26 October 2023

Five red flags of domestic violence in a relationship

No one deserves to struggle with domestic violence. Sadly, many times the red flags of an abusive relationship are ignored. Here are some actions that might be signs you’re in an abusive relationship.

1 Does your partner take control of your money?

Financial abuse is a common form of domestic violence that often gets forgotten. It’s usually from your partner wanting power and control in the relationship. An example of this type of abuse would be if your partner gets in the way of you getting to work by constantly making you late. Another example would be if your partner convinces you not to go to work at all. On the other hand, financial abuse can be as simple as you and your partner “sharing” a bank account, but he controls all your spending. This warning sign can cause lasting harm to your bank account, which can make it hard for you to apply for apartments or loans later down the line, making it one of the hardest effects of domestic violence to recover from.

2 Is your partner always jealous?

In many cases of abuse, partners will feel that they own their victims. This makes the abusers extremely jealous of their partner’s relationships with others, which can often lead to isolation. For example, if your partner gets upset when you go out to eat with your friends or tells you not to talk to certain people at work or school, this is what is known as morbid jealousy and can be a sign of a toxic relationship. This type of jealousy is usually paired with anger and obsessive habits from a partner, both of which can be dangerous.

3 Does your partner consistently abuse substances?

Many times, addiction can play a big role in a harmful relationship. This can look a few different ways, such as your partner pushing you into using drugs or alcohol when you don’t want to, or your partner regularly abusing substances, making him angry or emotional. In fact, the American Addiction Center found that up to 75% of people being treated for substance abuse have done some sort of domestic violence. When a person abuses substances such as drugs or alcohol, they can become more emotional, making domestic violence more likely and often more deadly.

4 Does your partner pressure you to do sexual acts that you’re uncomfortable with?

Sexual abuse includes but is not limited to rape. When most people think of sexual abuse they think of the intense, violent incidents seen on the news. While these situations do happen, they are not the only type of sexual abuse. In fact, this type of abuse can look as simple as your partner ignoring your feelings about sex or making you dress more sexual than you are comfortable with. Again, this behavior from a partner is usually based on power and control. Any act, whether small or big, can fall under this warning sign if nonconsensual.

5 Is your partner constantly “love bombing” you?

Love bombing is when your partner is constantly showing you large amounts of love. This can look like excessive amounts of physical affection, exaggerated profession of their love or showering you with constant gifts. This behavior can be an early sign that abuse is to come, or it can be a way to excuse abusive behavior. Either way, the act of love bombing is usually done to justify something your partner has done and trick your brain into defending bad behavior. This warning sign can be hard to spot but can be extremely harmful.

When to end the relationship

It’s easy to become stuck in a bad, abusive relationship because you become comfortable with and rely on your partner, regardless of toxic behavior. You and your partner could have formed a pattern of abuse that is extremely tricky to break. However, by staying in a harmful relationship, you are hurting yourself and your other relationships. If you answered yes to any of the questions above about your relationship, it may be time to consider a fresh start. While some of these things can be worked out through therapy and communication, all of them are types of abuse and valid reasons to end a relationship.

What to remember if you are in an abusive relationship and decide to leave

• It will not be easy, but your mental and physical health will be worth it.
• It is not your fault. Do not blame yourself.

• You deserve respect.
• You deserve to live a safe and happy life.
• You are not alone.

Facebook Post:

Do you and your partner have a healthy relationship? Do you know what red flags to watch out for in an abusive relationship? Most people don’t, which means the warnings normally go unnoticed. In this article by Ryann Armstrong, you can learn more about the warning signs in a relationship to be better prepared to help yourself or a loved one if a problem ever occurs.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Ryann Armstrong Director of Public Relations

ryannarmstrong@my.unt.edu

SEO Head: Small business in DFW makes novelty soaps shaped like dessert

Sub Head: Fun soap shapes are increasing in popularity among mothers and their children (DALLAS, Texas – Sept. 9, 2023) When most people think of a cupcake, a soft, delectable, sweet treat used to signify a celebration comes to mind. However, cupcakes and other adorably delicious sweet treats have recently evolved into more than a calorie-dense dessert.

The five-person team at Olliepop, a small store in Dallas, makes and sells soaps identical to many popular sweet treats with a sweet yet clean aroma. The company developed its niche dessert-themed soaps in 2020 and has since sold out of three newly released products due to their popularity, including a soap shaped like a popsicle that it released three months ago.

“The whole idea of Olliepop started with COVID when I was trying to teach my oldest kid to wash her hands, and it was not so easy with a two, almost 3-year-old,” says the founder of Olliepop, Danielle Hoeffner. “So I started creating fun-shaped soaps and putting stuff in them, and she loved it. Before I knew it, other people started liking the soaps and asking me to make more fun shapes.”

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The marketing and creative director for Olliepop, Katie Neumann, uses her age and experience to influence the company's personality. She genuinely believes in the products she describes as novelties with adorable designs, and she uses bright pops of blues and pinks and cute figures like rubber ducks to bring youthful and whimsical energy to the company’s Instagram.

The Olliepop soap formula combines a mixture of rich cocoa, coconut and shea butters with almond oil and intense aroma-infused essential oils. The soap scents range from sweet dessert-like aromas, such as vanilla and pink lemonade, that make the user’s body smell like a dessert, to more traditional scents like mint and lavender.

The team takes pride in the quality of their products because they don’t have the harsh chemicals that more prominent brands have, boasts Neumann.

According to Credence Research, the popularity of these handmade soaps is growing due to concerns about skin health. Many believe that chemical-based skincare products can cause skin issues, so consumers have become more conscious about eliminating chemicals.

The successful soap company conducts most of its sales through wholesale markets and its website. Olliepop sells many of its products to independent boutiques, which have recently increased in popularity.

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Furthermore, fun soaps from Olliepop can be a perfect gift for children.

“Good hygiene is essential for children’s health and well-being, but getting them excited about handwashing can sometimes be a challenge,” said Neumann in one of the company’s blog posts. “At Olliepop, we have created a range of kids’ soaps formulated with gentle ingredients, but we’ve added a fun bath toy on top.”

Another crucial contribution to Olliepop’s success is its social media presence. Neumann, the primary administrator of the company’s social media accounts, is a young college student and full-time employee at Olliepop who tries to incorporate her inherent knowledge of Generation Z into her posts.

“I usually do Instagram reels and TikToks to get [the GenZ] audience,” she says. “So to get [their] attention, I go in the office and film them frosting the cupcakes. That usually is interesting because it’s similar to baking actual cupcakes.”

The company’s Instagram, @olliepopusa, features a few videos of the soap making in action. In one of the videos, the employee pipes the blue, icing-like soap onto a base made to look like a cupcake as upbeat French music plays in the background. In another post, a happy, high-pitched piano plays in the background as an employee with blue latex gloves uses a machine with about ten sharp wires to slice the soap in a satisfyingly slow manner. The soap in this video is a dark grey with blue sparkles sprinkled on top, but the inside is white, allowing the swirled pattern inside to stand out significantly.

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Neumann, who spends at least five hours a day on her work for Olliepop on top of her full-time school schedule, and Hoeffner, who has risked her life for the well-being of her company, are the “key[s] to the success of the company,” says Hoeffner.

“I fell down the stairs a week and a half before the first big market and broke both of my legs,” she says as she reflects on the company's start. “Tell me if there is a boss in the world who would stand and walk on two broken legs if they had a choice not to.”

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Media Outlets:

Dallas Innovatives: This publication might be interested in the article above because they recently did a feature for the ranch soap that Buff City Soaps partnered with WingStop to create. This media outlet highlights creative ideas, which is perfect for Olliepop’s unique soaps.

D Magazine: D Magazine publishes a series of articles themed around gift ideas titled “Showers of gifts some fresh ideas.” This article, or at least a portion of it, could be included in the series because Olliepop soaps are marketed as great gift options.

PaperCity Magazine: This magazine is a Dallas publication that highlights local businesses and culture. This media outlet could be interested in the feature story because Olliepop is a local, family-owned business with unique merchandise.

___’s Position on Texas Laws About Stalking Background of Laws About Stalking

Background of Laws About Stalking

Stalking is the act of harassing or pursuing someone with unwanted attention. Laws permitting stalking are relatively new in the United States. California passed the first law a little more than 30 years ago, in 1990, after an actress named Rebecca Shaeffer was killed by her stalker, bringing attention to the severity of stalking. Since then, almost every state has included stalking protective measures within their laws. (Bouffard, et al., 2021)

In 2018, Sam Houston University partnered with the Crime Victims Institute at the Huntsville school's Criminal Justice Center to produce the first-ever statistical survey on stalking in Texas. The study found that almost one in five Texans claim to be victims of stalking. Furthermore, the study found that people accused of stalking were overwhelmingly single men under 35. (Murphy & Gleason, 2018) Current Laws About Stalking

Currently, stalking is considered a third-degree felony in Texas. A perpetrator convicted of stalking can be served up to a $10,000 fine and two to ten years in prison. A sentence becomes more severe based on factors such as the number of offenses and whether the victim is a minor, elderly, disabled or a public servant. (Bouffard, et al., 2021) If a stalker has not been convicted, the victim can also file a protective order or a restraining order against the perpetrator to protect their wellbeing. Law enforcement expects victims to report every instance so that documentation is complete to achieve adequate court assistance.

A new bill, Senate Bill 1717, was enacted on Sep. 1, 2023. It aims to allow cases against stalking to use evidence of "existing or previous relationships between the stalker and the victim." (Vela, 2023) Essentially, it widens the scope to include victims feeling "terrified or intimidated," where it once only allowed for victims who felt "fear." The bill also aims to fix legislation that was once "cumbersome and difficult to use" by allowing prosecutors to use past instances between the victim and perpetrator as evidence to prove stalking has taken place in hopes of reducing homicides. (SB 1717, 2023)

___ Official Position

___ is in favor of educating law enforcement on implementing new stalking laws. According to a study in the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights, of the victims who were granted protective orders against their stalkers in 2019, 30% of them continued to be stalked. (Huang, 2019) With a new bill recently added to Texas legislation, it is essential to emphasize its execution.

Why Laws about Stalking Are Important

Research by Melvin Huang (2019) suggests, "Stalking creates a psychological prison that systematically deprives its victims of basic liberty." The study categorizes stalking as an abusive act that falls under the umbrella of domestic violence. Moreover, because psychological abuse doubled and physical abuse quadrupled in 2019, stalking is becoming increasingly problematic. The study found that, as a whole, domestic violence victims who did not apply or were not granted a protection order were 3.3 times more likely to be assaulted again compared to those who received help. Huang suggests making protective orders more accessible to victims by providing more education programs to law enforcement over dealing with stalking incidents. (Huang, 2019)

According to an eight-year study conducted in Houston in 2017, there is a significant discrepancy between stalking incidents and actual arrests. During the study period, the Houston Police Department received nearly 4,000 calls related to stalking incidents, but only 66 of those were transferred into incident reports, and 12 were arrested. The study discovered that most calls were reported as lower-level incidents, such as harassment. (Brady & Nobles, 2017)

Counterarguments

Furthering the execution and education of stalking laws is important, although it has its weaknesses.

1. Texas stalking legislation is created by legislatures to satisfy their personal agendas. The newest bill that went into effect last month is said to include wording that suggests targeted protection of the privileged elite. When laws like this are passed as a response to the fears of influential people, it causes "regular" people to feel like an "afterthought." For example, in 2020, after a U.S. District Judge's address was leaked, resulting in her son's death, Congress passed the Danial Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021. The act made it against the law for federal agencies to post private information about government employees online. This law essentially only protects legislative employees, neglecting many other groups needing protection. (Ward, 2023)

2. Laws against stalking directly negate the Fourteenth Amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment makes it illegal for states to inhibit the "privileges or immunities of citizens." (U.S. Const., amend. XIV) According to Tracey Carter, stalking laws violate that amendment with vague wording that doesn't explicitly say what is illegal or not. The author claims that this violation of the Fourteenth Amendment can lead to discriminatory enforcement. (Carter, 2018) This assertion was challenged in the Johnson V. State Georgia 1993 court case when the court ruled in favor of the state, disproving Johnson's claims that the anti-stalking legislation was "broad" by stating that a person of "ordinary intelligence" could understand the legislation. (Johnson V. State, 1994)

3. Anti-stalking legislation jeopardizes freedom of speech. A key part of enforcing legislation surrounding stalking is implementing "harassment prevention orders." These orders usually tell the accused to cease contact with the victim but have recently been used to advise the offender to generally stop speaking about the complainant. This is a slippery slope that has the potential to lead to the banning of all speech, violating the First Amendment. (Volokh, 2022) Although this violation may have been a question in the past, SB 1717 directly addresses this issue by providing specific jargon geared directly toward addressing previous discrepancies in the legislation. (SB 1717, 2023)

Recommendations

Finding a solution to stalking in Texas is vital. Passing SB 1717 was just the first step of many to fixing a vastly complicated issue.

● Educate the public on how to handle stalking with programs like The Texas Stalking Project at UT, which will provide education and tools to students experiencing stalking. (Hatangadi, 2022)

● Require law enforcement to receive certification from programs like the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center, or SPARC, which teaches officers to recognize stalking and how to handle it. (SPARC, 2023)

● Continue to update and scrutinize wording in anti-stalking laws to keep them modernized and adequate for the protection of citizens.

Works Cited

Bouffard, L.A, Bouffard, J.A., Nobles, M.R., &Askew, L. (2021). Still in the Shadows: The

unresponsiveness of stalking prosecution rates to increased legislative attention. Journal

of Criminal Justice, 73, 1-5.

Brady, P.Q., & Nobles, M.R. (2017). The Dark Figure of Stalking: Examining Law Enforcement

Response Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 32, 3049-3200.

Carter, T. (2018). Local, State, and Federal Responses to Stalking: Are Anti-Stalking Laws

Effective?. William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law, 22, 333-334.

Hatangadi, M. (2022). Texas Stalking Project Aims to creat resources on campus for students

being stalked The Daily Texan- University of Texas- Austin

Huang, M. (2019). Note: Keeping Stalkers at Bay in Texas Texas Journal on Civil Liberties

& Civil Rights, 1-5 & 8-20.

Johnson V. State, 264 Ga. 449 S.E. 2d 94, (1994)

https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=cases&id=urn:contentItem:3RX8-9D

F0-003G-P4KX-00000-00&context=1516831.

Murphy, K., & Gleason, R. (2018). Stalking in Texas’ Survey Houstonian: Sam

Houston State Univeristy, 1-3.

SB 1717, 2023 Reg Sess. (Texas 2023) Relating to the prosecution of the offense of stalking

https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB01717I.htm.

SPARC (2023, Oct. 18) Resources for Law Enforcement

https://www.stalkingawareness.org/law-enforcement-resources/#:~:text=SPARC%20prov

ides%20training%20to%20law,and%20response%20to%20stalking%20crimes.

U.S. Const., amend. XIV, § 1

Vela, J. (2023). Zaffrini Extends Texas Record Loredo Morning Times, 143, 83, 7.

Volokh, E. (2022). Article: Overbroad Injunctions against speech (Especially in Libel and

harassment cases) Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, 45, 4-8.

Ward, S. (2023). Privacy Should be a Fundamental Right for All, Not Just For Elites R

Street Institute

https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/privacy-should-be-a-fundamental-right-for-all-not- just-for-elites/

Denton Main Street Foundation throws second annual bar tour with basements as the vital interest.

Denton Main Street Foundation is working with the Denton Office of History and Culture to host their second annual historic bar tour on May 21 to educate participants on the history of the buildings on the square. 

This year, the tour focuses on bars with basements, including The Bearded Monk, D20 Tavern and Andy’s, according to Kim Cupit, curator of collections for the Denton County Office of History and Culture. 

“It’s kind of interesting because Texas, especially North Texas, is not known for basements,” Cupit said. “But there’s several buildings along the square that have them and use them.”

Bearded Monk’s Background

The Bearded Monk, which is located at 122 E Mckinney St, was built in the late 1880s, making it the newest building on the tour. Throughout the early 1900s, this building was owned by a woman who went by Mrs. Bell and served as a plumbing shop, with many people filtering in and out to run the shop. 

The area where The Bearded Monk is now located looked a lot different during the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

“Mckinney had a lot of bottling plants and dairies and things like that along it,” said Cupit. “It’s kind of interesting because it’s not what we think of as McKinney now.”

D20 Tavern’s Background

D20 Tavern, located at 112 W Oak St and built in 1882, is around the same age as most of the other buildings on the Square today. This building has been occupied by many different businesses throughout its past, including a hardware store named Taliaferro and Son, for around 50 years in the early 1900s and Carol’s Custom Draperies starting in the ‘80s. 

D20 is special because it was never a bar or restaurant prior to being turned into the tavern it is today. It was mainly a hardware store, and its basement was most likely just used for storage, said Cupit

Andy’s Bar Background

Finally, Andy’s Bar was built in the 1870s, making it the oldest building on the tour and on the square. The building that houses Andy’s Bar, otherwise known as the Paschall building, is located at 122 N Locust St.

The Paschall building was built by Benjamin Franklin Paschall, a well-established man in the community at the time so that he could run a dry goods store in Denton. 

“A dry goods store is basically a store that sells fabrics and things like that, goods that are dry,” according to Cupit. “So not necessarily things that are groceries, things that are kind of what they called dry goods, but they were not food.”

During its time as a dry goods store, the Paschall building survived a fire that “wiped out that whole Locust street side,” according to Cupit. 

After the fire, and still, to this day, people are not sure how the building survived. Some say that the Paschall's sprinkled salt around the building, and the fire could not pass the threshold. Others, including Cupit, think that the building survived due to the modern brick manufacturing it was built out of. 

“Firebrick was starting to be manufactured at that time, so it is probably made from better brick than what the rest of the different buildings were built out of,” Cupit said. “Firebrick is just a stronger brick than what was typically being manufactured. It was fired in high heat so it could withstand higher heat.”

Regardless of how the building survived, the building became extremely important to the community after the fire. The fire destroyed most of the square and the courthouse, leaving Denton lawmakers without a workspace. 

According to a Denton County newspaper published in June 1895, Paschall allowed city officials to temporarily rent some of his building to use as a makeshift courthouse. 

“The rooms spoken for are said to be the downstairs corner room of the May building, the small one-story brick in the rear of the Paschall building, and the second story of Mr. Paschall’s grocery house,” according to Denton County News. 

After the dry goods store closed and Paschall sold the building in the 1930s, it was transformed into a movie theater. First as The Plaza Theater and then later as a student art theater. 

“That building is an interesting building just because it is so old,” said Cupit. “You know, here is a really old building that they converted into a movie theater versus like The Campus, which was built as a movie theater, which I find really interesting.”

The Plaza, owned by W.S. Hurst, who had  moved to Denton from Oklahoma, played typical popular mainstream movies during the time. Then, R. Dicas bought the building and turned it into a student film theater.

 “The sale came after a decision by Hurst to take a ‘much-needed vacation,” the former owner said, adding that he and his wife had operated the theater without a vacation since coming to Denton,” according to an article published in The Denton Record-Chronicle in July 1947. 

The theater slowly transitioned into playing more underground art films, similar to NC17 films.

Furthermore, the basement area was used as a barber shop from the 20s until The Plaza was turned into the student theater. The barber shop had many different names, including the Palace barber shop when The Palace movie theater was in business upstairs.

Denton Historic Preservation Month

The bar tour is just one of many events part of the Denton historic preservation month. Most of Denton’s city offices and employees work together to create events to commemorate the month.

“Main Street does this all of the time. They do you know Margarita Mosey and stuff,” said Cupit. “This was kind of a little bit different because it was gonna be educational with learning about the history of just where these places where the bars are but also being fun because it’s a bar tour.”

The bar tour can be pretty exclusive, with only a limited amount of tickets available, and ticket prices range from $30-40 depending on when they are purchased. 

However, the tour, featuring a basement theme, will be full of history. Participants will learn about the buildings while enjoying some of Denton’s most famous alcoholic beverages.