transportation 3 - The Latremie Post

Illegal immigrant allegedly causes fatal semi-truck crash on highway, killing driver: officials

An illegal immigrant in Indiana was arrested after allegedly causing a fatal semi-truck crash, according to officials.

The Portage Police Department reported that Broko Stankovic was driving on US Highway 20 in Indiana on Wednesday when traffic came to a stop due to a Ram Sprinter turning near Douglas Drive. However, the suspect did not appear to slow down in his semi-truck, according to FOX 32.

Officials stated that Stankovic attempted to make a hard evasive left turn, entering opposite traffic and colliding with a Subaru Crosstrek. As a result, the semi-truck jackknifed and struck the Ram Sprinter, which was pushed into a road sign.

Tragically, the 54-year-old driver of the Subaru died at the scene.

Further investigation revealed that Stankovic was in possession of a suspended Illinois Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) belonging to a family member, but did not have a valid CDL himself. Additionally, his company was not registered with the Department of Transportation.

Due to Stankovic’s immigration status, ICE placed a detainer on him as he was being transported to the Porter County Jail. He has been charged with felony reckless homicide and felony criminal recklessness resulting in death.

Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for more information.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/21/us-news/illegal-immigrant-allegedly-causes-fatal-semi-truck-crash-on-highway-killing-driver-officials/

I moved from New York City to Los Angeles. Drinking culture and work-life balance feel so different on the West Coast.

I knew Los Angeles was a driving city, but I didn’t realize how common it is for people here to treat their cars like big, expensive accessories. It feels like the norm to spend significant amounts of time and money washing and caring for vehicles.

In my experience, when someone has a car in New York City (and can actually find a parking spot for it), they really only drive it on weekends to leave the city. They’re almost certainly not souping the vehicle up LA-style.

On a Saturday night in New York City, my friends and I would usually casually barhop without a clear plan. We might have chosen a neighborhood or had a starting point in mind, but we’d always end up walking a block or two to try to find our next hangout spot.

In contrast, I’ve found that Los Angeles bar culture seems more destination-oriented. People pick a spot—maybe two—and that’s the night. There seems to be more forethought and logistics involved in night-out plans, perhaps because a lot of people drive and don’t want to leave their cars, or they need to plan their drinking around sobering up to drive home.

In my experience, drinking alcohol in LA doesn’t seem as popular as it did in New York. In LA, there’s a good chance you or someone in your friend group is driving home from the bar, so they’ll be drinking less alcohol or sticking to mocktails. People in New York are more likely to use public transportation, so they don’t have to worry about getting behind the wheel after a night out.

It also feels easier to make plans that don’t involve alcohol in LA since the warm weather lends itself to a lot of other options for socializing, like hiking, biking, or walking on the beach.

Since LA’s weather is great most of the time, with lots of sunshine and warmth, people here are quick to be unhappy when it’s anything less than perfect. When there’s a strong breeze, it’s cloudy, it’s below 60 degrees, or it’s raining a little, I’ve noticed that Angelenos seem more likely to cancel plans or be quick to complain. The attitude feels contagious, too.

I once decided it was too chilly to write in my yard and went inside—it was 65 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny, with a slight breeze. I wasn’t always this way, though. During my time in New York, 65 degrees and sunny in March equaled hundreds of people (including myself) flocking to Central Park with picnic baskets, games, and cheese boards to bask in the sun all day. New Yorkers know very well what all the highs and lows of changing seasons can look like, and a little rain or wind doesn’t stop them.

In my opinion, hustle culture doesn’t feel as glamorized in LA as it did back home. Where being busy can translate to looking important in NYC—I’ve been that girl with her computer at the bar on a Friday night—people I’ve encountered in LA seem to set better boundaries to protect their work-life balance.

I can’t help but think the perfect weather has something to do with it. Sure, this city is also full of people chasing their dreams, but it feels a lot easier to stop and take a break when you’ve got the California coast at your fingertips.

*This story was originally published on April 23, 2025, and most recently updated on October 17, 2025.*
https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-nyc-la-differences

NEWSOM RIPS PRESIDENT

Gavin Newsom lashed out at Donald Trump on Monday, holding him responsible for staffing shortages during the government shutdown that left Hollywood Burbank and other airports without air traffic controllers for hours.

Air travelers faced frustrating delays and cancellations Monday evening at Burbank and other U.S. hubs as the government shutdown left air traffic control staff levels stretched thin.

“Thanks, @realDonaldTrump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15 pm to 10 pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,” the Governor of California wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

At Burbank, the control tower was unstaffed for almost six hours, with flight operations instead handled remotely by Southern California TRACON, an approach and departure facility based in San Diego. However, no one in the tower had direct eyes on planes landing and taking off, causing concern among already delayed passengers.

It has been six days since the government shutdown began after the Senate failed to pass a bill to fund federal agencies. On Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the shutdown would put more stress on air traffic controllers, whose jobs are already extremely demanding.

In addition to the delays at Burbank, flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport were delayed Monday evening, and Denver International Airport also experienced delays.

The Republican and Democrat camps have each blamed one another for the crippling shutdown. The standoff centers around a demand by the Democrats regarding the extension of health care subsidies. If these subsidies are cut, it may result in sharply increased costs for millions of low-income Americans.

Trump has blamed the Democrats for blocking his resolution and stated that Republicans will hold out in the stalemate. Democratic members of Congress, in turn, accused Trump and Republicans of blatantly lying about Democratic opposition to a GOP-led government funding plan, particularly concerning claims that Democrats are pushing for healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants, who cannot legally access federal healthcare programs.

When asked for comment on the shutdown causing travel chaos at airports, the White House press office sent The Independent an automated response reading:
“Please note that responses may be delayed due to the government shutdown caused by congressional Democrats.”

The White House website also features a banner stating “Democrats have shut down the government,” accompanied by a live count of the days and hours since the closure began.

Newsom has been particularly vocal in his efforts to lay the blame for the shutdown at the feet of the Trump administration. Last week, he trolled Trump over news that work will continue on the presidential ballroom despite the government shutdown, comparing him to the historical French queen Marie Antoinette.

“TRUMP MARIE ANTOINETTE SAYS, NO HEALTH CARE FOR YOU PEASANTS, BUT A BALLROOM FOR THE QUEEN!” the California governor’s press office wrote on X, mimicking Trump’s penchant for all-caps social media rants.

During previous U.S. government shutdowns under Barack Obama’s administration, Donald Trump was a vocal critic of the president, saying the situation was “pretty sad” and that “the whole world was laughing at us.”

“Problems start from the top and they have to get solved from the top,” he said during a 2013 shutdown. “The president’s the leader and he’s got to get everybody in a room and he’s got to lead.”
https://www.the-independent.com/b2840770.html

Cassie Ventura’s lawyers react to Diddy’s sentencing: ‘Bravery…inspiration to many’

**Cassie Ventura’s Lawyers React to Diddy’s Sentencing: ‘Bravery, Inspiration to Many’**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 4, 2025, 4:46 PM*

Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s legal team, has responded to his recent sentencing following a high-profile federal trial.

On Friday, the former music mogul was sentenced to 50 months in prison after being convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution in July. The sentence includes four years and two months of supervised release and a $500,000 fine—the maximum penalty allowed.

—

### Lawyers’ Statement on the Sentencing

Ventura’s attorneys, Douglas Wigdor and Meredith Firetog of Wigdor LLP, issued a statement shortly after the sentencing:

*”While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognizes the impact of the serious offenses he committed. We are confident that with the support of her family and friends, Ms. Ventura will continue healing knowing that her bravery and fortitude have been an inspiration to so many.”*

—

### Background: Ventura’s Allegations Against Combs

Cassie Ventura and Sean Combs were involved in a turbulent relationship spanning from 2007 to 2018. During this period, Ventura alleged that Combs would organize days-long “freak offs,” where he hired male escorts for her to engage in sexual acts while he watched.

Ventura also claimed that Combs physically assaulted her and blackmailed her with videos of these “freak-offs,” to silence her from exposing the abuse. During her testimony, she stated that Combs controlled many aspects of her life.

—

### The Conviction Overview

**What was Combs convicted of?**

Combs was found guilty on two counts of arranging paid male escorts to cross state lines for drug-fueled sexual encounters involving his girlfriends. While he was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges—which carried the potential for a life sentence—prosecutors alleged that Combs used violence and intimidation to coerce Ventura and another woman into these acts.

—

### Legal Strategy and Next Steps

Sean Combs pleaded not guilty throughout the trial and plans to appeal his conviction. His defense attorneys acknowledged that he had physically abused his girlfriends but argued that the women willingly participated in the sexual activities.

During sentencing, the defense recommended a 14-month prison term, which would have potentially allowed Combs to be released by the end of the year after accounting for time served. However, the judge imposed the significantly longer sentence.

—

The sentencing marks a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn significant attention to issues of coercion and abuse within the entertainment industry. Cassie Ventura’s legal team emphasizes her resilience and hopes her story serves as an inspiration to others who have endured similar trauma.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/casandra-cassi-ventura-lawyers-speaks-out-on-diddy-s-sentencing/story

Cassie Ventura’s lawyers react to Diddy’s sentencing: ‘Bravery…inspiration to many’

**Cassie Ventura’s Lawyers React to Diddy’s Sentencing: ‘Bravery. Inspiration to Many’**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 4, 2025, 4:46 PM*

Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s legal team, has issued a response following his recent sentencing.

On Friday, the former music mogul was handed a 50-month prison sentence after a nearly two-month federal trial. Combs was convicted in July on two counts of transportation for prostitution. His sentence also includes four years and two months of supervised release and a $500,000 fine—the maximum penalty allowed.

**Legal Statement**

Ventura’s attorneys, Douglas Wigdor and Meredith Firetog of Wigdor LLP, released the following statement after the sentencing:

**Details of Ventura’s Allegations Against Combs**

Ventura was involved in a tumultuous relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018. During this period, she alleged that Combs organized days-long “freak offs,” during which he hired male escorts for her to engage in sexual acts while he watched.

She also described instances of physical assault and blackmail, where Combs used videos of the “freak-offs” to prevent her from speaking out. In her testimony, Ventura revealed that Combs “controlled” many aspects of her life.

**Overview of the Conviction**

Combs was convicted on two counts related to arranging paid male escorts to cross state lines for drug-fueled sexual encounters with his girlfriends. He was acquitted of the more severe racketeering and sex trafficking charges, which could have carried a life sentence.

Prosecutors claimed that Combs used violence and intimidation to coerce Ventura and another woman into these acts.

**Legal Strategy and Next Steps**

Combs, who pleaded not guilty, is expected to appeal the conviction following sentencing. His defense team acknowledged that he had physically abused his girlfriends but argued that the women willingly participated in the sexual performances.

The defense had advocated for a 14-month sentence, which would have allowed Combs to be released by the end of the year after accounting for time served.

—

This sentencing marks a significant moment in a high-profile case that has drawn attention to issues of abuse and exploitation in the entertainment industry. Ventura’s legal team underscores her courage amid the ongoing process of healing.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/casandra-cassi-ventura-lawyers-speaks-out-on-diddy-s-sentencing/story