Coast Guard deploying assets to ‘Gulf of America’ in support of Trump’s executive orders

FILE — The U.S. Coast Guard says it is deploying assets around maritime borders. (U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard says it is deploying assets around maritime borders in support of President Donald Trump’s executive orders.

According to the agency, it will work to detect and deter illegal migration among other objectives in support of Trump’s orders issued this week.

“I have directed my operational commanders to immediately surge assets to increase Coast Guard presence and focus [in] key areas,” Coast Guard Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said.

Some of the key maritime locations mentioned included the southeast U.S. border approaching Florida to prevent mass migration from Haiti or Cuba and the maritime border around Alaska and Hawaii.

Lunday continued, saying specialized forces would also increase their presence on the “maritime border between Texas and Mexico in the Gulf of America” while supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection on maritime portions of the southwest U.S. border.

“The U.S. Coast Guard is the world’s premiere maritime law enforcement agency, vital to protecting America’s maritime borders, territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Lunday said.

The Coast Guard said it would also be targeting the maritime border between the Bahamas and South Florida, and between the U.S. and Mexico in the Pacific Ocean.

On Monday, Trump said in his inaugural address that he would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”

“A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” the president was quoted as saying about the situation. “America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on Earth.”

The Coast Guard’s announcement of deploying more assets regarding maritime security came a day after Trump dismissed U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Lee Fagan.

‘Bright, funny boy’: 9-year-old dies in shooting; stepdad arrested, reports say

Michael Meagher, 9, was reportedly found with gunshot wounds in a Wisconsin neighborhood early Monday morning. (GoFundMe)

Walworth County, Wis.

A young boy has reportedly died in a shooting and his stepfather is under arrest.

According to the Lake Geneva Police Department, officers were called to a reported shooting at a residence on Lincoln Avenue Monday at about 2 a.m.

Authorities said Steven Merkel Jr., 52, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree reckless homicide after the shooting victim died at the hospital.

WISN reports that the victim was identified as 9-year-old Michael Meagher and Merkel was the boy’s stepdad.

Geneva Police Chief Anthony Miceli shared that it was a difficult and traumatic scene for his officers.

“It’s a hard scene for any officer; you never want to see that,” Miceli was quoted regarding the situation.

Loved ones have since started a GoFundMe to help with the boy’s funeral arrangements.

“Our family is heartbroken. I want to try to help this family in any way that I can,” organizer Katherine Koskinas wrote. “Michael was 9 years old & a bright, funny boy. Please pray for this family during this difficult time.”

WIFR reports Merkel lived at the address where the shooting occurred and he was booked into the Walworth County jail.

Toyota orders US employees back in the office

FILE — Toyota is wanting its workers back in the office. (Mike Mozart/CC BY 2.0 via MGN)

A major automaker is requiring its workers to return to the office.

According to multiple outlets, Toyota Motor North America has announced that salaried employees will be required to work onsite Monday through Thursday starting in September.

The automaker’s move has joined other major companies such as AT&T and Amazon that have mandated employees return to regular in-office hours since the initial pandemic changes.

Bloomberg reports the new policy applies to all job levels for Toyota workers in North America, including those in corporate and engineering departments.

Employees will still have the option to work remotely on Fridays, according to the company announcement.

Toyota employs more than 64,000 people in North America while operating 14 factories, Business Insider reports.

The automaker reported it sold more than 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2024.

TikTok ‘forced to go dark’ on Sunday if US government does not intervene, company says

FILE — TikTok says it will go dark on Sunday if the U.S. government does not intervene. (TikTok)

TikTok will reportedly turn off more than 170 million Americans’ access to the popular video app on Sunday.

The company announced on Friday that this was its plan unless President Joe Biden’s administration acts urgently to ensure it will not be punished for violating the terms of the upcoming ban.

“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately, TikTok will be forced to go dark on Jan. 19,” the company said in a statement.

Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law banning Tiktok beginning Sunday unless it’s sold by its China-based parent company, holding that the risk to national security posed by its ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech, The Associated Press reported.

“The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans,” the company’s statement said.

Multiple outlets have reported that President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that he will not enforce the ban and that he previously asked the Supreme Court to stay on the bill so his incoming administration could work out a deal.

CNN reports that TikTok could turn itself off on Sunday and possibly turn itself back on at a later date if Trump gives the company assurances it will go unpunished for violating the ban.

Officers rescue dog left in snow-covered truck after owner arrested days prior, reports say

A dog in Ohio is recovering after it was found left in a snow-covered truck for days after its owner was arrested. (Animal Charity of Ohio)

Boardman, Ohio

Police in Ohio reportedly helped rescue a 2-year-old German shepherd that was left in a truck for nearly a week after its owner was arrested.

WKBN reports that the dog’s owner, Brandon Thomas, was arrested last week, but unknown to police at that time his animal was left behind in his truck.

Officers shared on Tuesday that they had to dust off a large amount of snow on top of the truck that was in a roadway when they heard the dog barking inside.

Police reportedly broke a passenger window to open the door and get the animal out of the freezing vehicle.

According to the Animal Charity of Ohio in Mahoning County, one of its agents took the dog to the facility for care.

“Poor guy is extremely dehydrated, cold and emaciated from lack of food!” the team shared when they took in the dog.

The animal care team said he is continuing to be monitored but is doing OK once being taken in and receiving proper care.

Agents also reported that Thomas' wife did not tell authorities about the dog being in the truck as she was “unaware her husband owned a dog.”