🌱 $2.3B To Process Backlog Rape Kits + Koch Appointed To County Court

Hello, neighbors. It's Wednesday in Dallas and I'm back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

A morning shower. High: 69 Low: 45.

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Here are the top three stories today in Dallas:

1. A budget of $2.3 million has been approved to process 1,899 sexual assault kits with the Dallas Police Department that currently remain untested. Since 2019, crime labs are required to test a sexual assault kit within 90 days of receiving a request, but much of the backlog remains untested. Lavinia Masters, a survivor and activist, said, "It's kind of irritating to hear that number. Very frustrating because I know those are victims that are waiting for answers, survivors waiting for answers about their case. Will (the testing) be done in time for justice?"(NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)
2. Former Dallas County Commissioner J.J. Koch has been appointed as Dallas County District Court judge by Gov. Greg Abbott. Koch will be serving out two years remaining on the term of Judge Nancy Kennedy, who is now on the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said, "This isn't just about judges. This is about victims. This is about people. This is about individuals even who are in custody. They're entitled to their day in court." (FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth)
3. Ron Kirk has joined Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson's International Advisory Council. From 1995 to 2002, Kirk served as the Mayor of Dallas. From 2009 to 2013, he served as the U.S. Trade Representative. The six other members of the IAC have also served as U.S. Ambassadors. (WBAP News/Talk)

Today in Dallas:

• (Em)powerment Pop-Up At Martin Luther King Jr. Library And Learning Center (10:30 AM)
• Open Mic At The Free Man (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center has Duke available for adoption. Two-year-old Duke has an underbite, a snaggle tooth, and a shining personality. (Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center via Facebook)
• Dallas Park and Recreation Department is hiring full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions. You can view the open positions here. (Dallas Park and Recreation Department via Facebook)
• Dallas-based Soul Bird’s Chickn Shack restaurant serves some of the meanest, juiciest chicken in North Texas. The restaurant sells chicken salad, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, or chicken wings — all brined overnight. (CW33 Dallas)

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That's it for today! See you all tomorrow for your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.