say they take resources away from public schools and that private schools don’t have the same level of accountability.

Since the bill has to do with items on the state budget, it is not subject to the crossover deadline this week. The Senate bill has been making progress in committee. The House bill passed the education committee on Tuesday.

A separate bill in the House, that also passed the education committee Tuesday, proposes giving more money to charter schools. It has a number of other provisions too, including allowing out-of-state and foreign exchange students in charter schools. The bill would also allow counties to use property taxes to help charter schools with big capital projects like adding new buildings or buying new furnishings.

NC House passes major insurance, credit union bills, plus new shark-fishing rules

https://www.wral.com/story/nc-house-passes-major-insurance-credit-union-bills-plus-new-shark-fishing-rules/20832429/

The state legislature on May 4 hits "crossover," a quasi-deadline for bills to pass at least one chamber of the General Assembly. Its approach quickens the pace of this legislative session.

The North Carolina House passed major business reform bills Thursday, answering separate pushes for more flexibility from the state’s credit union industry and the state’s largest insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

The House also passed a bill to overhaul the process for deciding what children learn in North Carolina’s public schools, a controversial measure that cleared the chamber on a busy day for lawmakers.

The state legislature hits “crossover” on May 4, a quasi-deadline for bills to pass at least one chamber of the General Assembly. There are ways around that deadline, and it doesn’t apply to bills that deal with money, but it’s an important viability marker for policy proposals, and its approach quickens the pace of this legislative session.

In addition to bills rolling back credit union and insurance regulations, the House churned through proposals dealing with milk, shark fishing, rental rules and a process that could be used for a long-shot convention to amend the U.S. Constitution. All these measures would have to pass the state Senate as well to become law, something that will play out over the next few months.

Among the most closely watched Thursday:

Blue Cross Blue Shield NC reorganization. House Bill 346 is one of the session's most heavily lobbied bills. Blue Cross wants to reorganize under a new holding company under this legislation, which would give the company new freedom to buy companies and make investments without approvals required now from the state’s insurance commissioner. The company says it needs the flexibility to compete with other large insurance companies around the country that don’t need such approvals.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, an elected Republican, opposes the bill, saying he fears it would let Blue Cross shift assets without accountability, avoiding state and federal laws that trigger policyholder rebates if the company makes too much money.

Key leaders from both parties support the measure, and it passed the House Thursday 86-26. It will likely fare well in the Senate, too. A companion measure there has 36 sponsors, out of 50 total senators, and Republican Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, has said he supports it.

Blue Cross is a major campaign donor for state lawmakers, and its political action committee gave legislative campaigns nearly $260,000 last year, according to State Board of Elections records.

Several lawmakers expressed concerns Thursday that the complex bill moved too quickly through the House, and with too little public discussion. Rep. Abe Jones, D-Wake, said just before the vote that he didn’t fully understand the measure.

“And I dare say I’m not the only person in this room who’s in that position,” he said. “So I would urge you to vote no.”

Blue Cross said in a statement that the bill "maintains a strong and solvent insurance company, and maintains appropriate transparency and oversight by state regulators."

Credit union regulations. The other major industry bill that moved Thursday is House Bill 410, which rewrite’s the state’s credit union regulations, allowing them to expand. Current law limits their membership to certain sets of people. The State Employees’ Credit Union, for example, largely serves state employees.

This bill would also let credit unions sign up customers who fall below the federal poverty line, plus anyone who lives in an area without a traditional bank branch within an eight-mile radius of the local population center. Credit Unions say this is needed to fill gaps left by bank branch closures in rural areas. Banks see credit unions, which as non-profits have tax advantages, as unfair competitors.

The bill passed the House 85-25, another bipartisan vote with support and opposition from members of both parties. Berger said the Senate Republican majority hasn’t discussed this bill at length, but he indicated it might be difficult for the bill to move forward if the issue remains so divisive.

“If we continue to have concerns expressed by the banking industry … we will probably suggest that the banks and the credit unions get together and see if they can come to some agreement,” Berger said.

K-12 curriculum changes. The education bill that cleared the House deals with the state’s standard course of study in K-12 schools. House Bill 756 would create a new commission to recommend these curriculum changes, with six members each appointed by House and Senate leadership. A late amendment Thursday added another six members to the commission who would be appointed by the governor.

Right now the course of study is decided by the State Board of Education, which is largely appointed by the governor. This bill says the commission would submit recommendations to the State Board, which could only vote them up or down without changes. If the State Board votes them down twice it could adopt its own course of study, but that would be subject to changes from the General Assembly.

This bill — except for the part providing appointments from the governor — is also included in the House budget, meaning it will be part of that broader debate. The Senate is crafting its budget now. Berger said Thursday that Senate Republicans don’t yet have a consensus position on the proposal.

Other bills that cleared the House Thursday, and are also headed to the state Senate for more debate, include:

Pharmacy industry reforms. House Bill 246 would regulate pharmacy benefit managers, which large insurance companies use to negotiate drug prices. The issue has become an annual fight between insurance companies and independent pharmacies, and the House passed this bill 113-1 Thursday. The Senate has declined to back these changes in the past, signaling an uphill battle for the measure going forward.

Landlord/tenant rules. House Bill 551 tweaks a number of rental laws, but a section on service animals seemed to cause the most disagreement. The bill says landlords couldn’t charge nonrefundable fees for service animals, as they can for regular pets. But it also says landlords can challenge a tenant’s need for a service animal living by requiring written verification from a health professional that they have a disability. The bill would also enable landlords to recover attorneys fees more often in an eviction case. Disability Rights North Carolina, as well as the N.C. Justice Center, a progressive advocacy group, oppose the bill, which cleared the House on a bipartisan 87-26 vote.

Shark Fishing. House Bill 544 would make it illegal to hold shark fishing tournaments on the shores of Carolina Beach, Caswell Beach, Holden Beach, Kure Beach, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, or Bald Head Island from May 1 to Oct. 31 every year. The local governments involved requested the moratorium during their peak tourism seasons, and the bill passed 113-0.

Constitutional convention. House Bill 648 lays out the process that would be used to pick delegates to a potential convention to amend the U.S. Constitution, something the House called for earlier this year in a pair of other measures. Thirty-four states would have to call for such a convention for it to be held. If that happens, this bill says North Carolina’s delegation would have three members chosen by the state Senate, three by the House of Representatives and one that leaders from the two chambers agree on. The measure passed 64-50, with most Democrats and seven Republicans voting against.

Dairy industry assessment. House Bill 377 allows North Carolina dairies to collect, from themselves, up to 5 cents for every 100 pounds of milk produced to fund a new association to promote the industry. It passed the House 114-0.

RUSH TO CROSSOVER DEADLINE 

https://www.carolinajournal.com/house-tackles-multiple-issues-as-crossover-deadline-nears/

With the legislature’s crossover deadline a little more than one week away, the N.C. House is tackling multiple bills during the session that reconvened this afternoon.

State representatives have filed nearly 900 bills and resolutions this year. Many of those measures must win approval from the full House by May 13. Without meeting that deadline to “cross over” to the Senate, the bill will die for the rest of the two-year legislative session running through 2022.

Among the items House members addressed during today’s session:

• House Bill 755, approved 66-50, would increase transparency about instructional materials used in public schools.
• House Joint Resolution 233, approved 60-57 with no debate, would apply to Congress for a Convention of States to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The House later voted 62-55 to block a reconsideration of the initial vote.
• House Bill 398, approved 69-48, would repeal the state’s pistol purchase permits. Unlike in past years, North Carolina’s sheriffs are not trying to block the bill.
• House Bill 447, approved 98-19, would block hospitals from keeping clergy members away from patients during a time of emergency.
• House Bill 560, approved 89-27, would enact a range of state prison reforms.
• House Bill 644, approved 95-22, would authorize local school systems to set up remote academies.
• House Bill 657, approved 92-25, would require N.C. school units to set up threat assessment teams.
• House Bill 536, approved 117-0, would require law enforcement officers to intervene and report excessive use of force.
• House Bill 547, approved 117-0, would require N.C. law enforcement groups to use the National Decertification Index. It’s designed to help screen out prospective law enforcement officers from other states with problematic records.
• House Bill 548, approved 117-0, would expand availability of information about law enforcement officers who have received a so-called “Giglio letter,” which blocks them from testifying in court.
• House Bill 760, approved 117-0, would create a new Opportunity Gap Task Force.
• House Bill 278, approved 117-0, would end local Alcoholic Beverage Control board members’ ability to participate in a retirement system for local government employees.
• House Bill 390, approved by voice vote, gives more local school calendar flexibility to western Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties.

ANTI TRANS LEGISLATION GAINS MOMENTUM IN NC

https://southernequality.org/north-carolina-house-passes-bill-to-restrict-transgender-students-from-participating-in-school-sports/

On April 20, the North Carolina Senate voted to approve SB 631, a bill that restricts transgender students in middle school, high school, and higher education institutions from participating in school sports. The bill bans transgender girls and young women from playing on female sports teams and bans transgender boys and young men from playing on male sports teams. The House companion bill, HB574, passed yesterday, April 19. Now the bills head to the opposite chamber to be reconciled and could be sent to the Governor soon.

This bill is part of a broad slate of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly. These include two bills restricting trans youth from accessing gender-affirming healthcare, a broad bill that amounts to an anti-LGBTQ+ “license to discriminate” in healthcare, discriminatory youth policy legislation that forces teachers to “out” LGBTQ+ students, and a bill banning drag performances. Learn about all of the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in North Carolina here. Nationally, more than 400 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced this legislative session, in an unprecedented wave of political attacks on the LGBTQ community – particularly transgender youth.

NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUES ANTI TRANS LEGISLATION

The second of two Republican-sponsored bills focused on high-school sports and athletes’ birth gender is expected to receive a fast-track treatment this week in the N.C. Senate.

Senate Bill 636, titled “School Athletic Transparency,” was recommended Monday by the Senate Education/Higher Education committee. It was sent directly to the gate-keeper Rules and Operations committee.

This week is known as crossover week at the legislature. Bills have to clear one chamber and be sent to the other by Thursday in order to be eligible for approval by the other chamber the rest of the session.

SB636 is known foremost for containing a shorter section of the transgender athlete Senate Bill 631 that cleared the Senate by a 29-18 party line vote on April 20.

House Bill 574, which adds college athletics to the eligibility restrictions, cleared the House by a 73-39 vote April 19.

Because of crossover week focus, both chambers are not expected to take up the other’s transgender athlete bill until next week at the earliest.

SB636 also features measures designed to “revise oversight of high school interscholastic athletics” that have been the focus on primary bill sponsor Sen. Vickie Sawyer, R-Iredell. Sawyer was a primary sponsor of the controversial NCHSAA reform and authority legislation in 2021 and 2022.

All three bills were submitted on April 5 — after Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County confirmed earlier that day her switch from the Democrat Party to the Republican Party — giving the GOP a likely super-majority in the House, along with its super-majority in the Senate.

All three bills would go into effect for the 2023-24 school year.

SB636 was filed about a year after the N.C. High School Athletic Association reached a legal memorandum of understanding with the State Board of Education on a four-year vendor contract.

The contract can be renewed every four years upon mutual agreement, but the education board can terminate it with a 12-month notice.

The bill would give the state superintendent more direct oversight of the NCHSAA.

Senate Bill 636, titled “School Athletic Transparency,” was recommended Monday by the Senate Education/Higher Education committee. It was sent directly to the gate-keeper Rules and Operations committee.

This week is known as crossover week at the legislature. Bills have to clear one chamber and be sent to the other by Thursday in order to be eligible for approval by the other chamber the rest of the session.

SB636 is known foremost for containing a shorter section of the transgender athlete Senate Bill 631 that cleared the Senate by a 29-18 party line vote on April 20.

House Bill 574, which adds college athletics to the eligibility restrictions, cleared the House by a 73-39 vote April 19.

Because of crossover week focus, both chambers are not expected to take up the other’s transgender athlete bill until next week at the earliest.

SB636 also features measures designed to “revise oversight of high school interscholastic athletics” that have been the focus on primary bill sponsor Sen. Vickie Sawyer, R-Iredell. Sawyer was a primary sponsor of the controversial NCHSAA reform and authority legislation in 2021 and 2022.

All three bills were submitted on April 5 — after Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County confirmed earlier that day her switch from the Democrat Party to the Republican Party — giving the GOP a likely super-majority in the House, along with its super-majority in the Senate.

All three bills would go into effect for the 2023-24 school year.

SB636 was filed about a year after the N.C. High School Athletic Association reached a legal memorandum of understanding with the State Board of Education on a four-year vendor contract.

The contract can be renewed every four years upon mutual agreement, but the education board can terminate it with a 12-month notice.

The bill would give the state superintendent more direct oversight of the NCHSAA.

Classifications

SB636 retains the current four classifications for NCHSAA.

Charter and nonpublic schools would be required to be placed into the next largest classification based on its average daily membership.

That would mean, for example, that Bishop McGuinness would be moved from 1A — where it has thrived in most sports — to 2A.

Schools would be placed into conferences “based solely on geography, division classification and average daily membership.”

SB636, if passed in its current version, would be in conflict — and likely make void — a recent classification change approved by the NCHSAA membership.

The NCHSAA disclosed on April 18 that its membership reached the 75% threshold required to approve amending its bylaws to allow for up to seven classifications.

MAY 11 TRIANGLE AREA HINDU TEMPLES INTERFAITH DINNER 

6 pm at Temple Beth Orr, Raleigh, NC 

May 13 TOWN OF MORRISVILLE SPRING FEST  4pm to 8 pm. 

May 20 TAHTS Health Fair  

Registration opens April 1st, 2023!  

https://www.tahts.org

The blood test panel consists of a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, cholesterol panel, hemoglobin a1c, magnesium level, Vitamin B12, and thyroid stimulating hormone, which usually costs approximately $300 and is only $25 (for aged 18 years and older)

• LabCorp. is a leading global life sciences company delivering world-class diagnostic solutions. Your family and friends can take advantage of it anywhere in North Carolina.
• Consult the physician of your choice in person on Health Fair Day. Saturday May 20th,2023
• Fee of $25 is required for registration. (Non-Refundable) and Blood Draw Day (Select any Day) May 01, 2023, to May 15, 2023 At Any LabCorp. Service Center