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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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Indianapolis, IN

How to Watch 2026 Indianapolis SX, Talladega GNCC, and MXGP of Argentina Live on TV – Racer X

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How to Watch 2026 Indianapolis SX, Talladega GNCC, and MXGP of Argentina Live on TV – Racer X


The ninth round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will take place on Saturday, March 7, as Lucas Oil Stadium hosts the Indianapolis Supercross. This will be the third round of the 250SX East Division championship and will be our second Triple Crown event of the ’26 season.

Check out how to watch the Indianapolis SX below, plus check out the full race day schedule, the entry lists, injury report, track maps, AMA national numbers refresher, live timing link, and anything and everything else you need to know for Indianapolis for Saturday.

What you need to know the most for the Indianapolis SX: the Triple Crown races begin just after 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific.

On Saturday, qualifying can still be seen on Race Day Live beginning at 1 p.m. EDT/10 a.m. PDT on Peacock. The Race Day Live broadcast will end with the two last chance qualifier races to determine the gate picks for the main program/night show Triple Crown races. 

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The SMX Video pass broadcast—which is available only outside of the United States—will start at the same time. Once again, there are Spanish and French broadcasts as a part of the 2026 SMX Video Pass this year, just as they were last year. 

Viewers can also listen to audio from the full night show broadcast each and every weekend of SMX in its entirety on SiriusXM Radio (with Indianapolis also starting at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific).

The Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series is back in action this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The Talladega GNCC will have both Saturday’s pro ATVs (2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST) and Sunday’s pro bikes (1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST) broadcasted live by the RacerTV crew.

And the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) kicks off this weekend with the MXGP of Argentina on Saturday (qualifying) and Sunday (points-paying motos). You can watch the action live on both days on MXGP-TV.com or catch the delayed broadcast of the second motos on CBS Sports (might want to DVR this with the late night time!).

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Cleveland, OH

Woman, 28, arrested for murder after 2 young girls found in suitcases on Cleveland’s east side

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Woman, 28, arrested for murder after 2 young girls found in suitcases on Cleveland’s east side


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland police have charged a 28-year-old woman with aggravated murder and child endangering for the deaths of two young girls found buried in suitcases on the city’s east side.

Aliyah Henderson was arrested Wednesday evening at a home on E. 162nd after officers executed a search warrant. She was then booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Aliyah Henderson(Julia Thyret | (Source: Cuyahoga County Sheriff))

Cleveland police said a third child was found inside the home and appeared to be in good health. That child is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.

10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman
10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman(N/A)

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the two girls as 10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman. The girls are also half-sisters.

The bodies of the two half-sisters were found in partially buried suitcases around 6 p.m. Monday near E. 162nd Street and Midland Avenue.

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This is in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood.

A man was walking his dog in the area, for the first time in a while, due to the snow, and the dog hit on the scent.

The man immediately called 911.

When officers and homicide detectives got to the field, they found the second body nearby.

Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said the victims had been there for some time.

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“These were two young lives with their entire futures ahead of them,” said Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd. “Our detectives worked tirelessly and with great care to identify those responsible. Investigations of this nature require patience, precision, and discretion. Unlike what is often portrayed on television, every detail cannot be shared publicly. Certain information must remain confidential to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure justice for these victims. That careful and methodical work allowed our detectives to develop the evidence needed to make quick identification of a person of interest, ultimately resulting in an arrest.”

Henderson will be in the Cleveland Municipal Court on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.

Tips can remain anonymous.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the two girls as 10-year-old Amor Wilson and...
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the two girls as 10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman. The girls are also half-sisters.(WOIO)

A memorial where the two girls were found has continued to grow with teddy bears, flowers, balloons and more throughout the day.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the two girls as 10-year-old Amor Wilson and...
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the two girls as 10-year-old Amor Wilson and 8-year-old Mila Chatman. The girls are also half-sisters.(WOIO)

Cleveland Missing’s resources can be found here.



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Illinois

Mayors across Illinois push for local gas tax, other state laws

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Mayors across Illinois push for local gas tax, other state laws


SPRINGFIELD (25News Now) – Illinois mayors are asking state lawmakers for more tools to manage local budgets, roads, and growth as part of their yearly pitch.

The Illinois Municipal League, a coalition of towns, cities and villages throughout the state, laid out their wish list for lawmakers in 2026. Their message: Give cities, villages, and towns more control over how money is raised and spent close to home.

One of their core demands is for the state for fully fund all revenue that is shared with municipalities. One example is the Local Government Distributive Fund.

According to the IML, the LGDF used to spread 10% of state income tax revenues across municipalities. In 2011, that percentage was changed to 6%. This year, Governor JB Pritzker proposed allocating 6.28% to 6.47% of tax revenue towards LGDF.

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“Local governments are where residents feel impacts first, so shifting costs to the local level makes Illinois less affordable for residents,” said IML President and Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin.

“Reducing LGDF funding would leave us only two options: raise local taxes or cut critical services like public safety, infrastructure and transportation,” she continued.

City, town and village leaders with the IML are also pushing to amend laws around the Motor Fuel Tax.

“Under current law, only non home rule communities located in Cook County, or those with a population exceeding 100,000 are authorized to impose a local non home rule mobile fuel tax without a referendum”, said Mayor John Lewis and first Vice President of Illinois Municipal League.

New legislation aims to change that. The proposal would allow all Illinois municipalities to add their own local gas tax in one-cent increments, up to a maximum of three cents per gallon, on top of the state’s existing motor fuel tax of 48 cents per gallon.

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Any revenue from a local gas tax would be dedicated to infrastructure projects. That includes repairing roads, replacing bridges, and funding other transportation improvements that residents use every day.

Supporters argue that a small local gas tax is a fair and transparent way to pay for the streets and bridges drivers rely on. Opponents focus on what it would mean at the pump. They warn that adding another layer of tax would drive gas prices even higher at a time when many families are already struggling with rising costs.

The motor fuel tax bill, HB 1283, was filed by Chicago Heights Democratic Representative Anthony DeLuca in January 2025. It was last sent to a House committee in March 2025.

Lawmakers will consider it during this year’s legislative session.

You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here.

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