Gang violence can reach into nearly any community, and is not limited to any particular demographic. In Southern California, near San Diego, one upper class neighborhood has experienced the repercussions of Mexico’s dangerous drug war spilling into their community.

The Arellano Felix Organization is one of the most violent enforcement crews in Tijuana, Mexico. But an internal dispute led to the establishment of “Los Palillos” — “The Toothpicks,” — in the San Diego area. These gang members use very dangerous tactics such as kidnapping for ransom,impersonating police officers, violent shoot outs and robberies, and drug deals to finance their operation. Continue reading Taking A Stand Against Gang Violence »

This year, the East Coast has seen a series of historic winter storms that have forced closures of schools, federal government offices and transit. For kids, it can be fun to have time off of school and play around with friends in the winter wonderland, but it’s not all fun and games.

In ice and snow, it’s very easy for accidents to happen, so the safety of your family is very important for you to consider. If you live in an area affected by winter storms, and especially if your region is unaccustomed to this year’s extremes, you need to be extra cautious in being prepared for the weather.

The folks at Kids Health have a lot of great tips that can help make sure you and your family make it through this winter as safely as possible. Continue reading Avoiding Cold-Weather Hazards This Season »

According to the FBI, there are as many as 100,000 active missing persons cases in the United States everyday. Having a loved one go missing is a nightmare. After you report your case to the police, your options are not limited. Take action! There’s a lot you can do to find your missing person.

Make Noise! In 2007, when Lisa Stebic, the mother of two disappeared from her Plainfield, Ill. home, her family and friends took action immediately and made her story a national obsession. They were so successful that people from across the globe have become involved. If someone you love disappears, make as much noise as possible to keep the focus on finding them. Here are a few critical tips which could help you in the campaign to bring your missing loved one home. Continue reading Making Noise! Bringing Attention To Your Missing Loved One »

 

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, people all over the world were shocked to find out a massive earthquake had struck and devastated Port-au-Prince, Haiti. According to the Red Cross, the quake and repeated aftershocks caused widespread destruction, leaving tens of thousands of casualties and possibly millions more were impacted throughout the country by injury or displacement. The full scope of devastation is still unfolding.

And as the world watches rescue workers sorting through the debris, aid groups work with what resources they have available. In the case of the Red Cross, the response has been great. In just a couple of days, nearly $1 million in donations were raised for the Red Cross and their relief effort through a text message campaign backed by the U.S. State Department.

In times like these of great tragedy, many of us are inspired to donate our time or money, in spite of tough economic times. But it’s important to remember that even during the most difficult times, there are always people out there who’s sole aim is take advantage of your good intentions in order to separate you from your money. Make sure you know you are dealing with an organization you can trust.

The FBI offers some good advice to help you make sure your donation makes to those who need it most, rather than just lining some crook’s pockets.

• Don’t respond to any unsolicited spam emails, and never click on any links in an unfamiliar message.
• Beware of any email that supposedly has images of the disaster sent as attachments, those files could contain viruses or other malicious files.
• Never give your personal or financial information to anyone soliciting contributions. This could open you up to identity theft.
• Make your donations direction to an organization you are familiar with. Don’t rely on any one else to make a contribution on your behalf.

Check out the FBI’s site for more tips on how you can avoid falling victim to scammers trying to take advantage of this great tragedy. The AMW Safety Center also has plenty of tips to help protect you from a variety of types of ID crimes.