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TROPICAL STORM DEBBY AND S'MORRISVILLE EDITION: |
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
August 08, 2024
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Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes. | |
I am excited to announce a new mobile platform, VoteVocal that I am on, VoteVocal. By logging into the mobile App, you can:
- Reach me directly over phone or via email
- Access my social media pages - X, Facebook & Instagram
- Download my newsletter(s)
- File grievances that would reach me directly.
- Learn about my priorities for the community and the current status of major issues facing the Town and County.
I am at your service and through the VoteVocal platform we communicate much better and I intend to enhance by digital communication strategy and reach with the residents of Morrisville and all of Wake County.
Please download the iOS mobile app by going to VoteVocal.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vote-vocal/id6499540241
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Over the past few days, I have had a number of interviews with the Press about the VP Harris nominaton and other issues! Enjoy! | |
WPTF Radio Wake County Round Up on Friday with Special guest Gov Tech, Zack Thorn on the NC Digital Summit and guests to talk about Indian Independence Day events next week in Morrisville! | |
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL COUNT AND ALERTS | |
China 28
USA 27
France 13
China 28
Australia 18
Great Britain 13
Japan 17
Katie Ledecky wins 1500 meter Freestyle! Greatest Female Olympic swimmer of all time!
USA Womens' Gymnastics wins gold!
Good Luck Womens Soccer in Gold Medal Match!
Get all Highlights and Updates at https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024.
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Novak Djokvic stuns with a Career Slam and Gold with win over Alzaraz! Congrats!
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Simon Biles wins Gold in All Around! The Greatest ever!
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August 11 Kiran Bazaar at the Hindu Society Hall | |
AUG10-TOWN OF MORRISVILLE BECOMES S'MORRISVILLE! | |
We invite you all to attend the town’s annual S’morrisville event on Saturday, August 10th from 4pm – 7pm at Morrisville Community Park.
The town is providing 800 S’mores treats from a combination of vendors:
Oat & Co – Gluten Free
Magnificent Concessions – Deep Fried
Chocolate & S’mores – Traditional
Handals – S’mores Ice Cream
Town of Morrisville – Vegan S’mores and S’mores Cluster
In addition, we will have inflatables, DJ Complex, and the Sustainability Group will be there with all the information about our planned Apiary at Fire station 3 and a contest to name the 2 Queen Bees. West Orange Farms will be on hand to give out some Honey!
Please follow my Social media and the Town Facebook for updates on the status of the event in the midst of heavy rains.
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TROPICAL STORM DEBBY ARRIVES | |
Morrisville and Wake County residents will start to feel the effects of Tropical Storm Debby today including heavy rains throughout the week. Here are a few ways you can prepare:
Stay informed! Sign up for ReadyWake alerts at readywake.com
Be ready in case of a power outage. Have a preparedness kit including flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food items and water.
Drive safe. If you must drive during heavy rains, leave plenty of stopping room between you and the vehicle in front of you, and NEVER drive through standing and/or moving water.
For Town of Morrisville facility and event updates, stay tuned to social media or this webpage.
Need to report a power outage? Customers who experience outages with Duke Energy can report by:
Using the Duke Energy mobile app
Visit duke-energy.com
Texting OUT to 57801
Call automated outage reporting system at 1-800-769-3766
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TOWN OF MORRISVILLE CLOSINGS | |
Due to anticipated inclement weather from Tropical Storm Debby, the Town of Morrisville has announced the following closings and delays for Thursday, Aug. 8:
Aug 8th Planning and Zoning Board Meeting Canceled
• Cedar Fork Community Center: Closed all day.
• Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center: Opening at 9 a.m.
• All Morrisville Parks and Athletic Fields: Closed until further notice.
Stay updated on Town closures by visiting: https://bit.ly/3SD5h1N.
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DUKE ENERGY ON TOP OF IT! | |
Tropical Storm Debby has arrived in NC. Expect very heavy rain and wind. Stay home if you can.
Duke Energy has positioned more skilled workers, including crews from other states, throughout the Carolinas as we prepare to respond to whatever Tropical Storm Debby brings our way.
Approximately 7,500 workers are positioned and ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible.
In addition, the Duke Energy Foundation is making a $50,000 grant to the Red Cross in support of disaster relief.
We appreciate the critical role you play in public safety and preparedness as a key leader. Here are some important safety reminders we encourage you to share:
Downed Power Lines and Electrical Wires: Stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Do not drive over or stand near downed power lines. Assume all lines are energized. Electric current passes easily through water.
Vehicle Safety: If a power line falls on your vehicle, remain inside unless there’s a fire or other immediate danger. If you must exit, jump clear of the car and land on both feet, ensuring no part of your body touches the vehicle.
Generator Safety: If using a generator, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Turn the generator off when utility crews are in your area. The electrical load on the power lines can be hazardous for crews making repairs.
Power Shut-Offs: Turn off power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box if rising water threatens your home or business or if you evacuate.
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Report outages through our website, mobile app, text OUT to 57801, or call 800POWERON (800-769-3766).
Sign up for Outage Alerts and regularly check our Outage Map for estimated restoration times.
Visit our Storm Center for comprehensive safety tips before, during, and after severe weather.
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Registration for Morrisville 101 is now open! Morrisville 101 is an annual community academy for residents interested in local government.
This is a free program for residents ages 16 and older. The program will begin Oct. 23 and will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. once a week for five weeks. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit morrisvillenc.gov/msv101
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Congratulations to the Town of Morrisville for receiving the Global CIO Symposium Award this week in Colorado, the Olympic Gold for IT innovation! (More on this in my next newsletter)
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See Latest World and National Updates for other news.
It has been another busy week with the 2024 elections as Vice President Harris picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. I had the honor of meeting him this year in Washington DC as the Democratic Governors Association Winter Meeting and found him to be a very humble, and down to earth Governor and leader. VP Harris and Governor Walz will be coming to Raleigh in the near future as their trip today was canceled due to the storms.
Stay safe out there and I look forward to seeing all of you at S'Morrisville!
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During the next week, I plan to visit some Sports Venues and Facilities in Wake County to celebrate the Olympic Spirit! If you want me to drop in, please send me a note!
Enjoy the Olympics! I cannot think of a better time than now to use sports as bridge to celebrate our unity in diversity!
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MEET TIM WALZ, OUR NEXT VP! | |
Tim Walz is an American politician serving as the 41st governor of Minnesota, a position he has held since January 2019. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Before becoming governor, Walz served as a U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district from 2007 to 2019.
Walz's political career is marked by his focus on education, veterans' affairs, and agriculture. Before entering politics, he was a high school teacher and football coach, as well as a member of the Army National Guard, where he served for 24 years, retiring with the rank of command sergeant major.
As governor, Walz has prioritized issues such as healthcare, education, climate change, and economic development. His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his response to civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis have been significant aspects of his governorship.
We wish him well at the Democratic Convention and on the campaign trail! Congratulations Governor!
I am pictured here wigh Governor Walz at the Democratic Governors Winter Meeting in Washington DC.
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WHY DID SHE PICK TIM WALZ? | |
Time Magazine: https://time.com/7008252/tim-walz-kamala-harris-pick/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc&utm_campaign=newsletter+brief+default+ac&utm_content=+++20240807
If the Upper Midwest is the fail-safe for Democrats’ Blue Wall, then Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz may serve as a break-in-case-of-emergency tool.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris selected Walz, a popular former congressman and ex-high school civics teacher, as her running mate and will introduce him to the nation at a rally Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. In picking Walz, Harris follows the tried-and-true winning rules of picking a running mate: first do no harm, and, second, never make voters wish the names were reversed. They are set to cover the map of up-for-grabs states in coming days: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.
Walz, 60, emerged as a late-rising contender for the gig in a field full of higher-wattage contenders like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. But Walz’s plain-spoken demeanor, his five terms in the U.S. House, and two successful runs for Governor helped Harris to cast him in the role she currently fills as the understudy for the presidency. Advisers say his chemistry with Harris helped to cement the decision over the weekend and outside allies—even those who previously harbored doubts about his one-time support from the NRA and his moderate tendencies—were expected to quickly fall in line, part of a Democratic retrofitting that followed President Joe Biden’s surprise decision to forego re-nomination himself.
To be sure, Walz is hardly a dynamo who will guarantee Democrats’ fortunes. He may take Minnesota off Republicans’ dream map—no Republican has won the state’s electoral votes since 1972—but he doesn’t fix Democrats’ weaknesses in other parts of his region, let alone necessarily boost their ambitions for Pennsylvania, Georgia, or North Carolina. He doesn’t hurt anywhere but he certainly doesn’t heal anywhere, either.
While Harris’ polling has markedly improved upon Biden’s—especially with younger voters, women, and communities of color—she is far from a sure-fire win in the contest against former President Donald Trump. Harris and Trump are still within a sneeze of each other in battleground states, and Trump has a slight and persistent advantage in them.
For his part, Walz has already proven himself a capable wingman. Armchair pundits credited Walz’s rise to his use of the jab “weird” to describe Republican positions and general vibe these days, a ding that clicked throughout a party struggling to find a concise description of Trumpism and MAGA ideology. Others may now be using the same playbook, but it was Walz’s delivery—fairly or not—that resonated with a level of authenticity that’s unmatched when others lean on a similar corny script.
While Walz’s Midwestern knack distilled a message for his party, that ultimately mattered less than this one truth that Harris knows all too well: the person in the Oval Office and the person in the room down the hall and to the right need to be able to be in sync. A bad blend can result in the misfortune that was Harris’ first stretch in the West Wing as an often isolated member of Biden’s outer orbit. Late to rise into her own lane, Harris nonetheless has perhaps learned the most important lesson available to any Vice President: the role can be a lonely one if defined solely by its relationship to the one gig that outranks it.
Harris’ decision faced intense lobbying unlike any seen in recent years. Shapiro could have made history as the first successful Jewish person to win the vice presidency, but faced not-at-all-subtle criticism for his steady support for Israel—although his criticism of Hamas and those who fail to condemn its terrorist attacks is not far from Walz’s own stance, which stems from his visits to the region and with Jewish groups at home. Shapiro also drew harsh scrutiny for his time on Pennsylvania’s parole board and his support for school vouchers, which put him on the wrong side of the state’s powerful teacher unions. His criticism of Hamas in particular seemed disqualifying for many younger voters, especially in Muslim and Arab communities.
At the same time, Harris was cautioned against Kelly over his support for efforts to curb some gun availability. Kelly, a retired Navy pilot and astronaut, partnered with his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, to reset gun rights in this country after she was the target of an assassination attempt during a supermarket visit. Unions also told Harris they were dubious about his allyship for their agenda.
And with Beshear, they had a red-state Governor who nevertheless would do nothing to move Kentucky from the crimson column. A natural political talent and infinitely likable, Harris’ orbit thought it best to keep him in reserve for now.
Others, like Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, will have to wait at least four more years before chasing their own national ambitions. And yet others like North Carolina Gov. Rory Cooper and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took themselves out of the running and didn’t file their vetting paperwork with former Attorney General Eric Holder, who ran the process the way he did for then-Sen. Barack Obama.
In Walz, Harris found a reliable avatar who placated most of the Democratic Party’s blocs. While he often disagreed with progressives in his state, he also leaned into their instincts once he found himself governor with Democrats in charge of the state House and Senate. For instance, he not only signed into law a measure to protect abortion rights and provide free school meals for students, he also made legal recreational marijuana a reality. While he was an A-rated member of the House from the NRA, that quickly became a failing grade as Governor as he off-loaded the gun lobbyists’ donations after the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas and backed a 2018 ban on assault weapons after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. When given a free hand, he revealed himself as an ally liberals could find reliable. Even so, his handling of the protests after George Floyd’s death by dispatching the National Guard will now earn closer scrutiny and perhaps betray his new reputation as a pal to the post-2020 Democratic identity.
Still, Walz is far from the salve Democrats need. While Biden’s exit is expected to calm jitters about Minnesota’s tilt to Republican control and Walz can shore-up support in his backyard, fellow Blue Wall bricks like Wisconsin and Michigan in his region remain iffy. Pennsylvania, too, is a jump ball, which is why Harris and Walz are expected to debut as the ticket there on Tuesday before jetting off to other battlegrounds to start the march toward the convention in Chicago in less than two weeks and Election Day in fewer than 100 days.
In Walz, Harris signaled with her first major act of potential governing how she would approach a White House under her management. It was a responsible choice at first glance, and one that matched her own experiences four years ago when Biden elevated her out of the Senate: help the top of the ticket, never overshine the boss, and do a steady best not to alienate any of the must-have constituencies in the Democratic Party. As a bonus: the presidential nominee might even like her potential replacement.
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WHERE DOES TIM WALZ STAND ON THE ISSUES? | |
https://time.com/7008402/tim-walz-policy-positions-abortion-guns-immigration/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc&utm_campaign=newsletter+brief+default+ac&utm_content
Now that Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate in the 2024 presidential election, his progressive policy record is in the spotlight as the Trump campaign casts him as a “radical leftist.”
Known as a champion of progressivism, Walz’s stances on several critical issues—including abortion, climate change, and immigration—offer a potential preview of how a Harris-Walz Administration might approach challenging policy questions.
As governor of Minnesota, he pushed an ambitious agenda that included free school meals, tax cuts for the middle class, and goals for tackling climate change. His selection was celebrated by top progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
However, Walz is relatively unknown on the national stage. An NPR/PBS/Marist poll released Tuesday found 71% of U.S. adults have never heard of the midwestern governor or are unsure how to rate him.
For those just beginning to learn about Walz, here is a guide to where he stands on some key issues.
ABORTION
Walz has spoken out in support of abortion rights—“Abortion is health care,” he said on CNN in March—and signed several pieces of legislation protecting reproductive rights.
As governor, he signed a bill that enshrined the right to abortion into the state’s statutes, making Minnesota the first state legislature to codify protections into law in 2023 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade months earlier. The bill also included protections for other reproductive health care, including contraception and fertility treatments. Abortion was already protected in the state by a 1995 Minnesota supreme court decision, but the new law was meant to safeguard against future courts potentially overturning that ruling.
“Today, we are delivering on our promise to put up a firewall against efforts to reverse reproductive freedom,” Walz said in a press release after signing the bill. “Here in Minnesota, your access to reproductive health care and your freedom to make your own health care decisions are preserved and protected.”
Also in 2023, Walz signed a bill that shields patients traveling to Minnesota for abortion care—and the medical providers who serve them—from legal attacks and criminal penalties other states that restrict access might try to levy against them. That same day, he also signed a bill that bans the practice of conversion therapy and another that protects people seeking or providing gender-affirming health care in Minnesota.
CLIMATE CHANGE
In recent years, Walz has become one of the country’s most skillful advocates for tackling climate change. His administration is aiming to move Minnesota to 100% clean energy by 2040, and he signed legislation in 2023 that encourages utilities to establish renewable energy facilities in communities that used to have fossil-fuel-generating plants.
In recent months, he has signed a bill that will shorten and streamline the process for permitting renewable energy projects and he has announced a $200 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cut climate pollution from Minnesota food systems.
“As I sign this legislation, communities from one end of our state to the other are looking at months of rebuilding after an extreme weather event exacerbated by climate change. This is a measure that will help protect our environment and get the clean energy projects that are going to help fight climate change in motion,” Walz said in a June press release about the bill that streamlines the permitting process. “Together we’re taking meaningful steps to combat climate change.”
U.S.-MEXICO BORDER
Hailing from a northern state, Walz has not been a major voice in U.S.-Mexico border policy discussions. However, his past record on immigration issues suggests that he is likely to push for reform that offers a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented migrants.
As Minnesota’s governor, he signed bills that provided health insurance coverage regardless of immigration status and made undocumented immigrants eligible for state driver’s licenses. He also signed a bill that allowed the state’s nearly 81,000 undocumented immigrants to receive free tuition at a state university.
In 2021 he urged Democratic leaders in Congress to prioritize creating a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants, including “Dreamers” brought to the U.S. as children, essential workers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and their families.
And although he voted for stricter screenings for Syrian and Iraqi refugees while serving in Congress as a House member from Minnesota, as governor he later authorized the state government to consent to refugee resettlement: “The inn is not full in Minnesota,” he said in 2019.
Walz has offered a preview of how he’ll campaign on border issues, making several television appearances where he aligns himself with Harris in trying to flip the script on immigration by criticizing former President Donald Trump. “There’s no reason someone seeking asylum, which we will always be a guiding light for, should have to wait seven years to have that adjudicated,” Walz told CNN on July 30, signaling his support for a failed bipartisan border funding bill negotiated in the Senate that would have allowed migrants to be placed in a supervision program and have their asylum case decided within 90 days. Trump urged House Republicans to kill the deal in early 2024. “He's not interested in solving the problem,” Walz added.
He’s also criticized Trump’s pledge to finish construction of a wall along the southern border, claiming that it won’t curb the rise in illegal border crossings: “I always say, let me know how high it is. If it's 25 feet, then I'll invest in the 30-foot ladder factory,” Walz told CNN. “That's not how you stop this. You stop this using electronics, you stop it using more border control agents, and you stop it by having a legal system that allows for that tradition of allowing folks to come here, just like my relatives did to come here, be able to work and establish the American dream.”
ISRAEL-GAZA
Walz has not spoken extensively about the Israel-Gaza conflict, though his stance appears broadly aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration: “The situation in Gaza is intolerable,” Walz told CNN in March. “And I think trying to find a solution, a lasting two-state solution, certainly the President's move towards humanitarian aid and asking us to get to a ceasefire…”
While in Congress, Walz supported pro-Israel resolutions, including voting to condemn a United Nations resolution affirming that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. He also traveled to Israel as part of a diplomatic trip to the Middle East in 2009 and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Democratic Majority for Israel, an advocacy group that supports pro-Israel policies, praised the Walz pick shortly after the announcement.
Walz condemned Hamas following its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel during which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage. He also supported a deal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza as Israel launched a devastating assault on the region after Oct. 7. “The vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas, and Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people,” he wrote on social media on Oct. 20. “We cannot let terrorists like Hamas win.” Several progressive Democrats who have been critical of Israel have also come out in support of Walz as Harris’ running mate.
GUN CONTROL
Walz’s stance on gun control has changed over the years. A gun owner and supporter of the Second Amendment, Walz had an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) while in Congress—but that later turned into an “F.” During his first campaign for governor in 2018, he began to champion more gun-control measures. After a gunman opened fire in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and killed 17 people, Walz publicly expressed support for an assault weapons ban.
“I had an A rating from the NRA. Now I get straight F’s. And I sleep just fine,” he said in a post on X on July 27.
In 2023, he signed several gun-control measures into law, expanding universal background checks to private party transfers of pistols and semiautomatic weapons, as well as creating a “red flag” law that allows a family member, guardian, city or county attorney, or police chief to intervene and ask a court to take weapons away from someone if they’re at high risk of hurting themselves or others.
“As a veteran, gun-owner, hunter, and dad, I know basic gun safety isn’t a threat to the Second Amendment—it’s about keeping our kids safe,” Walz said in a press release at the time. “There’s no place for weapons of war in our schools, churches, banks, or anywhere else people are just trying to live their lives..
Economy
As governor, Walz advocated for a historically progressive overhaul of Minnesota’s economy, passing a series of reforms that some progressives hope could be a model for the federal government if Democrats win control of the House and Senate.
Walz pushed for pro-labor legislation, signing a bill into law last year that established statewide sick and medical leave, banned non-compete agreements, and added worker safety requirements. The United Auto Workers (UAW), which has endorsed Harris and is one of the nation’s largest union groups, celebrated Harris’ decision to name Walz as her running mate: "Tim Walz doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk," the UAW wrote on social media. "From delivering for working-class Americans to standing with the UAW on our picket line last year, we know which side he's on."
As governor, Walz also signed the Local Jobs and Projects Plan, which gave roughly $1.9 billion to support construction and renovation projects, including affordable housing projects.
His administration provided tax cuts to many Minnesota residents, while raising taxes on some corporations and high earners. In addition, he provided rebates known as “Walz checks” for low- and middle-income families, which are worth up to $1,300 in some cases, and he championed a statewide child tax credit of up to $1,750 per child.
Paid leave, free school meals, and other issues
Walz has taken a progressive stance on several family issues. In 2023, he signed a bill that provides paid family and medical leave into law, saying at the time that the move is “ensuring Minnesotans no longer have to make the choice between a paycheck and taking time off to care for a new baby or a sick family member.” The program, which will start in 2026, will allow workers up to 12 weeks a year off with partial pay to take care of a newborn baby or a sick relative, and up to 12 weeks to recover if they themselves are seriously ill.
A former teacher, Walz has also supported funding for a program that provides free school meals to children. In 2023, Walz signed into law the North Star Promise Scholarship Program to provide public higher education in Minnesota tuition-free for eligible low-income students.
Walz has also signed legislation legalizing recreational marijuana and establishing a board that would expunge or resentence lower-level cannabis convictions.
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VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS | |
Kamala Harris is the 49th Vice President of the United States, serving since January 20, 2021. She is the first woman, the first African American, and the first Asian American to hold the office of Vice President. Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. Before becoming Vice President, she served as a U.S. Senator from California from 2017 to 2021. Prior to that, she was the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017. Harris is a member of the Democratic Party and has been a significant figure in American politics, known for her work on criminal justice reform, immigration, and civil rights.
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THE INSPIRING STORY OF VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS | |
Kamala Harris's life story is marked by numerous groundbreaking achievements and a commitment to public service. She is one step away from becoming the first female President of the United States.
Early Life and Education
Born: October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California.
Parents: Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian American cancer researcher, and Donald Harris, a Jamaican American professor of economics.
Education:
Attended Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C., where she earned a degree in political science and economics.
Received her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Early Career
Deputy District Attorney: Started her career as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California, where she focused on prosecuting cases of gang violence, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse.
San Francisco District Attorney's Office: Worked in various roles, including head of the Career Criminal Division.
Political Career
District Attorney of San Francisco:
Elected in 2003, becoming the first woman and first African American to hold the office.
Focused on combating truancy, reforming the criminal justice system, and promoting rehabilitation over incarceration.
Attorney General of California:
Elected in 2010, re-elected in 2014.
First woman, first African American, and first South Asian American to hold the office.
Known for her work on foreclosure crisis, criminal justice reform, and environmental issues.
U.S. Senator from California:
Elected in 2016.
Served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Select Committee on Intelligence.
Advocated for healthcare reform, immigration reform, and social justice issues.
Vice President of the United States
2020 Presidential Campaign:
Ran for the Democratic nomination for President but ended her campaign before the primaries.
Selected by Joe Biden as his running mate in August 2020.
Elected as Vice President in November 2020, inaugurated on January 20, 2021.
Vice Presidential Achievements
Historic Firsts:
First female Vice President, first Black Vice President, and first South Asian Vice President.
Advocates for various issues including the COVID-19 pandemic response, immigration reform, voting rights, and economic equity.
Personal Life
Married to Douglas Emhoff, a lawyer, since 2014.
Step-mother to Emhoff's two children from his previous marriage.
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CELEBRATING THE OLYMPIC GAMES | |
My Message on Olympics: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1005464871116879
The Olympics embody values of excellence, friendship, and respect. The Olympic Creed emphasizes participation over winning, promoting the idea that the effort to compete is what truly matters. I cannot think of a better time than now than to celebrate our unity in diversity through sports which can serve as a bridge to cultures from all around the world.
The Olympic Games, a premier international sporting event, bring together athletes from around the globe to compete in a wide range of sports. Held every four years, the Games alternate between the Summer and Winter Olympics, showcasing human excellence and promoting unity and peace through sports.
Historical Background
Ancient Origins: The Olympics date back to ancient Greece, around 776 BC, in Olympia. These games were held every four years in honor of Zeus and included various athletic competitions.
Modern Revival: The modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator and historian. The first modern Olympics took place in Athens, Greece, featuring 13 countries and 43 events.
Structure and Format
Summer Olympics: Held every four years, the Summer Games feature a wide array of sports, including athletics, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, and more.
Winter Olympics: Also held every four years, but alternating with the Summer Games, the Winter Olympics focus on sports such as skiing, ice skating, and ice hockey.
Paralympics: These games are held immediately following the Olympics and feature athletes with disabilities.
Youth Olympics: Targeted at young athletes aged 14 to 18, the Youth Olympics focus on sports and cultural education.
Cultural and Social Impact
Global Unity: The Olympics promote international peace and unity by bringing together athletes and fans from diverse backgrounds.
Cultural Exchange: Host cities showcase their culture, history, and traditions to a global audience, fostering cultural appreciation and exchange.
Notable Moments
Historic Performances: The Olympics have seen countless historic performances, such as Usain Bolt’s record-breaking sprints and Michael Phelps' unprecedented 23 gold medals.
Inspirational Stories: Athletes like Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and Wilma Rudolph, who overcame polio to become a triple gold medalist, inspire generations.
Economic and Political Aspects
Economic Impact: Hosting the Olympics can boost tourism, infrastructure, and global recognition for the host city. However, it also involves significant costs and potential financial risks.
Political Statements: The Olympics have often been a platform for political statements, such as the Black Power salute in 1968 and the boycotts during the Cold War era.
Technological Advances
Sports Technology: Advances in technology have revolutionized training methods, equipment, and broadcasting, enhancing both performance and viewer experience.
Sustainability Efforts: Recent games have focused on sustainability, with efforts to reduce the environmental footprint through eco-friendly venues and practices.
Future of the Olympics
The next Summer Olympics will be held in Paris in 2024, followed by the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina in 2026. These events are expected to introduce new sports and innovations.
Evolving Format: The Olympics continue to evolve, with efforts to include more youth-focused and gender-equal events, as well as embracing new sports such as skateboarding and surfing.
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FOR MY WEST VIRGINIA FAMILY, WEST VIRGINIA WILL ALWAYS BE HOME -Sonia Rao
https://www.100daysinappalachia.com/2024/07/for-my-indian-american-family-west-virginia-will-always-be-home/
West Virginia” is never what people are looking for when they ask where my family is from.
The first week of January, my dad and I drove five hours from our house in North Carolina to visit his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia, for a family friend’s memorial service. We drove the same route we’d taken many times during my childhood, up through Greensboro, stopping in Wytheville and Beckley.
I was not born in Charleston and did not grow up there. But I feel a connection to the city, and the Appalachian region where my family lived for more than 30 years.
I identify as South Asian and Southern American, two identities that have been difficult to reconcile.
The idea of Asian-Americanness and Southernness seen as opposing identities is expressed by scholars Jigna Desai and Khyati Y. Joshi in Discrepancies in Dixie: Asian Americans and the South. “The figure of the Asian American is perceived to be discrepant in and antithetical to the U.S. South,” they write. “Within the American imaginary, the Asian American as perpetual foreigner and alien is always seen as a recent immigrant, and therefore associated with contemporary times, while the South is perceived as an anachronistic and isolated region; this renders the two—the Asian American and the South—allegedly mutually exclusive and incongruous.”
My family’s story, and those of many others, directly disprove this notion.
I grew up in the Triangle, a hotspot for Asian-Americans in the South, living down the street from my grandparents. I was raised on stories about their decades in Charleston, where they were surrounded by a small community of South Asians who became their found family.
My grandparents, Pejawar Murali Dhar Rao and Nirmala Rao – whom I call “Ajja” and “Doma” – immigrated to New London, Connecticut in the late ‘60s from Madras, India, so Ajja could complete surgical training. In 1969, Ajja had to decide where to complete his residency. A former classmate from Madras encouraged Ajja to join him in Charleston.
My great-grandfather sent them discouraging cables from India: “It’s not a very rich state,” he wrote. “Don’t go there.”
But my grandparents, uprooted from their family and home, desired living near familiar people. “I need to go,” Ajja responded to my great-grandfather. “But I know someone I can lean on if I don’t do well.”
When Ajja started his residency at Charleston General Hospital, there were only three other South Asian families living in the area.
“We were family,” Doma always says about her friends from Charleston. They took care of each other. When my dad was born, Ajja was chief resident at the hospital and could not take shifts off. Doma spent the night at her friend’s house until she went into labor. The friend, whom Doma is still in touch with, drove her to the hospital in the morning and held her hand as she delivered the baby.
Even now, this community is connected. My grandparents call their friends every night, visit every few months and travel together.
“Because of the distance from the family, you didn’t have FaceTime, video calls, cell phones. If you called India it was long-distance, so we only called every few months, every year, maybe,” my dad said. “So the Indians going through the same experience, we became very closely knit, and those became our closest family members.”
It is this sense of family that permeated our most recent visit to Charleston. When we paused our drive in Princeton, West Virginia, my dad glanced at a man walking towards us, and after a second look, shouted his name. He was someone my dad had grown up playing tennis with in Charleston, en route to a family ski trip.
Theirs was the first of many reunions. My dad spent the rest of our drive making calls. Instead of going to our hotel, we made visits to see my dad’s childhood best friends and their families, who were aunts and uncles to my dad. We drove past my dad’s elementary school, the home he grew up in, the tennis center where he spent his formative years, his favorite bookstore.
My dad could not stop reflecting about how much the people and places he loved had changed. He called my grandparents, who reminded him that, like the rest of the South, Charleston had been changing for a long time.
From the 1970s when my family moved to Charleston onward, the South Asian population grew. West Virginia’s Asian-American Pacific Islander population, which the state didn’t count in 1970, was about 5,000 in 1980. (Today, that number is about 14,000).
My grandparents came to America on a tourist visa and were one of many families who gained citizenship from the 1965 Hart-Cellar Immigration Act, which allowed thousands of doctors, engineers and other professionals to immigrate to the U.S. during the ‘70s and ‘80s. The 1965 act is often credited with kicking off large-scale immigration from Asia to the U.S., although Asian people have existed in America long before the mid-20th century, coming over 150 years ago as laborers who mined, farmed and built railroads.
Southern states since the 1980s have been home to rapidly increasing Asian populations due to changes in the Southern economy, which have shifted migration patterns towards the South, according to Desai and Joshi.
This has influenced the region, including how Asian-American religious communities have formed and developed – Buddhist and Hindu temples, gurdwaras, mosques, and Korean churches.
“Often, Asian American religious communities have had to establish and maintain themselves in this hostile terrain by creating and fortifying clearly demarcated ethno religious spaces, by exposing and guarding against the normative influence of Christianity, and by slowly adapting social and political structures to accommodate religious diversity and difference through legal, cultural, and media activism,” Desai and Joshi write.
Every Sunday, when most people went to church, my grandparents met at their friends’ houses to conduct pujas – Hindu worship ceremonies – and share food.
Occasionally, they would drive more than three hours to the closest Hindu temple in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My grandmother says the drive was worth it to expose her two sons to more Indian culture. Eventually, the community worked together to raise money and build the India Center, a space where they held religious and cultural events, and rented out to locals to increase knowledge of Indian traditions.
The India Center, where our family friend’s memorial was held, was my dad and I’s final destination in Charleston. This “uncle” had been one of my grandparents’ first friends in Charleston.
I joined my dad on the trip because I wanted to pay my respects. But more than that, I knew it might be the only chance I had to witness a glimpse of the Charleston childhood my dad always refers to as “the best days of his life.”
I was right. More than 100 people attended the service, eager to pay homage to someone who had been a pillar in their community. Amid hugs, handshakes and some tears, my dad kept turning to me and repeating, “I’m home. I’m home.”
I felt reassured that “West Virginia” is the right answer for people asking where we’re from.
Sonia A. Rao is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying journalism, history and Hindi-Urdu. She has written about education for The Tampa Bay Times, Dallas Morning News, Scalawag Magazine, Hechinger Report and other outlets.
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VACATION WATCH: DYK? The Morrisville Police Department can provide a drive by vacation check to your property this summer while you are out of town. Get all the info and register today at https://bit.ly/4erbTJO
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DOWNLOAD THE MORRISVILLE APP | |
Have you downloaded the Morrisville Central mobile app?
Learn about free community events, view an interactive map of Town facilities and parks to learn about court and field status, and get the latest information about the Town straight from the source.
Download via Apple Store: https://apple.co/3pKCNrg
Download via Google Play: https://bit.ly/3IfPctA
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Secretary Granholm visits Garner for special Grid grant Announcment
On Tuesday, I was honored to be at the Duke Energy Campus in Garner
with Governor Roy Cooper as he joined United States Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to announce new funding through the Department of Energy to enhance North Carolina’s electrical grid and increase capacity for renewable energy storage.
They were joined by N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Elizabeth Biser, Congresswoman Ross, John Podesta and others as they announced the second round of funding through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program at the Duke Energy facility in Garner.
“This funding means cheaper, cleaner and more reliable electricity for our homes and businesses,” said Governor Cooper.
“Not only will these investments from the Biden-Harris Administration help provide more electricity, it will support our growing industries and create quality jobs for people across our state.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration is investing in the most crucial component of the nation’s infrastructure, expanding and hardening the grid to allow more resilient, clean power to reach more households, and support the ongoing manufacturing boom—all while creating thousands of local jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. "North Carolina is becoming a global powerhouse for clean energy—and these upgrades will keep the growth coming.
Through partnerships with local HBCUs and community colleges, investments in the state will create transformational, good-paying jobs for the clean energy economy of the future."
“This grant project is a terrific example of federal, state and local partnerships that benefit the people of North Carolina as we work to build resilience to storms and capacity for future clean energy growth,” said North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Elizabeth Biser.
“The grant announced today by the Department of Energy is a win for the communities Duke Energy serves, and signals North Carolina’s leadership in the energy transition,” said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy North Carolina state president. “This project will help reduce outages, enhance the power system’s resilience against extreme weather, enable the connection of more clean energy sources to the grid and create job opportunities and new partnerships with community organizations.”
Established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program is a $10.5 billion investment to enhance the power grid across the country, improving resiliency against extreme weather, and ensuring American communities have access to affordable, reliable, electricity when and where they need it.
Today’s announcement marks the second round of funding, amounting to $2.2 billion, for the GRIP Program. The first funding opportunity amounted to $3.46 billion for 58 projects across the country.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and State Energy Office, in partnership with Duke Energy, were selected for a $57 million award towards the reconstruction of the Lee-Milburnie 35-mile, 230kV transmission line extending through Wake,
Johnston, and Wayne Counties from Raleigh to Goldsboro.
The award will cover 50% of the project costs with Duke Energy covering the remaining 50%. This project will help meet the growing electricity demand in Eastern North Carolina and will help reduce power outages for more than 14,000 customers.
A special thanks to Congresswoman Ross, whose has been a bi partisan leader in this area and also to Duke Energy for hosting.
Another Great Day in NC!
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Triangle Association of Hindu Temples Health Fair a Success!
A special thanks to the Triangle Area Hindu Temples for another very successful Health Fair with over 700 attendees! I was impressed and grateful for all of the health care providers and professionals who participated and made this event a wonderful success!
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Time with Kiran
Insights from Gunjan Laad from Kiran: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/862231405237945
During the health fair, I was able to spend some time with Kiran, and Gunjan Lad was able to share exciting information about the Bazaar coming up on Sunday, August 11th at the Hindu Society of NC!
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Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee and Connections a Blast!
On Wednesday, I enjoyed the Coffee and Connections at the Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee shop hosted by the Morrisville Chamber. We also met the leaders at the Novel Group, a real estate consulting firm, whose offices are in the shop! A great place to visit, have wonderful conversations! Fount now has some competition!
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Radio Nyra interview with Sharma Aunty
Radio Nyra Interview: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/506819881732413
I had a very wonderful interview with Sharma Aunty last week on Radio Nyra and realy enjoyed our time together! As always, she had great advice for all of us and reminded the community about the Indian Independence Day event at the HSNC Temple on August 17th at 10:30 am!
We are so grateful to the Sharmas for their leadership and service to the community.
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Town of Morrisville recieves Global CIO Symposium Award!
Congratulations to CIO Rick Ralph and Smart City Manager Billy Whitehead officially receiving the CIO 100 Award the IT Team won in the Spring, just last night.
In the words of our very own Jeanne Hooks, what an impressive image seeing the “Town of Morrisville” up on the big screen with our outstanding staff there to revel in the glory of what I call “IT Olympic Gold.”
We have some recognition planned for an upcoming agenda in alignment with a National IT Professionals week in September to showcase the award and more importantly the employees that made it happen. I will be discussing this in my next newsletter.
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Abu Kattan thanks Firefighters
I want to draw your attention to the exceptional response from the Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department to an incident Morrisville Resident, Abu Kattan on Monday, July 1, around 9:30 pm.
His dog Dash got trapped under a power recliner while trying to retrieve his ball. The recliner hadn't fully opened, and his neck became stuck between two iron bars, causing him to struggle to breathe. Meanwhile, his wife and son were panicking, trying to free him.
Abu called 911, and the Morrisville Fire Department arrived within six minutes, as if they had been waiting for my call. My family and I are deeply grateful for their quick response, which gives us immense hope and comfort knowing we have such a responsive and caring team at the Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department. Please extend our thanks to them and let their supervisors know how much we appreciate their service.
A special thanks to Abu and Preeti and FF Chicken for arranging a dinner for the Morrisville Fire/Rescue team, delivered from a restaurant to their Town Hall drive location, without interrupting their work.
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THIS WEEK IN MORRISVILLE AUG8-AUG12 | |
Meetings
August 8 - 6:30 p.m. *CANCELED* Planning & Zoning Board
August 13 Town Council meeting 6 pm. Stream at www.morrisvillenc.gov
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THE BOOK MOBILE IS COMING YOUR WAY!
The Bookmobile is rolling into Lake Crabtree County Park this week and next! Stop by this #LibraryOnTheGo to grab new books, return old ones or participate in a storytime before you explore the park!
🚌 Bookmobile
📅 July 29, 31; Aug. 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9
🕙 10 a.m.-noon
📚 Family Storytime
📅 July 29, 31; Aug. 5, 7
🕥 10:30 a.m.
Check the website at https://ow.ly/oKla50SKoU2 for a full list of events!
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S'Morrisville August 10
Each year Morrisville residents are invited to take part in National S’mores Day on August 10 in “S’Morrisville.” That’s right – the Town will change its name and become S’Morrisville as we honor and enjoy the delicious snacks made famous at campfires everywhere. The event will be held at Morrisville Community Park (1520 Morrisville Parkway) from 4-7 p.m.
The first 800 attendees will receive a ticket for a free s'mores treat from one of our five s'mores vendors. After that, additional s'mores treats will be available for purchase. The event will also include music by DJ Complex, inflatables, and the Scrap Exchange. On-site parking will be available, with overflow parking at Morrisville Elementary School (1519 Morrisville Parkway).
No left turns will be allowed when entering or exiting the park. Please plan accordingly.
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Morrisville 101 Applications Open
Applications for the Town's annual community academy, Morrisville 101, are currently open. The free class is for residents ages 16 and up and meets for five sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. starting October 23.
Morrisville 101 is an excellent way to learn the inner workings of the Town, chat with police and firefighters, and gain an understanding of the many departments that work together to make Morrisville so unique.
Click here to register.
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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Want to make a real difference in keeping Morrisville safe? Be the eyes and ears of law enforcement by starting or joining a Neighborhood Watch program in your area! It's a great way to strengthen our community bonds and help prevent crime.
How it works:
Stay Alert – Keep an eye out for suspicious activity.
Stay Connected – Share information with fellow neighbors.
Work with Us – Partner with local law enforcement to address concerns.
Interested in getting started? Contact Officer D. Schmitt at dschmitt@morrisvillenc.gov or (919) 463-1614.
Together, we can make our neighborhoods safer!
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Major Outages Causing Disruptions
The Town of Morrisville’s Development Services (Inspections, Planning and Engineering departments) are currently experiencing a software outage that is impacting services.
During this time, certain functionalities may be temporarily unavailable. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and are working diligently to minimize any disruptions. For departmental assistance, please use the contacts below:
Inspections/Building Permits - permits@morrisvillenc.gov
Planning- Morrisville- planning@morrisvillenc.gov
Engineering - Morrisville- engineering@morrisvillenc.gov
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Vacation Watch Now Open
Summer vacations are more fun without worries! Morrisville residents, don't forget to take extra steps for a stress-free trip and fill out our free vacation watch form. During their regular patrol shift, a Morrisville police officer will drive by your residence as time allows to help enhance security and deter suspicious activity through their visible presence. Just make sure to fill out this form in its entirety, and at least a week prior to your trip.
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Blueprint for Safety - Regional Transportation Safety Action Plan
The Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is developing a comprehensive regional multimodal safety action plan in partnership with NCDOT, referred to as the Blueprint for Safety. The Blueprint for Safety will identify strategies and actions to improve roadway transportation safety in the CAMPO region. After identifying areas to improve upon, safety enhancements and countermeasures can be recommended and implemented. The Plan will also identify areas that are high risk for serious injury or fatal crashes, taking a more proactive approach in addition to reviewing crash history.
To learn more and provide feedback, please visit the project website.
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Live Fire Training August 24
The Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department will be conducting a live fire training event at 113 Barbee Road on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Area residents can expect to see lots of smoke and numerous public safety vehicles. Barbee Road will be closed directly in front of the address in both directions during the event.
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2035 Wake Transit Plan Update Survey
The 2035 Wake Transit Plan Update is currently underway. The goal of this update is to outline transit investments from 2026 through 2035. Transit investments will be funded through the existing dedicated taxes and fees for transit in Wake County.
To share your feedback on future transit projects in Wake County, please complete this survey. For more information on the 2035 Wake Transit Plan Update, please visit the project website.
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Fall and Winter Program Registration Opening
Morrisville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources fall and winter program registration opens next Friday, July 26, for Morrisville residents. Non-resident registration opens August 5.
Don't miss out on Morrisville's exciting fall/winter programs! Activities are available for all ages, from preschoolers to seniors. Recreational programs include:
Before and After School | Age K-5
Family and Child Yoga Classes | Age 5-14
Pickleball Lessons for Beginners and Intermediate Levels | Age 18+
Senior Field Trips and Social Activities | Age 55+
Shotokan Karate for Youth and Teens/Adults | Age 7+
Winter Basketball Leagues | Age 5-12
Register for programs online by clicking here.
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Morrisville Community Park Playground Closed for Renovations
Renovations on Morrisville Community Park's playground (1520 Morrisville Parkway) have begun and are expected to be completed by mid August. In the meantime, explore alternative playground options in town:
Church Street Park (5800 Cricket Pitch Way)
Indian Creek (101 Town Hall Drive)
Northwest Park (998 Parkside Valley Drive)
Shiloh Park (922 Church Street)
Follow Morrisville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources on social media for updates on the renovation progress and the anticipated reopening date.
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International Festival Vendor Applications Open
Applications are now open for artisans to participate in the Morrisville International Festival on September 21, 2024. The festival, which runs from 2-7 p.m. along Town Hall Drive, celebrates the town's diversity with food, music and vendors. Interested artisan vendors can find an application here.
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Free Athletics To-Go Clinics
Morrisville Athletics is offering a variety of free one-day clinics for youth to sharpen their basketball, baseball, and volleyball skills this summer. Basketball clinics are scheduled for July 27 and August 24. Baseball clinics will take place on July 16 and July 23. Volleyball clinics are set for July 20.
Limited spots remain, register for these free clinics online here.
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EV Charger Changes
Starting August 1, the Town of Morrisville will be expanding access to its electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to better serve residents. To ensure fair access and to accommodate more drivers, a fee will be implemented for usage beyond three hours.
How it works: After three hours (plus a 15-minute grace period) EV owners will be charged $10 per hour with a $100 maximum. The Town continues to offer no-fee charging at Town-owned stations for up to three hours.
EV charging infrastructure may be found at the locations below:
- Church Street Park, 5800 Cricket Pitch Way (two ChargePoint chargers – four ports)
- Fire Station No. 3, 1021 Harris Mill Road (one ChargePoint charger – two ports)
- Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center, 1301 Morrisville Parkway (one ChargePoint charger – two ports)
- Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway (two ChargePoint chargers – four ports Morrisville Town Hall, 100 Town Hall Drive (two ChargePoint chargers – four ports)
- Public Safety Municipal Services, 260 Town Hall Drive (two Clipper Creek chargers – two ports)
EV charging will be available from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily to coincide with business and park hours.
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Traffic Signal Changes on Morrisville Carpenter Road
ATTENTION ROAD USERS: The Town of Morrisville would like to alert residents, business owners and visitors of new traffic signals on Morrisville Carpenter Road where it intersects with Old Savannah Drive and Orianna Drive. As we prepare to launch its normal operation, please be aware and use caution when traveling in this area.
Currently, the signals are flashing yellow. On Tuesday, July 16, at approximately 9 a.m., the traffic signals will switch to normal operation (red, yellow, green) on Morrisville Carpenter Road and the crossroads – Old Savannah Drive and Orianna Drive. The pedestrian signals and associated trigger buttons will be activated at this time as well. The stop signs on the crossroads and the temporary flashing beacons there now on Morrisville Carpenter Road will be removed on the same day.
For any questions or concerns, please contact Kitty Thomas at kthomas@morrisvillenc.gov or (919) 463-6917
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Western Wake Farmers Market Saturday
The Western Wake Farmers Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food and goods from small and local businesses from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive.
This week, come pick up a free local melon and/or squash plant and/or beans at the Morrisville Education Garden: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m., or until supplies are gone. Information will be given on care and oversight. This is open to all ages, but participants under 13 years old must be accompanied by a registered adult.
WWFM now accepts EBT card withdrawals from SNAP-eligible customers at the Info Tent. They are also currently offering Double Bucks, meaning each withdrawal will be matched 1:1 in value.
CompostNow.org is also now hosting a compost collection site at the market’s information tent. Residents are invited to bring their food scraps and select other items for collection during market hours. Visit wwfm.ag to learn more.
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Now Hiring
The Town of Morrisville is now hiring for both full- and part-time positions. Check out employment opportunities here.
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Enjoying Music in the Park with Liz Johnson! | | |
RTA Mobility Brunch with Holly Springs Mayor Sean Mahefsky | | |
OTHER NORTH CAROLINA NEWS | |
Get more NC News at Carolina Journal https://www.carolinajournal.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5Ky1BhAgEiwA5jGujhyTmwksIbw1n7oSG6LYJK9_zBE2GT2SWeX1VOEHhazBablgon70XRoC_MYQAvD_BwE
GOVERNOR COOPER WITHDRAWS FROM VP RACE
Roy Cooper on Monday said it isn’t the right time for him to join a national ticket, as two sources familiar with the discussions told CNN the North Carolina governor had removed himself from consideration as Kamala Harris’ running mate in a sign that the accelerated search has entered a new phase.
Harris’ decision on a running mate could come within a week, two people familiar with the matter said, with Harris’ goal to make an announcement before August 7. She intends to have private conversations with top contenders, sources said, but it was unclear whether those discussions have started.
“I strongly support Vice President Harris’ campaign for President. I know she’s going to win and I was honored to be considered for this role. This just wasn’t the right time for North Carolina and for me to potentially be on a national ticket,” Cooper said in a statement posted to his personal account on X. “As l’ve said from the beginning, she has an outstanding list of people from which to choose, and we’ll all work to make sure she wins.”
Cooper was approached by the Harris campaign about being vetted, and he declined, a source familiar told CNN.
The governor, whose friendship with Harris dates back to their time serving as the attorneys general of their respective states, was also the oldest candidate under consideration. His age, 67, was seen by some Democrats to be at odds with Harris’ push for a vigorous and younger ticket, the sources said.
Harris' team considers VP candidates: Cooper among them
There also was concern among some Democrats about elevating Mark Robinson, North Carolina’s Republican lieutenant governor whom the state constitution says would perform the governor’s duties when the governor is absent from the state.
Other Democrats in the state and Washington, DC, told CNN that Cooper may instead look at the 2026 Senate race for the seat currently held by Republican Thom Tillis.
Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/north-carolina-gov-roy-cooper-removes-himself-from-harris-vp-consideration/21548664/
VP HARRIS TO VISIT RALEIGH NEXT WEEK WITH HER VICE PRESIDENT PICK
Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to come to Raleigh for a campaign visit next week and she’s expected to bring her running mate with her.
WRAL News has confirmed from a campaign official on Tuesday that Harris will stop in Raleigh for a campaign rally, where she will bring her presumptive running mate.
Read More at https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/kamala-harris-campaign-rally-raleigh-north-carolina-next-week-vp-pick/275-16e3c939-5119-40fc-af90-c3471f1acc7f
WAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS CONSIDER BANNING CELL PHONES
A group of Raleigh leaders, parents and medical professionals is pushing Wake County school officials to ban mobile devices in schools across the district.
Members of the group — including former Raleigh Councilwoman Nicole Stewart, a family doctor and others — requested the ban Tuesday at a meeting of the Wake County Board of Education. The group is worried about mental health and academic issues stemming from mobile device use.
It's time for us to collectively take this action to ban phones, just like we banned tobacco back in the 90s," Stewart said.
The request comes as state and local leaders have pushed for cellphone bans during the school day. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that 76% of public schools prohibited “non-academic cell phone use” during the 2021-2022 school year.
Several counties in North Carolina have already done that and feedback in those counties indicates students are paying more attention in class and aren’t too bothered by not having their phones because they’re not missing anything happening online if their peers don’t have access to their phones, either, state officials have said.
“Constant interruption is a huge part of it. Children being interrupted in school ruins their attention, brings down their grades and interrupts the teachers, who are constantly trying to learn on a constant basis,” Stewart said. "It's a lot of it's that constant attention and addiction that we need to overcome so they can be successful, productive human beings in the future."
No action was taken yet.
Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/parent-group-proposes-cellphone-ban-at-wake-public-schools-during-school-board-meeting/21526315/
REP. JASON SAINE TO STEP DOWN FROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Longtime Republican House Rep. Jason Saine will resign from the North Carolina General Assembly effective Aug. 12.
“After much contemplation and consideration, I am choosing to step from public life to pursue several unique professional opportunities that have presented themselves,” wrote the 50-year-old from Lincoln County in his resignation letter to House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain). “These roles will allow me to continue advocating for the policies I am passionate about, including consulting on several key issues that are close to my heart. I remain open to exploring avenues where I can contribute to policy development within North Carolina and beyond. Saine has served in the General Assembly for 13 years.
Read More at https://nsjonline.com/article/2024/07/longtime-lincoln-county-house-rep-jason-saine-leaving-the-general-assembly/
NC LAW RESTRICTING MASKS IN PUBLIC BECOMES LAW
North Carolina's contentious restrictions on public mask-wearing became law on Thursday after GOP lawmakers successfully overrode a veto by the state's Democratic governor.
The Senate gave its final stamp of approval in a 30-14 override vote along party lines. The state House initiated the process Wednesday when it voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto during a lengthy session that lasted well into the night.
The ban joins a list of more than 20 gubernatorial vetoes the GOP-dominated North Carolina General Assembly has overridden in the past year. Republicans hold narrow supermajorities in both chambers.
The law, most of which goes into effect immediately, contains different language from the bill that lawmakers first introduced this session. The original proposal had removed a 2020 bipartisan regulation put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed masking for health reasons, prompting pushback from the public and some Democratic legislators. The lawmakers restored a medical exemption.
The law allows people to wear medical or surgical-grade masks in public to prevent the spread of illness. Law enforcement and property owners can ask people to temporarily remove those masks to verify their identity.
The measure also increases the severity of punishment for crimes committed while wearing a mask, and raises penalties for protesters who purposefully block traffic. The latter provision is scheduled to go into effect Dec. 1.
An unrelated provision on campaign finance was tacked on to the bill during negotiations. The law allows federally registered committees to donate money to state political parties by tapping pots of money that include unlimited contributions from individuals.
Read More at https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/north-carolinas-restrictions-public-mask-wearing-now-law-111488813
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LATEST NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UPDATES | |
1. Kamala Harris introduced Tim Walz as her running-mate at a big campaign rally in Philadelphia. Mr Walz, the governor of Minnesota, went after Donald Trump and J.D. Vance and said he would defend personal freedoms, such as abortion rights. Mr Walz is more progressive than other figures that were on Ms Harris’s vice-presidential short-list, having overseen gun restrictions and marijuana legalisation in his home state. He is expected to accompany Ms Harris on a tour of battleground states this week.
2. Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7th attack on Israel, as its leader. The appointment has raised fears that a ceasefire in Gaza is increasingly out of sight. Israel’s army said it has killed 45 Palestinian fighters in Gaza since Monday. Medics reported that civilians were also killed. Meanwhile Antony Blinken, America’s top diplomat, warned Israel and Iran against escalating the regional conflict.
3. Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and Tim Walz, her running-mate, began a tour of battleground states. They will campaign in five states in as many days, including Wisconsin and Michigan. At a rally in Detroit on Wednesday, a raucous crowd of 15,000 chanted “we’re not going back” as a counter to Donald Trump’s “make America great again” slogan. According to The Economist’s poll tracker, Ms Harris has now overtaken Mr Trump in the national popular vote.
4. A day of anticipated far-right violence in Britain never materialised, as thousands of anti-racism demonstrators took to the streets across the country. Police mobilised 6,000 officers, after anti-immigrant protesters planned scores of rallies in towns and cities. Hotels housing asylum-seekers and immigration lawyers’ offices were among the intended targets. But the anti-immigration mobs were vastly outnumbered by counter-demonstrators, some of whom formed human shields.
5. Mohammed Shahabuddin, Bangladesh’s president, appointed Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel-peace-prize winner, to lead an interim government. Earlier Mr Shahabuddin dissolved parliament and released Khaleda Zia, an opposition leader and former prime minister, from house arrest. The moves clear the way for elections after Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister, resigned and fled on Monday. In a guest essay for The Economist published on Tuesday Mr Yunus laid out the next steps for Bangladesh.
6. Around 300 Ukrainian soldiers launched an attack into Kursk, a Russian region bordering Ukraine. At least five people died and 28 were injured in the attack, according to Russian officials, one of the largest on Russian soil since the war began. Russia has successfully intensified its offensive in Ukraine in recent months. The Ukrainian military is retreating by up to 1km a day.
7. Stockmarkets in Asia lurched again, as investors pondered whether turmoil in the market was a correction, or the beginning of a full-fledged crash. Japan’s Topix index, among the most closely watched in the current climate, fell by 2% upon opening, before clawing back its losses. The Bank of Japan indicated it would not raise interest rates while capital markets were “extremely volatile”. America’s stockmarkets also rebounded.
8. China will impose restrictions on three chemicals used to make fentanyl, according to the Biden administration. America has for years been pressing China to clamp down on the production of ingredients used to make the drug. Around 75,000 Americans were killed by fentanyl and similar synthetic opioids last year.
9. Donald Trump announced he would sit for an interview with Elon Musk, the owner of X, a social-media platform, on August 12th. The ex-president can probably expect a fairly easy ride. Mr Musk has endorsed his re-election bid and neither man is averse to promoting the odd right-wing conspiracy theory. Mr Trump, though, is far less keen on electric-vehicles (may their supporters “ROT IN HELL”) than his interlocutor, who owns Tesla.
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RTA Brunch (Lets Get Moving) Weston Briarcreek 9- 11:30 am Tuesday, August 6, 2024 (Westin Raleigh-Durham Airport 3931 Macaw Street, Raleigh, NC) Register at https://letsgetmoving.org/ | |
Aug 17 Indian Independence Day Event at Hindu Society of NC 10:30 am at HSNC 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.
For more information or to schedule a time to speak with Council Member Rao, please email SRao@TownofMorrisville.org and copy Town Clerk Patricia Spillane, PSpillane@morrisvillenc.gov, 919-463-6168.
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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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