By HALLIE GOLDEN and JOSH FUNK, Associated Press

A foreign truck driver’s deadly U-turn on a Florida highway has become a national political flashpoint over immigration, trucking safety and millions of dollars in federal funding for several states.

Governors, high-ranking Trump administration officials and advocacy groups have all traded accusations in the aftermath of the crash, which killed three people in a minivan that slammed into the semitrailer.

Here’s what to know about the crash and the political fallout:

The crash that started it all

The Florida Highway Patrol says Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old from India, was driving a semitruck north of West Palm Beach on Aug. 12 when he tried to make a wide left U-turn across the highway median, which left his trailer blocking the northbound lane. The minivan behind Singh wasn’t able to avoid the truck in time, killing the driver and two passengers. Singh and a passenger in his truck were uninjured.

Video from inside the truck’s cab shows Singh making the turn and the van’s impact.

Harjinder Singh is escorted to an airplane by Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and law enforcement on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Stockton, Calif. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

Charged with three state counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations, Singh was denied bond on Saturday. The federal government wants him transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody after his criminal case is complete.

Diamond R. Litty, the elected public defender whose office was provisionally assigned to Singh on Saturday, said she cannot recall a case garnering more attention.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Singh has been caught in the crosshairs of politics,” Litty said.

Singh’s immigration and license status

Florida authorities say Singh entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018. However, California officials say the federal government told them he was in the country legally with a work permit when they issued him a driver’s license.

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Singh first obtained a regular full-term commercial driver’s license in Washington state in July 2023, a type of license that people without legal status are not eligible for, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The following year, California issued him a limited-term commercial license.

Both states issue licenses regardless of immigration status, as do 17 other states and the District of Columbia, according to the National Immigration Law Center. Supporters say that lets people work, visit doctors and travel safely.

Civil rights and religious groups weigh in

The Sikh Coalition and Sikhs For Justice advocacy groups warn that the heated rhetoric risks fueling more discrimination against members of their faith.

Gurpatwant Pannun, the general counsel for Sikhs For Justice, said Singh fled India due to religious persecution. The Sikh Coalition said they hope he can get a fair trial amid the loud public debate.

Pannun met with Singh and said he is “carrying heavy mental anguish over what has happened” and that it was clear he did not set out to harm anyone. “To portray him as a malicious killer, it would be very unfair and wrong at this time.”

Sikhs for Justice promised to set up a $100,000 fund for the crash victims, administered by the Florida governor’s office.

Federal government threatens millions in state funding

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accused California, Washington and New Mexico of failing to enforce federal requirements that commercial drivers read and speak English proficiently.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters, announcing formal action against three states for failing to enforce federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

He threatened to withhold $33 million from California, $10.5 million from Washington and $7 million from New Mexico unless the states comply within 30 days. California and New Mexico insist they follow federal rules, while officials in Washington state want to review Duffy’s letter before responding.

DeSantis and Newsom trade blows

The case quickly escalated into a public feud between Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, both viewed as having national political ambitions.

DeSantis, a Republican, sent Florida’s lieutenant governor to California to personally criticize its licensing policies, saying Singh should have never been behind the wheel.

Newsom, a Democrat, said the federal government not California issued Singh a work permit renewed earlier this year, although Homeland Security officials have disputed that. Newsom’s office accused the Trump administration of “shifting blame” to the states for its own oversight failures.

English language debate fuels controversy

The crash came just two months after President Donald Trump ‘s executive order increased the penalty for commercial drivers who can’t show English proficiency.

Duffy said Singh failed a roadside inspection in New Mexico because he couldn’t read or understand English well enough to meet federal standards.

But the New Mexico governor’s office said police body-camera video shows Singh speaking in broken English, following instructions and asking about the citation for driving 10 mph above the speed limit.

Duffy says the English rules are about safety not politics, because drivers engaged in interstate commerce need to understand road signs and be able to communicate with law enforcement.

By TOM MURPHY, Associated Press

Will you get a COVID-19 vaccine? That has become a complicated question for many people.

The answer may depend on your age, insurance coverage, health and finding a health care professional who will give you the shot.

A once-straightforward seasonal vaccine process has become muddled this year because of new federal guidance on who can get the shots. It raises questions about whether pharmacists will provide the shots and if insurers will cover them.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has OK’d new shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax, but the approvals came with some new caveats. And it’s not clear yet how that will play out.

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What has changed?

The shots were approved for people who are 65 and older and those who are younger and have a health condition that makes them vulnerable to severe COVID-19.

That includes people with asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity, depression, a history of smoking or physical inactivity.

“A high proportion of people would qualify for these vaccines even if they’re not over 65,” said Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Until now, the U.S. — following guidance from independent experts who advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — has recommended yearly COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone age 6 months and older.

But Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired every member of that Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices earlier this year. The replacements he selected have yet to make new recommendations.

Where can I get a shot?

Most Americans visit drugstores to get their COVID-19 vaccines, according to the CDC. It’s not clear yet how easy that will be this fall, depending on where you live.

Nineteen states have laws or regulations that only let pharmacists administer vaccines recommended by ACIP, according to the American Pharmacists Association.

In those states, pharmacies may not be able to dole out shots even for people who fit the FDA’s narrowed range until the committee makes its recommendation.

Plus some pharmacists may be reluctant to give shots to customers who fall outside the FDA’s approval range, said Brigid Groves, a pharmacist and vice president with the American Pharmacists Association.

Will COVID-19 vaccines be covered by insurance?

For people age 65 and older, the FDA’s decision means Medicare will cover the shots.

For everyone else, the answer is still evolving. Check with your insurer or the employer who provides coverage.

Employers and insurers have been covering the full bill for the shots because they have been recommended by ACIP.

Some may continue to do so. Walmart will cover the shots for employees and the health system Kaiser Permanente, which provides coverage for more than 12 million people, says it will keep covering them too.

Why might the shots still be covered?

They can save money for an insurer or employer by preventing expensive medical care like hospital stays.

The vaccines can keep workers from getting sick and spreading the virus to colleagues. Companies also are concerned about health care affordability, especially for their lower-paid workers, said Beth Umland, director of health and benefits research for the benefits consultant Mercer.

The shots can cost $150 or more without insurance.

Insurers say they look at more than just that CDC committee’s recommendation when they decide coverage. Some also may consider the opinions of doctor groups like the American Medical Association, which strongly encourages vaccinations.

Sorting conflicting opinions

In May, Kennedy — a longtime leader in the anti-vaccine movement — announced COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.

Since then, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said pregnant women should continue to get the shots — counter to what Kennedy announced. The American Academy of Pediatrics is continuing to recommend them for all children ages 6 months to 2 years, another contradiction to Kennedy’s decision.

Conflicting advice like this has stirred a lot of questions from patients about what guidance they should follow, Groves said.

“There’s just a lot of confusion out there,” she said. “People are thinking, ‘Why should I get it?’”

Do we still need a vaccine?

People who want shots typically seek them in the fall to prepare for a possible winter surge in cases.

The vaccinations are strongly recommended for older people and those with a health condition, said Sax, the Brigham and Women’s physician.

Doctors and researchers say most people have some immunity from either previous COVID-19 infections or vaccines. But an annual shot is still a good idea.

The built-up immunity means your body will respond faster to an infection or vaccination than it did in the pandemic’s early days, said Andrew Pekosz, a virus expert at Johns Hopkins University.

“That’s one of the reasons why COVID hospitalizations has gone down: That population immunity is high,” he said. “But population immunity isn’t perfect, and it does wane over time.”

AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

NEW YORK (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 355,000 of its pickup trucks across the U.S. because of an instrument panel display failure that’s resulted in critical information, like warning lights and vehicle speed, not showing up on the dashboard.

According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall covers certain Ford F-150s from the 2025 model year — as well as other Ford “Super Duty” trucks, including 2025-2026 F-550 SD, F-450 SD, F-350 SD and F-250 SDs. A recall report dated Aug. 22 notes that the instrument panel cluster (IPC) can fail at startup, resulting in drivers seeing a blank screen.

As a result, the NHTSA notes, drivers may not be able to read critical “safety-related telltales and gauges,” increasing the risk of crash. The recall report notes that Ford isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to this issue — but had received 95 warranty claims as of June 26.

To address the display failure, Ford is offering a free IPC software update to impacted owners. This fix will be available at authorized dealers or through an “over-the-air” update, the NHTSA notes.

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In a statement sent to The Associated Press, Ford said that the over-the-air software update is “more convenient for customers compared to an in-person dealer visit.” The Michigan-based auto maker added that owner notification letters will soon be sent out with more information and instructions about the remedy.

A total of 355,656 vehicles are covered by the recall, all of which are estimated to have the defect. Recall documents note that the now-recalled IPC software was introduced into production in June 2024, and was taken out in July 2025.

Ford has rolled out several sizeable recalls this year — including 694,000 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles recalled over a fuel injector issue last month, as well as a recall covering over 850,000 cars due to potential fuel pump failure.

Kumar Galhotra, chief operating officer at Ford, addressed the recent uptick in recalls at Ford earlier this month — writing in a company blog that the increase “reflects our intensive strategy to quickly find and fix hardware and software issues and go the extra mile to help protect customers,” which includes heightened safety testing.

By ILLIA NOVIKOV

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia’s invading forces have broken into an eighth region of Ukraine, a Ukrainian military official said Wednesday, seeking to capture more ground in their three-year war of attrition as U.S.-led peace efforts struggle to gain traction.

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Some Russian troops have entered the villages of Novoheorhiivka and Zaporizke in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, a major Ukrainian industrial center next to the Donetsk region where fierce fighting has been taking place, Victor Trehubov, spokesman for local ground forces, told The Associated Press by phone.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed earlier this month that its forces had taken the two villages.

But the Russians have not entrenched or built fortifications there, and fighting is continuing in the villages, Trehubov said.

Ukrainian troops are under severe strain as they try to hold back Russia’s bigger army. Military analysts say there is no sign of a looming collapse of Ukrainian defenses and note that Russian forces have been unable to take major towns and cities, but their slow slog through rural areas keeps Ukraine under pressure.

The front line, where tens of thousands of troops on both sides have been killed, snakes along roughly 620 miles of eastern and southeastern Ukraine, which borders Russia. Russian forces are already in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.

Young men practice with training Kalashnikov assault rifles at a museum of Russian Special Military Operations in Ukraine in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Russia illegally seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014, and now occupies about a fifth of Ukraine.

Western leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian troops move deeper into Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump bristled Tuesday at Putin’s stalling on an American proposal for direct peace talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said Friday he expects to decide on next steps in two weeks if direct talks aren’t scheduled.

Ukraine has accepted U.S. proposals for a summit with Putin and a ceasefire.

Russia has also balked at U.S. and Western plans to establish postwar security guarantees for Ukraine, which fears another Russian invasion in the future even if a peace deal is clinched now.

The possible security guarantees being worked out by Western officials could include the deployment of European troops in Ukraine. But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Wednesday that soldiers from NATO member countries would be unacceptable for Moscow.

Ukraine is trying to disrupt Russia’s war effort by striking infrastructure behind the front line with ling-range drones. Gas stations have run dry in some regions of Russia after they struck refineries and other oil infrastructure in recent weeks.

Russia, meanwhile, is continuing its campaign to cripple Ukraine’s energy supply ahead of the bitter winter by wrecking the power grid with repeated attacks.

Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said Wednesday that Russia struck energy and gas infrastructure in six regions of the country.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine