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Giving Tuesday and Medicaid Expansion Edition | |
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
December 2, 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/1402582520657139
Note: The Town of Morrisville’s Tree Lighting event will take place today from 3-6 p.m. The event will be held at Fire Station 1 (200 Townhall Drive).
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MORRISVILLE SUBSTATION OPEN HOUSE ALERT:
There will be a Duke Energy Open house on the Transmission Project on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park (4700 Emperor Blvd, I-40 at Exit 282 (Page Road), Durham, NC, USA 27703)
Register Here
For information about the project, please visit
Visit Here
CHAT GPT CELEBRATED FIRST ANNIVERSARY YESTERDAY! (More on AI in the next few newsletter editions.)
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Medicaid Expansion Begins on Dec. 1! https://abc11.com/medicaid-expansion-north-carolina-when-does-start-in-nc-who-is-eligible-for/14119284/ | |
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Inspiring Council Meeting! | |
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Tuesdays' Council Meeting was one of the most productive and inspiring Council meetings in recent history.
Police celebrated another CALEA accreditation our Firefighthers were recognized for their valiant efforts in Henderson, Staff updated us on the success of the Language Collaborative program, we celebrated Morrisville 101 graduates Town Center rezoning plans were presented and plans for our Town Center are moving forward very quickly.
A thanks to staff, Council, Town Partners and our engaged residents for their dedication on transforming Morrisville into one of the best Towns to live, work and play in the state and country.
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Some Giving Tuesday Ideas: | |
Tune in Friday at 4pm to 98.5 FM WPTF for my commentary and on Sunday at 4pm to Radio Nyra on our interview with Cary Council Member Elect Sarika Bansal.
99.9 FM HD4, 1490 AM and 101.9 FM.
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DEC 1 Registraiton for Swim with Santa opens on Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 a.m., at https://bit.ly/3R0vxBg | |
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TOWN OF MORRISVILLE STORMWATER PHOTO CONTEST!
Calling all amateur high school age photographers! Showcase your talents and your commitment to clean stormwater by participating in the Morrisville Stormwater Division Photo Contest. The theme this year is Water Cycle.
📸 The deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. Learn more and enter the contest at https://bit.ly/40lW2pc
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DEC 2 Town of Morrisville Holiday Tree Lighting 3pm to 6 pm at Indian Creek Trail. | |
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DEC 14 Menorah Lighting at 6 pm at Indian | |
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GIVING TUESDAY WAS THIS WEEK: | |
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RADICAL GENEROSITY IS DEFINED AS THE CONCEPT THAT SOMEONE ELSE's SUFFERING IS AS INTOLERABLE AS OUR OWN....
My GIVING TUESDAY Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1724280621381089
Giving Tuesday" is a global generosity movement that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year. It was created to encourage people to give back to their communities and support charitable causes, particularly as a response to the consumer-focused events of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
On Giving Tuesday, individuals, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to donate time, money, or resources to charitable organizations and causes. This can involve making financial contributions, volunteering time, or simply spreading awareness about a particular cause.
The movement harnesses the power of social media and collaboration to inspire acts of kindness and generosity. Many nonprofits and charitable organizations actively participate in Giving Tuesday, using the day as an opportunity to engage with their supporters and raise funds for their missions.
Participating in Giving Tuesday can take many forms, and people are encouraged to contribute in ways that are meaningful to them.
Whether it's making a donation to a favorite charity, volunteering at a local community organization, or simply spreading the word about a cause on social media, Giving Tuesday is about coming together to make a positive impact.
Join me in UNLEASHING OUR POWER OF GENEROSITY and bring change to the world.
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MEDICAID EXPANSION STARTS ON DEC1
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My Message on Medicaid
Enroll at www.medicaid.gov.
The start of North Carolina's long-awaited expansion of Medicaid begins on Dec. 1. That's when 600,000 people statewide will be eligible for healthcare coverage that they otherwise could not afford. Roughly half will be automatically enrolled as of Friday. That means they’ll be able to get annual checkups, prescription drugs, and other services with little or no out-of-pocket expenses.
North Carolina is the 40th state to expand Medicaid coverage.
But who is eligible? And how do you apply?
Eight months ago, Gov. Roy Cooper hailed the Medicaid expansion as historic for the state.
"This law, when implemented, will be the Working Families Bill of the Decade," Cooper said at the bill signing in March. And starting this Friday, the governor's "bill of the decade" takes effect.
Who is eligible for free or low-cost healthcare coverage through Medicaid expansion?
Adults ages 19 through 64 who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty line That's a single person earning about $20,000 per year or a family of three earning about $34,000.
How comprehensive is this Medicaid health coverage?
People can see their primary care physician; they can get urgent care services; people will be able to have prescriptions filled; and get much-needed preventative care like mammograms.
The website to enroll is already online at Medicaid.NC.gov, users can find out if they're eligible. Starting Friday, consumers can apply in person at their county's social services office or apply by phone or by mail.
I wanted to congratulate Governor Cooper, our General Assembly, Secretary Kinsley and all of the leaders who have pulled together to ensure health care coverage (mental health care services as well) to more North Carolinians.
I will continue to focus on Medicad expansion over the course of the year.
NC Medicaid Contact Center - Provider and beneficiary information on Medicaid policies and procedures.
Phone: 888-245-0179
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed on State Holidays
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IT WAS A FUN SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY | |
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My Small Business Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/2891280684342597
On Saturday, I kicked off Small Business Saturday with some visits to Some Small Businesses in Morrisville and Cary and also visited some Start Ups in Raleigh. (Posting these visits later today along with my video interviews with everyone.
It was great to visit Honest, Emapanadas and More, Raj Jewels, Postal Express, and Mo's Barbershop.
It went to so well that I will be visiting small business every Saturday across the County, starting next week with stops in downtown Apex, downtown Cary, and other Wake municipalities.
Lets continue to support our small businesses and continue to grow our economy!
Shop Small!
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SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY VISITS | |
SARIKA BANSAL WINS CARY COUNCIL DISTRICT D RUN OFF
The NC State Board of Elections completed counting of absentee ballots and provisional ballots.
Sarika Bansal, has made history, becoming the first Indian American woman to serve on the Cary Council and in Wake County.
Join me in congratulating her family.
On a personal note, I truly believe that the best thing about being first is to know you are not the last. Her win is a small step for one family, but a giant leap forward for the community.
I congratulate Sarika, Naresh, and Aanya for enduring a harsh campaign over the past 6 months. They showed such courage and strength in the midst of a tsunami of negative and personal attacks.
Good Luck Sarika and I look forward to working with you as you begin your new journey of public service!
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Shiloh's Ethel Holland Turns 100!
On Saturday, I was honored to attend the 100th Birthday celebration for Shiloh Member Ethel Holland. It was an amazing and historic occasion! Congrats to the Holland and Shiloh families!
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PBS Carolinas STATELINES!
Watch at https://video.pbsnc.org/video/november-24-2023-gyxmqy/
I enjoyed participating in the PBS Carolinas State Lines Panel on Friday with Joe Stewart, Mitch Kokai, Anne Beth Gravely and moderator Kelly Mccullen!
An engaging and informative discsussion on changing State and Congressional Maps, Medicaid expansion, and the local ripple effect of the Israel/Hamas war.
A special thanks to all of the production staff who work so hard behind the scenes for an excellent show!
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DOC NC LEADS DONATION TO TOYS FOR TOTS!
Last week, the Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department delivered over 800 toys to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Multiple community organizations donated, with the largest from Dedicated to Our Community of North Carolina with over $2,000 in donations. We can't say thank you enough to our amazing Town whose kindness will make a child's holiday season extra bright.
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WAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONER JAMES WEST HONORED AT MARTIN MARIETTA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
My Insights on Dr. West: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/370676622076427
I attended the funeral service for Wake County Commissioner James West at the Martin Marietta Performing Arts Center. Inspiring words by Governor Cooper, Wake County Commission Chair Shinica Thomas, NC Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and members of the Martin Street Baptist Church and Southeast Raleigh Association were given. An emotional farewell from his daughter Mrs. Kimberly West Faulcon.
West was appointed in 2010 and elected in 2012. He was then re-elected in 2016, 2018 and 2020, with his current term running through 2024.
West, the first African American Cooperative Extension Director in North Carolina, served as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee.
He championed the rights of vulnerable populations, spearheading projects to eradicate inter-generational poverty in southeast Raleigh.
West also started "Live Well Wake," which brings private and public sectors together for people to live longer, healthier lives.
He also served on Raleigh City Council from 1999 until 2010, and he was Mayor Pro Tem from 2003 until 2010.
Dr. West's commitment to public service and dedication to our community have left an indelible mark on Wake County. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and the many residents whose lives he's touched.
I am so honored got to know such a wonderful man and a great leader.
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NOV 27th COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS | | |
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FORGE NANO BATTERY INCENTIVES APPROVED
Following a public hearing, Town Council approved a financial incentive for Forge Battery, Inc. who will be expanding its development, manufacturing,licensing, and support for and production of coated lithium rechargeable batteries in a facility at 401 Southport Drive. Forge Battery, LLC will invest $142,000,000 and will create a minimum of 190 jobswith an average salary of $82,100.
The incentive of $1,420,000 will be paid over eight years assuming Forge Battery, Inc. reaches their identified investment and job creation thresholds.
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CONGRATS TO MORRISVILLE 101 GRADUATES!
Congratulations to our Morrisville 101 graduates! 🎉 They recently completed five weeks of classes and were recognized at the Nov. 29 Town Council meeting.
2023 graduates: Sadaf Abbas, Syed Abbas, Erica Blankenship, Vas Chellappa, Sandra Christian, Martin Hicks, Chadana Kusuma, Hope Liu, Kwang-Cheng Liu, Cherian Mathew, Loretta Moskal, Lois Mouw, Narkie Narty, Jesse Osoria, Phyllis Smith, Saurabh Soni, Olga Tulchinskaya, Mark Tulchinskiy, Paulo Vicente.
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MORRISVILLE STORMWATER POSTER CONTEST WINNERS
The grand prize and first place winners of the Morrisville Environment & Stormwater Committee’s Student Art Poster Contest were awarded at the Tuesday, Nov. 28 Town Council meeting. The theme this year was “Morrisville Roots for Trees” which supports the importance of trees in our lives.
• Grand Prize: Saanvi Vinodh Kumar (first grade)
• Kindergarten, First Place: Sahaana Battu
• First Grade, First Place: Sanjitha S Sathish
• Second Grade, First Place: Nyshrita Mokka
• Third Grade, First Place: Sree Havisha Kattamreddy
• Fourth Grade, First Place: Ved Sahasrabudhe
• Fifth Grade, First Place: Diya Satheesh
Congratulations to all the winners!
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TOWN OF MORRISVILLE LANGUAGE COLLABORATIVE A SUCCESS
My Message on the Language Collaborative: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/719735526883258
At our Council Meeting this week, Deputy Manager Giselle Rodriguez briefed us on the success of the Language Access Collaborative program.
The Town of Morrisville has participated in the Local Government Language Access Collaborative, a one-year interactive course designed to build capacity for North Carolina local governments to communicate with residents in community languages.
The Language Access Collaborative builds relationships between local governments and community partners, who must come together as a team to design a language access plan for their city, town, or county.
Morrisville is joined in our efforts by Hindi Vikas Mandal (HVM), a community organization who is a part of the Hindu Society of North Carolina (HSNC).
Because Morrisville’s demographics include approximately 46 percent Asian Indian residents, and Hindi is the most spoken language other than English, the Town selected Hindi as the language to address in our language access plan. Our staff conducted very detailed analysis of our demographics to confirm that the Indian population represents the largest percentage of foreign born immigrant comunities in our Town.
The program has been very successful and now we can recieve grant money to continue to our efforts in this area.
I could not be prouder of our Town for executing such a world class program which meets our high standards of inclusivity for our residents.
A special thanks to former Town Manager Martha Paige for taking the lead to bring this program to life along with the hard work of Town Manager Brandon Zudeima, Deputy Manager Giselle Rodriguez, Communications Director, Will Glenn, and Finance Manager Jeanne Hooks, along with the leaders at Hindi Vikas Mandal.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES CALEA ACCREDITATION!
Last night, the Council acknowledged and recognized our Police Department for receiving another accreditation from CALEA, the gold standard for accreditation for Police Departments.
The Morrisville Police Department was awarded national accreditation on November 11, 2023, by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in the Advanced Law Enforcement program(s). In 2021, the Morrisville Police Department began a transitional process to Advanced Accreditation which required successful compliance to 461 standards.
The agency was first accredited by CALEA in 2009 and participates in a four-year reaccreditation cycle with an annual review. The Morrisville Police Department has remained successful, receiving five awards since 2009.
CALEA, who is considered the gold standard in public safety, offers two tier options of accreditation. Tier one is the Law Enforcement Accreditation process which focuses on 184 standards that provide best practices related to life, health, and safety procedures for the agency. These standards are considered foundational for contemporary law enforcement
agencies. This program provides the framework for addressing high-risk issues within a contemporary environment, and ensures officers are prepared to meet basic community service expectations and prepared to manage critical events.
Known as the gold-standard in public safety, CALEA accreditation focuses on community-oriented policing. To achieve these high standards, police departments must follow a code of conduct recognized by law enforcement peers, the legal system, and the public while meeting stringent professional requirements and practices.
Congratulatons to Chief Acosta and our magnificent team!
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FIRE DEPLOYMENT RECOGNITION!
cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/morrisville-firefighters-help-battle-western-nc-wildfires
Earlier in November, four members of the Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department were deployed to assist with the Poplar Drive wildfire in Henderson County. Last night, at our Council meeting, Cheif Lozinsky and Council recognized these heroes for their valiant effforts. Chief reminded us that our Department goes above and beyond their roles as firefighters to always help others ands also can represent the best of our community every day. It was not easy for them or their families to take on this mission but they, as always, answered the call.
A special thanks to Captain Billy Dinkins, and the team which took this mission on.
You are our heroes!
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICE POSITION APPROVED
Town Manager Brandon Zuidema and Police Chief Pete Acosta requested that Town Council authorize an additional sworn police officer position for thePolice Department based on a grant award received from the Community Oriented Policing Services(COPS) office. The grant provides funding over three years to support the creation of a DomesticViolence Investigator position. This position will allow the Police Department to provide additional resources to investigate domestic violence and crisis calls and will allow greater support for victims andothers in need.
Action on this item is planned for the December 12 Council Meeting and I plan to approve as we need to take domestic violence very seriously.
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THIS WEEK IN MORRISVILLE DEC 4 - DEC 9 | |
Meetings
Dec. 5 – 6:00 p.m. Public Safety Advisory Committee
Dec. 5 – 6:30 p.m. Public Education Advisory Committee
Dec. 6 – 6:00 p.m. Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Committee
Dec. 6 – 6:30 p.m. Environment & Stormwater Committee
Town of Morrisville Holiday Tree Lighting set for Dec. 2
The Town of Morrisville’s Tree Lighting event will take place Saturday, Dec. 2, from 3-6 p.m. Due to expected inclement weather, the event will be held in the bay area of Fire Station No. 1 at 200 Town Hall Drive. The official lighting ceremony of the Town tree and nearby buildings will happen after dark.
Other activities will include crafts, music, local student performances, 2023 Town ornament giveaway (while supplies last), hot chocolate, and visits from Santa and the Grinch. The Town tree will also debut new decorations this year.
Parking will be available at Cedar Fork Community Center, 1050B Town Hall Drive. Attendees will then be able to take a shuttle to the event starting at 2:30 p.m.
Accessible parking will be available in the parking lot at Town Hall for individuals with a disability placard.
Please note that Town Hall Drive will close from the traffic circle to Morrisville Carpenter Road at 1:00 p.m. for this event.
Santa is Calling Dec. 6
Santa Claus has contacted the Morrisville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and let them know he and Mrs. Claus will be calling Morrisville children ages 3-8 this holiday season!
For all who registered, calls will be made on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6-8 p.m. If your child is unavailable during this time, a message can be left on your voicemail. No make-up calls will be made. Registration is closed for this event.
Winter White Goods Collection is Dec. 7
The Winter White Goods collection day will be Thursday, Dec. 7. Click here to register. Items to be collected include washing machines, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, stoves/ovens, and dehumidifiers. Microwaves should be dropped off at the South Wake Landfill, 6130 Old Smithfield Road, Apex.
Swim with Santa is Open for Registration
The MAFC will be hosting its annual Swim with Santa event on Friday, Dec. 15. One hour time slots will be available from 4:30-8 p.m. The event will include winter crafts, photo opportunities with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, a take-home treat, and open recreation swimming in the program pool and spray ground. Sign-up by visiting this link.
Northwest Park Playground Closed for Repairs Until Dec. 15
The playground at Northwest Park (998 Parkside Valley Drive) will be closed until Dec. 15 for repairs. The Town has contracted with Reese Construction to install new surfacing at the playground. The rest of the park will be open. Please be cautious and stay clear of the construction area. Parking will be limited due to construction vehicles. This repair time is weather dependent and subject to change if necessary.
Want to find another playground in Town? Check out these nearby parks:
• Church Street Park, 5800 Cricket Pitch Way
• Indian Creek, 101 Town Hall Drive
• Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway
For questions about this project, contact the Morrisville Public Works Department at (919) 463-7070.
Stirrup Iron Creek Greenway Feasibility Study Public Engagement
The Town of Morrisville was recently awarded a grant through the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Integrated Mobility Division (IMD) to evaluate the preferred alignment and feasibility of the Stirrup Iron Creek Greenway.
The project study team will be at the Town Tree Lighting on Dec. 2, 3-6 p.m. to discuss the project and promote a survey for the project which will launch on Dec. 2 through early January. Learn more about the study or sign-up for updates here.
Metropolitan Transportation Looking for Feedback on 'Destination 2055'
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHCMPO) are beginning their process to develop the region’s next long-range metropolitan transportation plan, 'Destination 2055'. A survey is currently open to gather public feedback on the goals and objectives that will guide the creation of the plan. The survey will be open until January 10.
For more information on the plan please visit the "Destination 2055" website.
Applications Open for Community Police Academy
Residents are invited to apply for the Community Police Academy, a free eight-week program designed to give participants a working knowledge of the Morrisville Police Department. It is intended to increase transparency and enhance understanding between the community and the police. The academy will be held Monday nights, from Jan. 8 – Feb. 26, 6-8 p.m.
Please note: Participants must be age 21 or older and must live or work in Morrisville. Background checks will be done on all applicants.
2024 Year of Wellness at The MAFC
Make 2024 your year of wellness by becoming a regular at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC). Those who purchase a one-year paid in full (PIF) membership between January 1-31, will receive 10 percent off with the code “newyear24.” The membership can be purchased in-person at the MAFC, 1301 Morrisville Parkway.
This discount does not apply to any of the other memberships that the MAFC offers.
Join the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center Team
The MAFC is looking for part-time group fitness instructors! This opportunity is open to individuals who can lead boot camp, water aerobics and interval training workout classes. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/morrisvillenc
Now Hiring
The Town of Morrisville is now hiring for both full- and part-time positions. Check out employment opportunities here.
Western Wake Farmers Market
The Western Wake Farmers Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food and goods from small and local businesses from 9:30 a.m.-noon every Saturday at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive. Visit wwfm.ag to learn more.
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Now Hiring: Join the MAFC Team
The Town of Morrisville is now hiring for both full and part-time positions including:
Check out additional employment opportunities in the Town here.
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Shop Local at the Western Wake Farmers' Market
The Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food and goods from small and local businesses from 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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Congrats to Michelle Le for all her work at DECA and for being named Teacher of the Year
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Congrats to Le for all her work at DECA and for being named Teacher of the Year! | |
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District Station Holiday Open House and 5th anniversary!
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Experience the new Grenadier launched by INEOS Automotive at
C Suites Perspective
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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. | |
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Jessica Holmes will join Council of State as State Auditor
https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-state-auditor-jessica-holmes-a170c90bed2d678a351a45c03cfea3d9
Jessica Holmes will serve as North Carolina State Auditor starting Dec. 15, 2023, when current Auditor Beth Wood leaves the post, bringing years of work in government and the law to the job, Governor Roy Cooper announced Thursday.
“North Carolina is fortunate to have a dedicated, enthusiastic public servant in Jessica Holmes willing to take on the important role of State Auditor and I am confident that she will lead the department with determination and hard work,” Governor Cooper said. “Her effective service as chair of the Wake County Commissioners has shown her that every dollar counts when it comes to serving the public in education, public safety, health care, and all the other areas that support our state’s people.”
The North Carolina Auditor serves as the lead evaluator for all state government agencies, including universities, colleges and the judiciary among others, examining whether agencies are following state law by using the proper financial controls and meeting performance standards. The Auditor also serves as an ex-officio member on the Local Government Commission, which oversees the operations for hundreds of towns, cities and counties.
Holmes is an attorney who now works as Deputy Industrial Commissioner. She previously was elected to two terms on the Wake County Board of Commissioners overseeing North Carolina’s most populous county of more than a million people and its approximately $1.5 billion dollar budget. She was twice elected as commission chair.
I have always admired the wisdom, integrity, and compassionate heart of Jessica Holmes and am very proud of my friend now serving on the Council of State. She will work hard and do well and North Carolina will be the beneficiary of her strong leadership.
Tragic Stabbing stuns Southeast Raleigh High School
Southeast Raleigh High School (SERHS) students and parents are absorbing what was a heavy day on Monday.
SERHS is closed on Tuesday to allow time for the community to grieve an on-campus death after a fight escalated into a stabbing that left one student dead.
Another student has injuries and a third student is in custody from the ordeal, which began in a commons area and spilled into the gymnasium.
The school will be closed on Tuesday as classes and extracurricular activities are canceled. The victim's name was not released. Superintendent of Wake County Public Schools Robert Taylor said the student who died "was a valued member of our school community.
Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/it-s-awful-parents-grasp-reality-of-fatal-double-stabbing-at-southeast-raleigh-high-school/21170048/
REPUBLICANS CALL FOR SEN. GRAFSTEIN TO RESIGN
Earlier this year, Republicans in the General Assembly redrew the district maps for the state legislature, which will be in effect for next year’s election.
Under the new Senate districts, Democratic Sens. Lisa Grafstein and Jay Chaudhuri both live in the same district.
To avoid running against each other in a primary, Grafstein recently moved to the new 13th district which includes portions of southern Wake County.
However, by making that move, Grafstein no longer lives in the district she was elected to represent currently. Republicans say as a result she should resign.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the NC GOP said, “North Carolina voters deserve representation in accordance with the N.C. Constitution, not absent representatives busy searching for a more desirable soapbox from which to pander to the radical left. Sen. Grafstein should resign now.”
Read More at https://myfox8.com/news/politics/nc/nc-democratic-senator-called-on-by-gop-to-resign-after-moving-districts/
FEDERAL LAWSUIT CHALLENGES NEW SENATE MAPS
Two North Carolina men have sued to block a newly drawn state Senate district map from taking effect, alleging the Republican-crafted plan discriminates against them and their fellow Black voters in the northeastern part of the state where they reside.
The two plaintiffs – Rodney Pierce and Moses Matthews – live in Halifax and Martin counties, respectively. It's part of an area historically known as North Carolina's "Black Belt," with a high concentration of Black residents that, depending on how voting districts are configured, can elect candidates of their choice.
Pierce, a social studies teacher, and Matthews, a retired chemist, allege in their federal lawsuit that a state Senate district map passed by the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly last month dilutes their communities' voting power by breaking up the historically Black area and dispersing residents out over two less compact districts instead of preserving more sensibly shaped majority-minority districts, a redistricting practice known as "cracking." Another method of diluting Black votes is known as "packing," where minority voters are grouped together to form an excessive majority in just one district.
New state Senate map violates the Voting Rights Act.
Rather than keeping their communities intact, the lawsuit alleges, the GOP-backed Senate plan "cracks" Black voting areas and disperses them over a "region across multiple districts, including Senate District 2, which stretches more than 160 miles from the Virginia border to Carteret County on the Atlantic Ocean."
Read More at https://www.wunc.org/politics/2023-11-21/federal-lawsuit-black-voters-north-carolina-redistricting
WAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS APPROVE 2024-2025 ASSIGNMENT PLAN
About 1,600 Wake County students will be assigned to new schools in the coming school year after the county school board approved an annual reassignment plan intended to manage the growing district’s headcount.
The Wake County Board of Education approved, without opposition, its student assignment plan for the 2024-25 school year, hours after the system staff presented its final iteration of the plan during an afternoon work session. The final plan made few changes from pervious drafts.
Wake parents can look up their school assignment for next year using the school system’s website. Families who are affected will receive individual messages early next week from the school system about what they can do if they want to stay in their current schools. Eligible families can apply to stay between Nov. 29 and Dec. 13.
The plan will affect 1,572 students, less than 1% of the system’s 160,000 students. About three-quarters of them will be able to apply to stay at their current school. System officials originally said the reassignment plan would have affected a similar percentage of students as previous plans have, about 2% to 3% of students.
Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/Wake-school-board-approves-moving-1600-students-to-new-schools-next-year/21159956/
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LATEST NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UPDATES | |
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1. The seven-day truce between Hamas and Israel came to an abrupt end. Israel said it had resumed fighting in Gaza after shooting down a rocket launched from the enclave. The Israeli military also dropped leaflets over Khan Younis, the most northerly big city in southern Gaza, warning residents to move further south. Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, claimed that Hamas had reneged on the terms of the truce by failing to release some of the agreed-upon hostages. Hamas accused Israel of breaking its commitment to allow fuel trucks into Gaza. Negotiators are reportedly trying to broker another pause in the fighting.
2. Henry Kissinger, America’s former secretary of state, died aged 100. A Nobel peace-prize winner, he shaped world affairs throughout the administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and oversaw America’s withdrawal from Vietnam. His “shuttle diplomacy” helped stabilise the Middle East after the Yom Kippur war in 1973. But his legacy is controversial: in the 1970s he supported Pakistan, while it carried out massacres in what is now Bangladesh. As a consultant and writer he continued to steer politics and business throughout the rest of his life
3. Charlie Munger, the vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, an American investment conglomerate, died, aged 99. Along with Warren Buffett, the chairman, he transformed Berkshire from a struggling textile-maker into a financial empire. The firm’s investments averaged an annual gain of 20% between 1965 and 2022—around twice the return of the S&P 500 index.
4. Saudi Arabia beat Italy to host the World Expo in 2030. It plans to spend $7.8bn on the event. The move is part of a multi-billion-dollar push by the crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman, to diversify the country’s oil-dependent economy and remake its international image. Saudi Arabia will be the second Gulf state to hold the expo in a decade, after the United Arab Emirates in 2020.
5. Argentina’s president-elect, Javier Milei, met America’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, during a trip to Washington, DC. His team also met officials from the IMF, to which Argentina owes more than $40bn. Mr Milei, a self-described “anarcho-capitalist”, won 56% of votes in Argentina’s presidential election run-off in mid-November. He will be inaugurated on December 10th.
6. The conservative political fundraising machine started by Charles Koch, a billionaire industrialist, endorsed Nikki Haley for president. Americans for Prosperity Action—co-founded by Mr Koch’s late brother, David—boasts deep resources to fund advertising and an “unmatched grassroots army” of people to knock on doors. The group spent $500m in the 2020 election backing other Republican candidates (though not Donald Trump).
7. North Korean state media announced results from the country’s local “elections” on Sunday, reporting dissenting votes for the first time in decades. In the totalitarian dictatorship voters either approve or disapprove a single, party-backed candidate. Over 99% of voters apparently opted to approve the candidates. Elected bodies, in any event, hold virtually no power.
8. The Dutch edition of a scandalous book about Britain’s royal family was pulled from shelves after it was found to mistakenly identify royals accused of racism by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. Omid Scobie, the author of “Endgame”, says he did not include those names in the English version. The error was uncovered by Rick Evers, a Dutch journalist.
Figure of the day: $75bn, the amount of aid America has provided to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. President Joe Biden has requested $61bn more. Read the full story.
9. The first transatlantic flight powered entirely by sustainable fuels is set to take off at 11.30am GMT from London for New York. Nine-tenths of the Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787’s fuel is derived from waste fats; the rest is from the wastes of American corn production. Air travel is hard to decarbonise, but the industry says such fuels can lower “lifecycle emissions” by up to 70%
10. Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Republican governor, put up a spirited performance in a debate with Gavin Newsom, his Democratic counterpart in California—a feistiness that was conspicuously absent during his clashes with fellow Republican presidential hopefuls. The pair skirmished on abortion, guns, immigration and their pandemic policies. Mr DeSantis’s campaign for the Republican nomination is floundering. Mr Newsom is not making a presidential run for 2024, but may in the future.
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Dec 2 Holiday Tree Lighting 3 to 6pm at Indian Creek Trailhead in Morrisville!
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Dec 5th Cary Council Swearing In Ceremonies. 6:30 pm at Cary Town Hall.
| Dec. 12th Morrisville Council Swearing In Ceremonies at 6 p, at Morrisville Town Hall. | | |
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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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