Gang News Buzzing in Each Tennessee Metropolitan Area in January

Many Nashvillians are aware of local news involving the indictment of local gang members. But the other city dailies have been buzzing this new year with various gang stories.

• The Chattanooga Times Free Press has a story on a north Georgia exurb's police efforts against teenage gangs. Vandalism through gang-graffiti-tagging is the primary crime.
• The Knoxville News Sentinel has a piece on a gang member at the center of a landmark court ruling on classifying violent acts committed by criminals too young to vote.
• The Memphis Commercial Appeal has an article on changes in the ways local police handled violent robberies, which lead to the conviction of members of a notorious gang that was active in murder, bank robberies, and petty thefts.

It is obvious that gang-related activities are not just a local problem, but represent a statewide and regional challenge.