Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez and former Deputy Keith Schultz have been indicted on charges including abuse of a corpse, stemming from the mishandling of unidentified human remains. Undersheriff Cruz Soto and Sergeant Caleb Sanchez also face indictments for assault and failing to intervene in an unrelated case involving the use of force during a mental health crisis. These indictments represent a significant portion of the seven-person sheriff’s office staff.
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A three-year-old girl, separated from her mother at the U.S.-Mexico border, allegedly suffered sexual abuse while in federal foster care for five months. Her father, a legal permanent resident, was delayed in reuniting with her due to administrative hurdles that prevented his fingerprinting for sponsorship. It was only when legal advocates filed a habeas petition that the girl was released and the alleged abuse came to light. This incident highlights concerns about prolonged detention and inadequate protection for immigrant children under new administration policies.
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Tragically, a father of three died last week while saving his two children from a dangerous rip current at Juno Beach, Florida. He heroically pushed his son toward shore and kept his daughter afloat as they battled the powerful current. Although lifeguards successfully rescued the children and brought the unconscious father to shore, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. This incident highlights the extreme dangers of rip currents and the profound love of a father.
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The four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission have officially traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history, surpassing the Apollo 13 record. This milestone was achieved as the crew journeys around the moon, pushing the boundaries of human space exploration. Their trajectory will carry them to a maximum distance of over 252,000 miles from Earth.
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In a significant development, the Supreme Court has issued an order that is anticipated to result in the dismissal of Steve Bannon’s criminal conviction for defying a congressional subpoena. This action by the justices overturns a prior appellate ruling and allows a trial judge to consider dropping Bannon’s indictment and conviction in the interest of justice. While largely symbolic, as Bannon has already served a prison sentence, this move follows a shift in the Justice Department’s stance after the Trump administration resumed its role. A similar order was also issued in the case of former Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who had been convicted of bribery and extortion.
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A juvenile gray whale, observed swimming unusually far up the Willapa River in Washington, has been found deceased. Experts suspect this deviation from typical migration patterns and subsequent death may be linked to declining food availability in the Arctic, a significant challenge facing the eastern gray whale population since 2019. This unfortunate event highlights the broader crisis of malnutrition and decreased birth rates within the species, with recent counts indicating a continuing population decline to the lowest levels since the 1970s. Researchers plan to examine the whale to further understand the contributing factors to its demise and the ongoing struggles of its species.
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After four months of detention, Stephanie Kenny-Velasquez was released from an ICE facility in Houston after a federal judge ruled her due process rights were violated. Kenny-Velasquez, a Venezuelan national who had previously applied for asylum, was detained just two days after marrying U.S. Army Reserve pilot Chris Busby. Her release comes after her legal team successfully argued her detention was unconstitutional, though her pending asylum case continues. The couple now awaits further legal proceedings for her permanent residency.
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A recent amendment to Germany’s military service policy requires men aged 17 to 45 to obtain permission from the armed forces for stays abroad longer than three months, even during peacetime. This clause, intended to establish a framework for potential conscription and track potential recruits, has sparked significant public and media outcry. While the defense ministry states that authorization will generally be routine as long as military service remains voluntary and Germany is not facing a security emergency, the requirement has revived debates about national service and individual freedoms. The broader legislation aims to significantly increase the size of the German military by 2035, responding to heightened geopolitical tensions.
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France’s central bank has successfully divested its final gold reserves held at the United States Federal Reserve, replacing them with higher-quality bullion in Paris. This strategic move, undertaken between July 2025 and January 2026, resulted in a substantial capital gain of €12.8 billion for the Banque de France. The decision to sell older, non-standard gold and purchase new bars meeting modern international standards on the European market was driven by market accessibility rather than political considerations. This upgrade solidifies France’s position with its entire gold reserve, approximately 2,437 tonnes, now held domestically.
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As fuel prices surge due to ongoing global conflicts, Amazon is implementing a temporary 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for third-party sellers utilizing its Fulfillment by Amazon, Buy with Prime, and Multi-Channel Fulfillment options. This adjustment, effective April 17 for many, aims to partially offset elevated operational costs that the company has absorbed to date. The surcharge, which also applies to U.S. and Canadian sellers, aligns with similar measures taken by other major carriers like UPS and FedEx to recoup rising energy expenses.
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John Q. Hosedrinker