Massive raid targets guns, drugs: Windsor took centre stage Thursday as police from across the province executed a series of pre-dawn raids, stabbing at the heart of a notorious Toronto street gang involved in murder, drug trafficking and gun smuggling. Investigators said the Dixon City Bloods, which runs a criminal empire centred around its turf on Dixon Road in the GTA, has been operating in Windsor since at least 2006. Police said Windsor was a major pipeline for the gang as it smuggled guns from the U.S. and funnelled them to Toronto.

 Two officers added to YPD's gang unit : YAKIMA, Wash. -- More officers in the gang unit are having a direct effect on crime in Yakima. YPD said veteran officers can now be more proactive to prevent trouble. Safety is something Robert Lemon hopes for especially for his kids. Crime, gangs, and chaos is how he describes his Yakima neighborhood.

 Black Souls gang leaders ordered held without bail: Amid heavy courthouse security, the alleged top leaders of one of Chicago’s most violent street gangs were ordered held without bail today on sweeping racketeering charges that allege they controlled their West Side drug empire through intimidation, kidnappings, shootings and murder dating back to the 1990s.

 Drug Trafficking, Gang Violence Sweep in Hot Springs: HOT SPRINGS, AR (News Release) - Twenty-four individuals have been charged with offenses stemming from gang violence, drug trafficking, and the use of firearms in the Hot Springs area. A total of 19 indictments were returned by the Grand Jury. The charges include the distribution of methamphetamine and crack cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. All but one defendant have prior felony convictions, and several are considered career offenders.

 Police, Community Work to Cut Gang Violence Together: LAS VEGAS -- There are more than 16,000 gang members in Metro Police's jurisdiction contributing to violence and crime. One community on the west side of Las Vegas is seeing a drop in the number of deadly crimes. The community has been working with Metro Police to drive down the number of gang-related violence for the past few years -- and it's working.

 Overhaul coming to Pinellas gang intelligence database : Months after agreeing Florida's gang laws are too vague, Pinellas County law enforcement leaders are moving ahead with changes they hope will prevent people from being wrongly labeled gang members merely for being seen with relatives or friends who are. The changes, approved May 23 by the Pinellas Police Standards Council, still need approval from some city governments and legal staffs for some agencies. But Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says his agency and others have already started implementing the policies.

 Gang investigated in killing of Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis: BARDSTOWN, Ky. - Detectives investigating Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis' slaying have followed up on leads from Ellis' cases - and one of those involved the Bardstown Money Gang.So far, none of the leads have panned out, Kentucky State Police spokesman Norman Chaffins said. But comments on social media sites have led officers to question gang members.

 U.S. targets leaders of violent street gang: WASHINGTON (AP) — The government on Wednesday designated six leaders of the violent street gang MS-13 as international criminals, stepping up a crackdown on the sprawling U.S. and Central American gang's finances. The Treasury Department in October designated MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, as an international criminal organization. The Obama administration said that makes the gang subject to penalties by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and gives the U.S. an opportunity to hinder MS-13's ability to funnel money to its leaders in El Salvador or launder criminal proceeds through otherwise legitimate businesses.