Members of California’s Sikh trucking community say a deadly crash involving one of its own has led to a spike in anti-Sikh rhetoric. The Aug. 12 crash and its subsequent investigations sparked heated national debates over immigration and stirred arguments between the governors of California and Florida. California is home to about half of U.S. members of the monotheistic religion. Many of them covet high-paying trucking jobs because they allow Sikh men to wear beards, uncut hair and turbans. Sikh advocacy groups say they’re mourning for the victims of the crash. They’re also demanding a fair trial for the driver and condemning anti-Sikh discrimination.

A truck driver's deadly U-turn on a Florida highway has sparked national debate over immigration, trucking safety, and federal funding. Authorities say Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old from India, caused a crash that killed three people. Singh faces charges of vehicular homicide and immigration violations. The Trump administration has accused California, Washington and New Mexico of failing to enforce federal requirements that commercial drivers read and speak English proficiently. California and Washington have also come under fire for issuing licenses regardless of immigration status. The debate has led to political clashes, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California’s Gavin Newsom trading accusations.

Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.

U.S. shoppers have enjoyed cheap, duty-free international packages from overseas retailers, but that's changing. The "de minimis" exemption, which allowed duty-free shipping on packages worth $800 or less, ends on August 29. Now, all international packages will face tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% or a flat duty between $80 to $200 per item, depending on the country of origin. Consumers might not pay all the tariffs, depending on certain conditions. Merchants should aim to make import costs clear, but some confusion is expected. Shoppers should check product origin and shipping details to avoid surprises.

Two and a half years after a train derailment in Ohio, major freight railroads have not joined a federal program aimed at reducing rail hazards. Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland reports that BNSF and Norfolk Southern started partial trials but haven't fully committed. The program lets employees report safety issues without facing discipline. Railroads argue it's cumbersome and no better than their internal processes. However, Amtrak and smaller railroads participate, and studies show a 20% reduction in accidents. Advocates say the reluctance of big railroads to join shows a failure to learn from past incidents. A federal working group negotiating participation has disbanded.

Sony has raised the price of its PlayStation 5 consoles being sold in the United States by $50 due to a challenging economic environment. The price change affects the standard Playstation 5, the Digital Edition and the Pro. According to Sony, prices for games and accessories remain unchanged and that this round of increases only affects consoles sold in the U.S. When the Tokyo-based Sony reported earnings earlier in August, the company said it was working to diversify its supply chain to alleviate the impact of U.S. tariffs.

A ship loaded with 1,200 tons of food supplies for Gaza is approaching the Israeli port of Ashdod. It's expected to dock on Tuesday as part of renewed efforts to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. The Panamanian-flagged ship is loaded with 52 containers carrying aid such as flour, pasta, rice, baby food and canned goods. Israeli customs officials had screened it at Cyprus' main port of Limassol for security reasons. Some 700 tons of the aid are from Cyprus, purchased with money donated by the United Arab Emirates to a fund set up last year for donors to help with seaborne aid. Food security experts say the “worst-case scenario of famine” is unfolding in the strip.