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Website Aims To Dispel Rumors Of Missing Kids Problem In DC

WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials in the District of Columbia have launched a new website aimed at highlighting how quickly police solve most missing-person cases in the city.

The Washington Post reports (http://wapo.st/2r7CYKC ) that the website was created to combat rumors being circulated online that hundreds of young girls have gone missing or have been abducted in D.C.

A social media campaign designed to highlight the city's runaways created the perception there was a spike in the number of missing children in D.C. In reality, the number of missing children was declining.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said "everybody around the world" thought that children were being snatched off D.C.'s streets.

There have nearly 900 missing juveniles reported so far this year. Authorities say all but 28 of those children have been located.

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(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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