🌱 City Of Dallas Employees & Preferred Pronouns + Cyber Attack Update

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Come along to find out the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 91 Low: 70.

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Here are the top three stories in Dallas today:

1. Newly revealed documents indicate that employees of the City of Dallas, Texas must adhere to using individuals' preferred pronouns or face potential termination. The internal document titled "Workplace Gender Transition Protocols & FAQ" outlines the city's guidelines for interacting with transgender individuals, emphasizing the protection of gender transition in its various forms. The guidelines stress the importance of respecting employees' chosen names and pronouns, regardless of personal beliefs, and failure to comply may result in disciplinary action, including termination.(Fox News)
2. On Monday, Jun. 5, the City of Dallas announced that its network is more than 90 percent restored after the May 3 ransomware attack. In the statement, officials said the public’s support and patience are greatly appreciated and they will continue to investigate and address the cybersecurity incident. As the restoration is completed, the Dallas Public Library's software and functionality will also be upgraded to better serve Library patrons. (WBAP News/Talk)
3. The Dallas Independent School District garnered attention when it distributed a Winnie the Pooh-themed book called "Stay Safe: Run, Hide, Fight" to some students, aimed at teaching them how to respond to school intruders. This move comes as Texas grapples with addressing school safety issues following a tragic shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde. The Dallas ISD apologized for not providing parents with any context or warning about the book, while the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3, which mandates armed security personnel in every school in the state. (Kera News)

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Today in Dallas:

• Family 360° Film Experience At Wyly Theater (5:00 PM)
• Dallas Symphony Orchestra At Campbell Green Park (5:30 PM)
• Siddhartha At House Of Blues Dallas (7:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden's second annual Pride in Bloom celebration is almost here! On Jun. 10 and Jun. 11, participants will enjoy music, chef demos, and almost 40 local LGBTQ+ vendors, including Chef Mollie G who was recently featured on an episode of "Chopped!" Click here for more information. (Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden via Instagram)
• Electric scooters are back on the streets of Dallas after a three-year pause on the program. According to city officials, they have fixed the safety concerns and can better monitor the scooters when fewer are available. (Texas Standard)
• On Jun. 5, the Dallas police and fire departments asked for $730 million out of the city's $1 billion public improvement bond referendum in 2024. With many other city needs competing for a share of the money, residents can help decide the final bond referendum plan at public input meetings on Jun. 6 and Jun. 7. (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with a new 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.