UR MAG

The New Mexico Department of Justice announced the Monday morning search of the property, known as Zorro Ranch, in abrief statementposted to its website. It is part of the criminal investigation announced by state authorities last month into allegations of illegal activity surrounding the ranch at the time Epstein, who died in 2019, owned it.

The statement did not indicate whether anything of interest has been found during the search or how long it is expected to continue.

The ranch had previously not been subject to the same level of law enforcement scrutiny as Epstein's other properties in New York, South Florida and the Caribbean. But following the release of troves of federal government files related to Epstein, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrezordered the reopeningof the state's criminal investigation into the property, which he said closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors.

Included in the millions of files released by the Justice Department in late January was a 2019 email received by a local radio host that alleged that "somewhere in the hills outside the Zorro, two foreign girls were buried on orders of Jeffrey and Madam G." That allegation is unverified, but it is also not clear to what extent it had been investigated by law enforcement before the recent renewed interest in Epstein.

The host, Eddy Aragon, previously told CNN that he believed the email was sent to him by someone who worked on the ranch but wouldn't disclose who he thought the person was. He said he tried sending an email to the address, but it had bounced back. The files show he forwarded the allegations to a redacted email address four days after receiving it.

The radio host added that he went to the local FBI office with the email and forwarded it to a local FBI agent. Following the reopening of the state investigation, Aragon told CNN on Tuesday that he reached out to the New Mexico Department of Justice and had an approximately 30-minute interview.

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The release of the email sent to Aragon prompted Stephanie Garcia Richard, New Mexico's commissioner of public lands, to send a letter last month asking the state Department of Justice to investigate the claims. She told CNN in February that the special investigative office of the New Mexico DOJ later reached out to her for "background information" on state lands and her agency's processes and documents it released in 2019.

Apart from the criminal inquiry, the state's House of Representatives last month voted to create a bipartisan "Truth Commission" looking into allegations of criminal activity surrounding the ranch. The commission has the power to issue subpoenas and compel the attendance of witnesses at its hearings.

The property is now owned by the family of Don Huffines, a businessman and former Texas state senator who is running for state comptroller. Huffines previously said he would cooperate with any law enforcement investigation surrounding the ranch. The New Mexico Department of Justice said in its statement that the owners and staff are cooperating with the search.

Authorities asked members of the public to stay away from the ranch, which is in a remote area about 30 miles south of Santa Fe, to avoid interfering with law enforcement.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN's Kaanita Iyer contributed to this report.

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Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in Tehran on the first day of strikes. His son Mojtaba Khameneiwas chosenon Sunday to succeed him.

Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

(Read previous Iran live updates here.)

Watch special coverage onNightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Latest Developments

Mar 10, 1:17 PMRussia told Trump it isn't sharing US military asset intelligence with Iran, Witkoff says

Russian officials denied in a phone call with President Donald Trump on Monday that they are sharing intelligence on U.S. military assets with Iran, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said."We can take them at their word," Witkoff said Tuesday in an interview with CNBC. "That's a better question for the intel people, but let's hope that they're not sharing."Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday for about an hour. Witkoff also indicated during the interview that Trump is still open to dialogue with Iran."I think the president is always willing to talk, but the question is whether it would be productive or not," Witkoff said. "Do they actually want to make have a diplomatic solution here? And so far the evidence suggests no."

Mar 10, 12:05 PMHistoric Iranian landmarks damaged amid ongoing war

A number of historical sites and monuments across Iran are damaged as the war continues, the Iran's Cultural Heritage Ministry said Tuesday.ABC News has verified photos showing damage to historical sites in Isfahan and Tehran.

Several buildings are damaged in Isfahan, a city in central Iran known as the "cultural capital" of the country, home to many historical sites and monuments. Among them are Chehel Sotoun and Ali Qapu, which are UNESCO-listed palaces with significant cultural and historical importance as well as being popular tourist destinations, according to photos verified by ABC News.

Tehran's Golestan Palace, also a UNESCO-listed landmark, has been damaged. Pictures show considerable damage to the palace's famous Mirror Hall and the Berelian Hall, according to photos verified by ABC News.

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei urged an international response to the attacks, writing that "the aggressors' brutal crimes threaten the shared heritage of humankind," in a post on X on Wednesday.Iran's Ministry of Cultural Heritage listed other sites including Isfahan's Imam Mosque and the historic valleys of Khorramabad as locations exposed to potential damage.-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian,Maryam Moqaddam, Camilla Alcini, Helena Skinner and Zoe Magee

Mar 10, 11:49 AMOver 40,000 Americans have returned from Middle East, State Department says

The State Department says it is now aware of more than 40,000 American citizens who have returned to the U.S. since Feb. 28 and that its 24/7 task force has helped more than 27,000 Americans abroad.The department's figure on charter flights stands at "over two dozen," which have "safely evacuated thousands." It says these operations are continuing for the time being even though demand is lessening and flights are operating at a 40% capacity.

Mar 10, 11:35 AMBritish Airways cancels many Middle East flights this month

British Airways announced on Tuesday that it is canceling all of its flights to and from Amman, Jordan; Doha, Qatar; Dubai, UAE; Tel Aviv and Bahrain until later this month.The airline cited "continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability."The airline also canceled all of its flights to Abu Dhabi until later this year.

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Mar 10, 10:30 AM43% of Americans disapprove of the U.S. strikes on Iran, 29% approve, new polling says

A new Ipsos poll found that 43% of Americans disapprove of the U.S. strikes on Iran, while 29% approve of them. Another 26% are unsure.The polling, which ran from March 6 to 9, found that 64% say that President Donald Trump has not explained the objectives of the war clearly.As a result of the U.S. military action in Iran, 67% think gas prices will get worse over the next year, including 85% of Democrats, 73% of independents and 44% of Republicans, the polling found. Nearly half of the respondents think the conflict will have a mostly negative impact on their own personal financial situation.Americans are also more likely to think U.S. military involvement in Iran will go on for an "extended period of time," 60%, rather than "end pretty quickly in a matter of weeks," 36%.

Mar 10, 9:16 AM9 drone strikes reported in UAE

Nine Iranian drones were able to make it through air defenses in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, the UAE Ministry of Defense said in a post on X.Twenty-six drones and eight ballistic missiles were intercepted on Tuesday, according to the ministry.

Mar 10, 8:31 AMIran not 'more formidable' than US expected, Caine says

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Tuesday that while Iran was "adapting" during the conflict, Tehran's military was not "more formidable" than the U.S. had expected.

"I mean, I think they're fighting and I respect that, but I don't think they're more formidable than what we thought," he said.

Mar 10, 8:19 AMIran campaign not 'endless nation building,' Hegseth says

The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran are not part of an "endless nation-building" effort, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday."This is not 2003. This is not endless nation building under those types of quagmires we saw under Bush or Obama," Hegseth said during a Pentagon press briefing. "It's not even close. Our generation of soldier will not let that happen again."

Hegseth added that President Donald Trump would not allow such open-ended conflict, saying he "very clearly ran against those kinds of never-ending nebulously scoped missions. Those days are dead."

Mar 10, 8:10 AMTuesday to mark 'most intense' US strikes in Iran, Hegseth says

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that U.S. strikes on Tehran would continue to amplify, meaning Tuesday's aerial strikes would mark "the most intense" of the 10-day conflict.

"Iran stands alone and they are badly losing on day 10 of Operation Epic Fury," Hegseth said. "We are winning with an overwhelming and unrelenting focus on our objectives, which are the same as the day I gave my first briefing here on Operation Epic Fury."

Mar 10, 7:50 AMIran's top security official responds to Trump: 'Beware lest you be the ones to vanish'

Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Tuesday in a post on social media that Iranians don't fear "hollow threats," a response to an earlier social media post from U.S. President Donald Trump.

"The Ashura-loving Iranian people do not fear your hollow threats; for those greater than you have failed to erase it… So beware lest you be the ones to vanish," Larijani said.Trump had earlier said the U.S. would amplify its strikes on Iran if the country moved to further restrict traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.-ABC News' Morgan Winsor

Click here to read the rest of the blog.

The shellfish caution covers "certain raw oysters" harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and Manila clams harvested by Lummi Indian Business Council between Feb. 13 through March 3,according to an FDA statement.

Thesepotentially bad oysters and clamswere sent to food retailers and restaurants in nine states — Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington, the FDA said.

The agency urged restaurants and retailers "not serve or sell the potentially contaminated oysters or Manila clams," but instead "dispose of any products by throwing them in the garbage or contacting their distributor to arrange for destruction."

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There's also a threat of cross-contamination from those tainted products touching processing equipment that contacts other food in the kitchen, the agency said.

Representatives for Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and the Lummi Indian Business Council could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.

The tribe, however, issued a statement on Friday warning of possible norovirus associated with shellfish coming out ofDrayton Harbor. The warning stopped short of a recall and urged consumers not to eat the shellfish raw.

Consuming tainted shellfish could lead to symptoms in 13 to 48 hours before getting better in another 24 to 72 hours, the FDA said.

Norovuris symptoms include dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache and body aches.

Jalen Smith, 30, of Charlotte, was the first of 26 defendants to admit criminal wrongdoing, entering his plea on Monday, March 9, at a hearing in Philadelphia.

Smith was a "fixer" who recruited players "to underperform and help ensure their team failed to cover the spread in games during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 NCAA men's basketball seasons," federal prosecutors said in a statement.

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Smith was one of the primary figures in the operation, responsible for "recruiting, managing, and paying players for their roles," according to the statement.

Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended in 2022 after the NFL determined he had placed bets on games the season prior. Ridley played in only five games during the 2021 season, citing mental health issues. During Ridley's time away, Ridley acknowledged he bet on NFL games for a total of $1,500. He was reinstated in the league in 2023 and was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ippei Mizuhara, left, Shohei Ohtani's former longtime interpreter and confidant, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison in 2025 after stealing nearly $17 million from baseball's two-way global superstar to pay off sports gambling debts. Mizuhara, 40, utilized his proximity to Ohtani's personal information and his role tending to many of the superstar's off-field affairs to siphon funds from accounts and, as prosecutors allege, impersonate Ohtani in bank communications.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Betting scandals that have shaken up every major sports league over the century

Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley wassuspended in 2022after the NFL determined he had placed bets on games the season prior. Ridley played in only five games during the 2021 season,citing mental health issues. During Ridley's time away,Ridley acknowledged he bet on NFL games for a total of $1,500. He was reinstated in the league in 2023 and wastraded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Theoperation involved 39 playersonmore than 17 Division I teamsfrom 2022-2025, with bettors wagering millions of dollars on at least 29 different games,according to the original indictment in January. Payments to players ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.

The fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years. The bribery charges have a maximum sentence of five years. Smith also pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College basketball point-shaving 'fixer' enters guilty plea

APTOPIX Vatican Pope

Bishop Emanuel Shaleta pleaded not guilty to 17 felony charges during his arraignment in court in California on Monday. Many of his supporters were present.

Shaleta is accused of embezzling $270,000 from the St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon.

Shaleta was detained March 5 at the San Diego International Airport, attempting to leave the country, and jailed, the San Diego County Sheriff's office had said. The office said it acted after someone from Shaleta's church provided a statement and documentation "showing potential embezzlement from the church."

The judge set bail at $125,000. Prosecutor Joel Madero said Shaleta was a flight risk, but his attorney said the flight was pre-planned.

During a recent Mass, Shaleta addressed allegations against him, saying he has never "abused any penny of the church money."

"On the contrary, I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the church properly," he said at the time.

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Shaleta's lawyer, Sharon Appelbaum, said she planned on showing that the allegations were false. The priests of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle released a statement in solidarity with Shaleta.

Madero, the prosecutor, said the allegations against Shaleta are connected to monthly rental payments of over $30,000 from a tenant of the church's social hall that allegedly were missing. He said there were discrepancies in church accounts. He said Shaleta "provided completely unreasonable tales of where that money was going" and could not give proof of where it went.

The Vatican said in its daily bulletin Tuesday that Leo had accepted Shaleta's resignation under the code of canon law for Eastern Rite churches, which allows for the pope to agree if a bishop asks to step down.

Leo actually accepted the resignation when Shaleta presented it in February, but an announcement was not made until Tuesday, according to the Vatican embassy in Washington. The Holy See appears to have waited to announce the decision to avoid interfering with the police investigation.

Leo named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as a temporary administrator.

Shaleta, 69, was ordained a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Detroit in 1984. He was named to the San Diego branch of the Eastern Rite Catholic Church in the U.S. in 2017.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.