Washington
State hopes to clear out remaining backlogged rape kits by the end of the year
State hopes to filter out remaining backlogged rape kits by the tip of the 12 months
A brand new invoice making its approach to the US Senate might present extra funding to states like Washington to lastly filter out backlogged rape kits which have taken years to course of and assessment.
OLYMPIA, Wash. – A brand new invoice making its approach to the US Senate might present extra funding to states like Washington to lastly filter out backlogged rape kits which have taken years to course of and assessment.
In November, Washington nonetheless had 1000’s of excellent kits.
The Washington State Patrol mentioned now the state crime lab is nearer than ever to clearing out the backlog with round 3,000 left to go. Any cash the state may get might assist to hurry issues alongside and preserve turnaround occasions low for the brand new kits coming in.
“Again in 2017, it was estimated there have been roughly 12,000 kits on the market that had not been examined,” mentioned Chris Loftis, the director of communications with Washington State Patrol.
Loftis mentioned the state has come a great distance from the 12,000 kits that sat untested on proof cabinets six years in the past. In November of final 12 months, the variety of kits ready for testing and assessment had been lower in half to round 6,000, and this month, he mentioned it is dropped even additional.
“You are taking a look at roughly someplace between 2,500 and three,000 which are within the course of someplace, however all of them are within the course of,” mentioned Loftis.
He mentioned testing picked up after the state elevated capability by opening a lab in Vancouver a couple of years in the past.
“We’re 80% there so far as the capability for that coaching of the brand new people,” mentioned Loftis.
New expertise has additionally helped to chop down the turnaround time for brand new assessments coming in. Up to now, Loftis mentioned it could take round a 12 months to get outcomes again on a rape package take a look at. Now, the turnaround time has been lower to round 45 days.
“Robotics have turned this right into a 24/7 operation versus simply when the scientists had been sitting at their desks,” mentioned Loftis
US Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington has additionally not too long ago helped to introduce laws reauthorizing the Debbie Smith Act by way of 2029. It might present state and native legislation enforcement businesses with extra assets to proceed to cut back the backlogs in analyzing DNA proof from untested rape kits. It was initially signed in 2004, and was reauthorized in 2008 and 2014.
In January, the Washington State Patrol posted on-line that there have been 1,473 kits that had been collected after July 2015 that also wanted testing.
Loftis mentioned the state’s purpose is to get the backlog eradicated as soon as and for all in 2023.
“We’re at about 90% of the historic kits which have been despatched to us, which have gone by way of the method, and have obtained the testing that’s vital and have gotten the analysis. We’re fairly assured by the tip of this calendar 12 months, the residual of that might be right down to zero,” mentioned Loftis. “We’re speaking a matter of months now, we’ve been speaking a matter of years for a very long time, in order that speaks rather a lot.”
An East African crowned crane that escaped from a Washington state zoo was found days after being on the lam, strolling on the town streets, and hanging with a group of “blue herons,” officials said.
Cougar Mountain Zoo officials documented “Alice’s” adventures out in Wonderland, Washington, on social media, dubbing their missing wildlife “curious.”
Alice made her way outside the zoo grounds on May 21 and was last seen at Lake Sammamish State Park. That day, zoo officials posted: “Our team has eyes on her at Lake Sammamish State Park. If you see her, do not approach.”
courtesy Cougar Mountain Zoo
Concerned spotters called the zoo’s dedicated phone line to report animal sightings. She was seen strolling on neighborhood streets near Issaquah, Washington. The next day, it was reported that the crane flew east and was last sighted on the southeast shore of the Lake Sammamish State Park, then flew in the direction of the boat launch.
Late in the afternoon on May 22, zoo officials posted, “It is believed that the crane might be hanging out with a group of Great blue herons around the Lake Sammamish State Park Area.”
Followers responded to the missive with promises to help and pithy comments. One poster wrote, “I hope it has a hot bird summer. Screw a cage and a zoo.”
courtesy Trina Doheny/Cougar Mountain Zoo
On Friday evening, a community resident called to report that the crane was spotted “at a home near Peregrine Point.” Then, a resident on Lake Sammamish spotted Alice in their yard along the waterfront and quickly reached out to the zoo. The zoo told CBS News that their team was nearby, and additional staff and volunteers came to help retrieve the bird.
“Alice was gently retrieved at 11:57 PM without incident,” the zoo confirmed to CBS News. “She is now back at the zoo, under the supervision of our staff and veterinarian, and will be closely monitored after her journey. Her bonded partner, Hatter, welcomed her home!”
The Cougar Mountain Zoo was established in 1972, and its primary focus is on endangered species and promoting conservation through education.
courtesy Cougar Mountain Zoo
Chilling new details in killings of Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington D.C.
Chilling new details were released in a federal criminal complaint about the deadly shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. that took the lives of two Israeli Embassy staffers.
May 23, 2025
General Stephen Whiting told a public forum in Chicago on Thursday that the ambitious defence system known as the Golden Dome was a response to how China had spent the past three decades preparing to target American space infrastructure.
“They have built capabilities to hold at risk our space systems,” he said. “Golden Dome is part of making sure we’re ready.”
Whiting said Beijing’s strategy included deploying weapons in orbit, developing jamming systems and fielding kinetic anti-satellite missiles – all with the explicit aim of blinding and disrupting US military operations during a crisis.
“China has ambitions to be the world’s greatest space power,” he said. “And they are backing that up with action.”
Unveiled this week with an initial US$25 billion investment, the Golden Dome is a sweeping plan to build a layered missile defence architecture to protect the US from long-range and hypersonic threats.
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