## Mariska Hargitay's End The Backlog Rape Kit Campaign Achieves Milestone

Authored by deadline.com

Mariska Hargitay‘s End the Backlog campaign has achieved a milestone.

All 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico have enacted at least one pillar of rape kit reform “in a testament to the power of sustained, survivor-centered advocacy,” the initiative announced Friday.

Maine is the 50th and final state to commit to the reform.

Governor Janet Mills’ enacted budget (LD2212) commits $267,000 in annual funding to establish a statewide rape kit inventory and tracking system.

Since 2010, Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation’s End the Backlog initiative has been the driving force behind the national movement, the Six Pillars of Rape Kit Reform, described as a comprehensive, survivor-focused framework that became the national standard.

Its mission is to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and put an end to the violence.

The campaign aims to eliminate the backlog of hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits sitting in storage across America, providing closure for victims. »

### Former Elder Scrolls Online boss describes Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin closing as a turning point at Xbox: 'I know where this is going'

Authored by pcgamer.com

To hear Firor tell it, the closure of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks on the same day was recognized as a sign of things to come inside Xbox.

Firor said that the presence of industry veterans at ZeniMax Online primed them to recognize this likely meant more hardship to come.

"[The Elder Scrolls Online team] was hundreds and hundreds of people by that point," said Firor. »

### Smith College: Department of Education opens investigation into all-women’s college for admitting trans women

Authored by cnn.com

In the Trump administration’s latest move to limit trans rights, the Department of Education has launched a Title IX investigation into Smith College, an all-women’s college in western Massachusetts, for admitting trans women.

Like most other women’s colleges in the US, Smith, a small liberal arts college, admits trans women.

The term “biological men,” though often used by opponents of trans rights to describe trans women, is not commonly used by trans people. »

### WHO tracing over 80 people on flight taken by hantavirus victim

Authored by manilatimes.net

GENEVA, Switzerland — The World Health Organization said Tuesday it was tracing people on a flight between the island of Saint Helena and Johannesburg taken by a cruise ship passenger who died of hantavirus.

There had been 82 passengers and six crew onboard the April 25 flight, South African-based carrier Airlink told AFP.

They included a Dutch woman whose husband died of the virus on the ship and whose condition "deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg", WHO said in a statement. »

### ‘A deal is a deal’: Von der Leyen fires back at Trump over auto tariff threat

Authored by politico.eu

During the same press conference, European Council President António Costa said EU leaders “fully support” the Commission’s response to Trump’s latest trade threat.

French President Emmanuel Macron made that backing explicit at a separate press conference in Yerevan with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“Agreements have been signed and must be honored; if they were called into question, it would reopen everything,” he said. »

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