LA county sheriff’s deputy dies after medical emergency during relay race

The Guardian US News
by Roque Planas
March 29, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Levi Vargas, 30, died from a medical emergency during the Baker to Vegas relay race through the Mojave Desert.

AI Summary

LA County Sheriff's Deputy Levi Vargas, 30, died Saturday after suffering a medical emergency while competing in the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup relay race through the Mojave Desert. The 120-mile annual race, which runs from Baker, California to Las Vegas, Nevada, draws teams from multiple law enforcement agencies across the region—LA County typically fields a 20-runner team. The death occurred as the southwestern United States faces extreme heat conditions. The incident marks a tragic loss within the law enforcement community during a competitive event designed to build camaraderie among agencies. Details about the specific nature of the medical emergency have not been disclosed.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Trump administration opens investigations into race in admissions at 3 medical schools - AP News
Civil Rights

Trump administration opens investigations into race in admissions at 3 medical schools - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxQX2o5WDd0LUxybXFVZE9nMkVxTDl0aTdIRWVLLWtweHpaTE51Uy1BRExiQ1cwY2x5OXBadV9Ec21hUVFnQUpiaTl2Z2JqcUhKb0pjb2kzdGNOdzhXajQ5bWY0WWI5NWNUSGVJMzZLTFVmRHMxTlFHeDVVOVlLN0dKeHpRYlUta1NvbWI5cTFmcEY4ZTdfbjZRUVRzNWZfUHQxNVE?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump administration opens investigations into race in admissions at 3 medical schools</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 26
‘No kings, just vaccines!’: demonstrators gather at NIH headquarters to protest against cuts to medical research
Health

‘No kings, just vaccines!’: demonstrators gather at NIH headquarters to protest against cuts to medical research

<p>Protesters decried Trump administration healthcare policies and direction of HHS under leadership of RFK Jr</p><p>As tens of thousands of people assembled across the US and around the world for No Kings protests, about a thousand people gathered outside the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, on Saturday morning to protest cuts to medical research and the Trump’s administration’s policies on health.</p><p>The rally follows a tumultuous year for the research agency, with devastating cuts to multi-year funding and outright terminations of grants, especially to research related to gender and race. The White House is now poised to cut the NIH’s budget by 20%, according to <a href="https://rollcall.com/2026/03/27/sources-white-house-to-propose-20-percent-cut-to-nih-funding/">reporting</a> by Roll Call on Friday, nearly one year after mass layoffs at health agencies.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/28/national-institutes-health-no-kings-...

The Guardian US NewsMar 28
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco suspends election fraud probe as legal challenges mount - Los Angeles Times
Politics

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco suspends election fraud probe as legal challenges mount - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles TimesMar 31
Trump administration opens investigations into 3 medical schools
Civil Rights

Trump administration opens investigations into 3 medical schools

The Trump administration has opened investigations into three medical schools, saying it has concerns around potential race-based discrimination in admissions. Stanford University, the Ohio State University and the University of California, San Diego, received letters on Wednesday demanding seven years of data around applicants’ race, standardized test scores, relations to donors, zip codes and other…

The HillMar 26
California sheriff says election fraud probe delayed by suits and court filings
Politics

California sheriff says election fraud probe delayed by suits and court filings

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco says his election fraud probe of the Proposition 50 Special Election last fall has come to a halt due to "politically motivated lawsuits and court filings."

CBS NewsMar 30
He suddenly couldn't speak in space. NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains unsolved
Health

He suddenly couldn't speak in space. NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains unsolved

The astronaut who prompted NASA's first medical evacuation earlier this year said Friday that doctors still don't know why he suddenly fell sick at the International Space Station.

PBS NewsHourMar 27
Read Next
Hundreds of hospitals threatened by Medicaid cuts: Research
Health

Hundreds of hospitals threatened by Medicaid cuts: Research

More than 400 hospitals across the country are in danger of closing or reducing services because of cuts to Medicaid funding under the GOP’s massive reconciliation package last year, according to new research. A report from Public Citizen found that 446 hospitals — 267 in urban areas and 176 in rural areas — are at…

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources