By Loribeth Weinstein

As we enter the final stretch before this historic election, the economy and the war in Iraq are at the forefront of our minds, and for good reason.

The seriousness of these issues for all Americans cannot be overstated, but I’d like to take a moment to focus on those for whom our current crisis literally will hit too close to home. October is more than just the month before November: It’s also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic violence is the American epidemic we don’t want to talk about, hear about or know about.

But in my 30 years as an advocate for women and children, I’ve never been more concerned about the victims of domestic violence than I am right now. Families already buckling under the weight of domestic violence in the best of times can collapse in times of economic downturn and war.

JewishChronicle.org

By: Ashley Edwards

The first time I visited Nacogdoches, it was raining and the humidity was unbelievable. I remember driving home with my parents saying, “There’s no way I’m going to that school.” Well here I stand four years deep, and I couldn’t be any prouder of my experiences in Nacogdoches Friendships, houses, organizations, churches, internships and jobs in this town have truly shaped me into the fine (if I may say so) young lady I am.
ThePineLog.com

MIDLAND, Texas — A man who allegedly threatened his wife and a police officer was shot and killed Monday as police said he turned toward them with a pistol in his hand at the end of a brief standoff.

Three SWAT team members fired at Paul Holland, 63. Midland police spokeswoman Tina Jauz said Holland did not fire his weapon. She said it is believed he was struck in the torso and leg.

Police had been called to the home Monday morning and the first officer there removed Holland’s wife from the home after Holland threatened the two of them. Jauz said she told police her husband had weapons in the home and had threatened to kill himself.

Jauz said negotiators were on the phone with Holland when he came out of the house.

HoustonChronicle.com

By KIM HORNER / The Dallas Morning News
khorner@dallasnews.com

The new ads on DART buses are meant to shock.

One features a smiling little girl in a tiara with the message: “One day my husband will kill me.”

Another shows a smiling boy: “When I grow up, I will beat my wife.”

The ads, also inside hundreds of buses, are part of a provocative new campaign for The Family Place, which provides a hotline, shelter, housing and counseling programs to victims of domestic violence.

Paige Flink, the Dallas nonprofit’s executive director, said the agency wanted to take a new approach after 30 years of working with victims of family violence.

Past campaigns have included images of bruised women or men behind bars. This time, the idea was to focus on an often forgotten victim of domestic violence: children. Kids who grow up in homes with domestic violence are more likely to become victims or abusers, Ms. Flink said.

DallasNews.com

“GPS is one of the things I can use to help ensure parties stay apart until we can come to court and resolve the issue,” said Judge Mike Denton.

Judge Denton presides over the only domestic violence court in Central Texas and said he is increasingly using the devices as a bond condition. It can be an ankle monitor or other tracking device and will alert police and the victim if a protective order has been violated.

KXAN.com

There are positives and negatives seen in two-millionth call.

By KTRH’s Bill O’Neal

Around the nation-and especially in Texas-where the hotline has been based since it went in to existence 12 years ago-there’s plenty of reason to feel good about the work done-and the help provided by the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

“This hotline… reached it’s two millionth call today (Tuesday) in answering calls from people calling in about domestic violence,” said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Still, Abbott said more work needs to be done.
KTRH.com                                            

By Brady Douglas
KETK NEWS

EAST TEXAS – Those who deal with domestic abuse everyday say as the economy gets worse so does the violence.

Susan Thompson with the East Texas Crisis Center says their number are up right now.

“Comparing it to last year, it has increased, there has been probably about 50–percent of an increase of our clients”.

Crisis Center officials say, they’re bracing for the time period following the holidays…when their numbers tend to go up each year.

KETKNBC.com