🌱 Sex Crime Cases In Limbo + Phoenix Motorcycle Chase + Water Alert

Morning, Phoenix! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh copy of the Phoenix Patch newsletter. Let's get this Friday started off right, with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

But first, today's weather:

A thunderstorm around. High: 105 Low: 85.

From our partner:

For Phoenix resident Gary Yeager, 73, age really is just a number. Here's what he had to say about competing in the 2023 National Senior Games, presented by Humana.

Here are the top three stories in Phoenix today:

1. The Phoenix Police Department is grappling with a significant backlog of untested rape kits, leaving hundreds of sex crime cases in limbo. As of Jul. 31, 835 sex assault kits remained untested due to persistent staffing shortages in the department; although plans are in place to address this within six months, only 300 have been sent to external labs for processing. The delay has sparked criticism from advocates like Christa Lindsay of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, who stresses the trauma survivors endure while waiting for justice, and from Governor Katie Hobbs, who pledges to collaborate with law enforcement to address the issue. (Arizona's Family)
2. In an overnight incident on Aug. 16, a motorcyclist suffered severe injuries following a failed traffic stop and subsequent chase initiated by an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper in Downtown Phoenix. The chase culminated when the motorcyclist sideswiped an SUV near the Deck Park Tunnel and was then hit by a pickup truck. The injured individual, a man in his 20s, was transported to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center and had been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. (FOX 10 News Phoenix)
3. Phoenix remains under a stage one water alert despite federal easing on Colorado River water restrictions after a wet winter. Although 40 percent of the city's water comes from the river and a supply imbalance persists, conservation initiatives since the alert's initiation last summer have successfully reduced water demand, with the city yet to reach 2020 consumption peaks. To further promote conservation, upcoming initiatives include incentives for efficient toilets and turf replacements. (Fronteras: The Changing America Desk)

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Today in and around Phoenix:

Friday, August 18

• Disaster! The Musical At Arizona Broadway Theatre, Peoria (5:30 PM)
• Electric Lotus - Yoga Rave At Sutra Studios (7:00 PM)
• Elvis-Themed Dinner At FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Thursday morning, police found a 7-year-old girl who was reported missing in nearby Buckeye. As of this writing, the Buckeye Police Department is actively working to reunite the child with her family. (KTAR.com)
• In honor of National Immunization Awareness Month (throughout the month of August), the Phoenix Fire Department wants to remind residents of its free immunization program, available for children under 18 years old. (Phoenix Fire Department via Facebook)
• Applications are open for the City of Phoenix's Community Mental Health Awareness & Safety Task Force! Apply by Sep. 15 for the community-led task force, which examines the mental health wellness and safety needs of local residents. (City of Phoenix, AZ USA via Facebook)
  

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.