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Ohio Air Force vet, brother sentenced to 4 months in 'notorious' Dubai prison after yacht drinking incident

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Ohio Air Force vet, brother sentenced to 4 months in 'notorious' Dubai prison after yacht drinking incident

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Two Ohio brothers, one an Air Force veteran, were sentenced to spend four months in a Dubai prison after an incident involving drinking on a yacht in June, a crime in the United Arab Emirates.

Radha Stirling, CEO of human rights organization Detained in Dubai and an advocate for Joseph and Joshua Lopez, alleges the brothers were drugged and robbed on the same night as the drinking that landed them in jail, and they are calling on U.S. lawmakers, including Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance, for help. The drugging allegations have yet to be officially confirmed.

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“Sen. Vance’s office has been in constant communication with the State Department, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the United States and the constituents’ family,” Vance spokesperson Parker Magid told Fox News Digital. “Sen. Vance is monitoring the as-yet-unresolved legal proceedings carefully.”

Stirling said the Lopez brothers are appealing their sentence, alleging they were “targeted by scammers while on vacation in Dubai.”

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO…AMERICANS DETAINED IN RUSSIA?

Joseph Lopez, an Ohio Air Force veteran and father, is detained in Dubai with his brother, Joshua, for drinking on a yacht. (Detained in Dubai)

“While local criminals target tourists with what appears to be the support of law enforcement, Dubai is far from the ‘safe tourist destination’ it’s marketed as,” Stirling said.

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The State Department told Fox News Digital in a statement it is aware of the Lopez brothers’ recent arrests.

AMERICAN ARRESTED IN TURKS AND CAICOS SAYS IS ‘UNCLEAR’ IF STATE DEPT WAS ON ‘US SIDE’ OR ‘TURKS SIDE’

“We take our role in assisting U.S. citizens abroad seriously and are monitoring the situation,” a spokesperson said. “Due to privacy and other considerations, we have no further comment at this time. U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the foreign countries they visit or reside in, even when those laws differ from U.S. law.”

The State Department told Fox News Digital in a statement it is aware of the Lopez brothers’ recent arrests. (Instagram/ Joshua Lopez)

Neither the UAE Embassy nor the UAE tourist police responded to inquiries from Fox News Digital.

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The State Department has a Level 2 travel advisory listed for the UAE due to threats of terrorism. The State Department’s website for the UAE notes that alcohol is “very limited” in certain private areas, and “[p]ublic drunkenness and driving under the influence, regardless of one’s blood alcohol content level, are considered very serious offenses.”

Joseph Lopez, 24, has a baby at home in the United States. (Detained in Dubai)

“Persons arrested on alcohol-related offenses are regularly detained for many days as they await a court hearing. Penalties may include hefty jail sentences, substantial fines and, for Muslims (even those holding U.S. citizenship), lashings,” the website states.

The State Department also notes the country’s “strict” laws on drugs, public decency, photography, social media usage and LGBTQ-related activities or preferences.

OKLAHOMA MAN PRAISES GOD, US LAWMAKER IN RETURN HOME AFTER AMMO ARREST IN TURKS AND CAICOS

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Stirling said if the brothers’ appeal is unsuccessful, Joseph, a veteran and 24-year-old father, and Joshua “face months in Dubai jails notorious for human rights abuses.”

Joshua and Joseph Lopez were sentenced to spend four months in a Dubai prison for drinking on a yacht, but the brothers alleged they were drugged. (Instagram/ Joshua Lopez)

“Visitors are flocking into Dubai and facing the most ridiculous charges for alleged crimes they haven’t even committed. Last year, we saw Tierra Allen targeted by a rental car company, Elizabeth de las Santos targeted by an immigration officer and Peter Clark detained for residual hashish found in his blood that he’d legally smoked in Las Vegas weeks before flying,” Stirling said.

She is pressing the United States to “increase travel warnings” for Americans going to Dubai.

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“Not only will they be robbed and extorted, but they’ll usually end up in prison too,” she said.

Fox News’ Mollie Markowitz contributed to this report.

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Illinois

New Illinois proposal aims to lower property taxes for homeowners | ChicagoLIVE

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New Illinois proposal aims to lower property taxes for homeowners | ChicagoLIVE


With property taxes rising across Illinois, some lawmakers are proposing new legislation aimed at providing relief for homeowners. State Rep. Dan Ugaste joined ChicagoLIVE to explain the plan, how it could impact taxpayers and schools, and what challenges the proposal may face as it moves forward.



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Indiana

Indiana Fever franchise valuation has skyrocketed with Caitlin Clark

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Indiana Fever franchise valuation has skyrocketed with Caitlin Clark


The latest effects of Caitlin Clark’s presence in Indianapolis were revealed in a new report from Sportico.

According to Sportico, since drafting Clark in 2024, the Fever’s franchise valuation has jumped from $90 million to $560 million entering the 2026 season. The Fever’s franchise valuation ranks third in the WNBA, trailing only the Golden State Valkyries ($850 million) and the New York Liberty ($600 million).

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That is a 522% increase and means the Fever are worth six times as much now as compared to before they drafted Clark.

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Iowa

‘GoFundMe’ shares update on Univ. of Iowa student shot at Ped Mall

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‘GoFundMe’ shares update on Univ. of Iowa student shot at Ped Mall


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A University of Iowa student critically injured in an April 19 shooting at the Pedestrian Mall is off a ventilator after multiple surgeries.

Miranda, who suffered the most serious injuries in the shooting, was taken off a ventilator and breathing through her tracheostomy with oxygen support as needed, according to a May 2 update on a GoFundMe page organized by her sister, Janjay Peters. The fundraiser has raised more than $195,000.

Doctors said if Miranda continues to do well with her breathing, she may be moved out of the ICU soon. The family expressed appreciation for the support they have been receiving.

The shooting happened at the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City, around 1:45 a.m. on April 19. Five people were hurt, one critically.

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Iowa City Police said 17-year-old Damarian Jones of Cedar Rapids was involved in a fight before he retrieved a gun from another person and fired six shots into the crowd, hitting five people.

Authorities said there is no evidence Jones targeted any of the victims, and none were involved in the initial fight.

Iowa City Police are still searching for Jones. He is facing five counts of attempted murder among several other charges.

The Iowa City Police Department said it expects to arrest more people in addition to the charges for Jones.

Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.

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