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Amid Iran strikes, Louisiana family has been stuck in Dubai as flights canceled

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Christian Walker of Prairieville, Louisiana, has been in Dubai for two weeks while on a family vacation with his two young children and pregnant wife.

Walker told Fox News Digital he has heard missiles and drones getting shot down at night — and the activity has been shaking his hotel as he’s been trying to find a flight for his family to evacuate.

The officials “urge you to get out, but there’s no way out, and then you call the number, and they say that they’re not evacuating U.S. citizens at the time … [and] to contact your airline,” said Walker. 

He said that pretty much every morning, he’s called and spent “about two hours on the phone with [the] airline” trying to rebook his flight — and then “flights [get] canceled later that day.”

Walker said he’s gone through the “proper channels.” He has registered through the Embassy and has called the State Department, he said. 

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier that the department has facilitated the safe return of over 20,000 American citizens from the Middle East since Feb. 28.

Christian Walker, a father of two young children with another child on the way, has reported hearing drones and missiles being shot down nightly while trying to book flights home with his family.  (Christian Walker)

There were approximately 8,500 arrivals this past Wednesday, with thousands more that have transitioned to safe havens in Europe and Asia or who remain in active transit, according to the spokesperson.

Walker said that many Americans have been evacuating through Oman, which is about a five-hour drive from Dubai.

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“There are a lot of unknown variables, and I’m not very confident with taking a one- and three-year-old [child] across the border [without a guaranteed flight], or how that could all go with getting there to the border with the hotel,” said Walker. 

“We find it’s better to be safer [and] stay put than just be at the mercy of the airline opening and getting the flight out,” he said a few days ago.

Walker family photo, iranian strike in dubai

Walker said he has a flight booked for Saturday — and said “he will believe it when [he] sees it” in terms of evacuating with his family. (Christian Walker; Fox News)

The U.S. has urged Americans to leave 14 countries across the Middle East as Iran’s counterattacks intensify.

An Iranian drone strike landed near the U.S. Consulate in Dubai but was not a direct hit on the facility itself on Tuesday – Walker’s hotel is about a mile away.

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Walker said his hotel was connected to a mall, so he hadn’t needed to go outside the hotel.

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“It’s connected to a mall, and [there’s] a store similar to a Walmart — so we were able to get baby diapers and wipes, and kind of stroller around the mall,” he said.

An intercepted projectile falls into the sea near Dubai's Palm Jumeirah archipelago night

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier that the Department has facilitated the safe return of over 20,000 American citizens from the Middle East since Feb. 28. (Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images)

Ahead of this weekend, Walker said he had a flight booked for Saturday with Emirates — but indicated he would “believe it when [he] sees it” in terms of evacuating his family.

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Americans in the Middle East who are in need of assistance have been advised by officials to call the U.S. Department of State. 

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John F. Kennedy Jr.’s favorite New York City spots draw fans amid ‘Love Story’ hit series

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As the public’s fascination with John F. Kennedy Jr. resurfaces in a big way, interest is also exploding in the New York City neighborhoods and hot spots he once favored. 

The spike in tourist attention follows the release of the hit series “Love Story,” which revisits Kennedy’s life and his highly publicized relationship with Carolyn Bessette. The high-profile limited series premiered Feb. 12, 2026.

John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, was a lawyer and founder of George magazine. Bessette, a former Calvin Klein publicist known for her minimalist style, married Kennedy in September 1996.

The couple died tragically in a 1999 plane crash off the coast of Massachusetts.

“Love Story” was filmed at several real-life locations the couple frequented — inspiring curious fans to flock in droves to the downtown spots that shaped their story.

John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy are shown arriving at the annual John F. Kennedy Library Foundation dinner and “Profiles in Courage” on May 23, 1999, at the Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts. (Justin Ide/Newsmakers/Getty Images)

Here are several of the New York destinations closely associated with the time Kennedy spent in Manhattan — and why they’re attracting so much tourist attention right now. 

Home in Tribeca

Much of the miniseries was filmed in the same neighborhood where the couple was routinely photographed, and where they lived together until their tragic death in 1999.

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Kennedy purchased the loft in Tribeca for just $700,000 in 1994, according to Realtor.com. 

Paparazzi were known to wait outside the doors at 20 North Moore Street, hoping for a glimpse of the glamorous young couple.

20 North Moore Street, the young Kennedys' "Love Nest"

The couple lived here at 20 North Moore Street in Tribeca, shown above, until their tragic deaths in the summer of 1999. (Fox News Digital)

Carolyn Bessette allegedly moved in sometime during 1995, a year or so before the couple wed. 

Upon returning to their home after an intimate wedding off the coast of Georgia and then a honeymoon in Turkey, Kennedy is said to have asked waiting members of the press to show courtesy and consideration toward his new bride.

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“This is a big change for anyone,” he reportedly said. 

“And for a private citizen like Carolyn, even more so. I ask you to give her all the privacy and room you can … It would be greatly appreciated.”

John Kennedy Junior and his wife Carolyn Bessette leaving home. New York, US.

JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy are shown leaving their loft on 20 North Moore Street in Tribeca.  (Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images)

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy looking on as JFK Jr. looks exhausted.

The couple is shown arriving for a reception at the Whitney Museum.   (Andrew Savulich/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Bubby’s

Just around the corner from the couple’s former love nest is Bubby’s, a popular diner that serves breakfast classics.

It’s a spot JFK Jr. and Bessette Kennedy were known to frequent.

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It opened on Thanksgiving Day 1990, according to the restaurant’s website. 

Owner Ron Silver began baking pies and selling them to restaurants and neighbors out of a small kitchen at the corner of Hudson and North Moore St. in Tribeca. 

Exterior of Bubby's diner in Tribeca

Bubby’s is known for its traditional American breakfast food, a staple in the neighborhood since the 1990s. JFK Jr. was known to frequent this restaurant. (Fox News Digital)

“Bubby’s was like a living room for those guys, and they were in all the time,” Silver told Page Six.

“It was a place where they would come together and also separately with their friends and have meetings or different things like that,” he added. 

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“Regulars say blueberry pancakes and matzo ball soup were among their orders — which feels refreshingly unfussy compared to the era’s velvet-rope nightlife,” according to Time Out New York. 

Panna II

In the series, Indian restaurant Panna II in the East Village is noted as the site of the couple’s first date — but it was also a frequent spot of the real-life couple.

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Bashir Khan, 50, the owner of Panna II, told Fox News Digital about the increased traffic following the launch of “Love Story.”

Indian restaurant Panna II in the East Village, interior.

The couple depicted in the hit series “Love Story” had their first date here — but the real-life couple were also regulars at Panna II. Above, an interior photo of the restaurant taken this week by Fox News Digital.  (Fox News Digital)

In the three weeks post-premiere, the restaurant has attracted a 1500-person waiting list, he said this week. 

“It’s been two weeks, this is our third week. … I think it’s going to increase,” Khan said.

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And JFK Jr.’s go-to order? 

Chicken tikka masala, according to the restaurant’s owner. The grilled white-meat chicken is cooked with tomato sauce, per his menu.

Khan stands outside his restaurant, Panna II.

Bashir Khan, 50, owner of Panna II, stands outside his restaurant in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood this week.  (Fox News Digital)

John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy walking together at an event wearing formal wear.

There is tremendous new interest in the life of JFK Jr. and his wife amid the hit series “Love Story” currently airing — and tourists are flocking to their favorite haunts in New York City. The couple is shown on May 23, 1999, at the Kennedy Library in Boston.  (Justin Ide/Getty Images)

“We’re known for our Indian food, and then we’re known for our ‘unique’ decor,” the restaurant says on its website.

“We take a lot of pride in our food, sourcing quality ingredients and pairing them with inspired recipes to bring out the best in flavor. We wanted to make Indian food accessible too, so we keep everything at a budget-friendly price point.”

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Tourist’s death at national park in Hawaii reveals danger of rule violations

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A tourist perished late last week after entering a closed, hazardous area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — in what some say is the latest example of park visitors ignoring warning signs and wandering into off-limits areas.

The death of a 33-year-old Hawaii resident adds to a growing list of injuries and fatalities at major tourist destinations — including at Yellowstone National Park. 

The man went into a closed section of Kīlauea caldera at the park — triggering an overnight search and rescue operation in steep, hazardous terrain, officials said, as Fox News Digital reported. Rescue crews searched all night before locating him the following day. On Feb. 27, responders airlifted him and transported him to Hilo Benioff Medical Center — where he was pronounced dead.

Other travelers have been burned, gored or even jailed after breaking park safety rules.

“In recent years, visitation to U.S. national parks has increased substantially, and with more visitors comes a greater likelihood of incidents,” Dylan Spencer, assistant professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Georgia Southern University, told Fox News Digital.

It’s critical for tourists at national parks to stay on marked paths and in designated areas, experts emphasize. (iStock)

In September 2025, Spencer co-authored a research article entitled, “Recreation and disarray: Analysis of disorder in U.S. national parks.”

He continued, “Many of these incidents reflect a broader issue of risk perception. … Some visitors treat national parks as recreational spaces similar to city parks or zoos, when in reality they are dynamic and sometimes hazardous natural environments.”

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The fatal incident in Hawaii was far from the first national park emergency in recent years. 

In April 2025, a Seattle tourist was sentenced to a week in prison for violating rules at Yellowstone National Park and getting too close to Old Faithful, according to SFGate.

Two died at Bryce Canyon

Last spring, after climbing over a rail at Bryce Canyon in Utah, two tourists (not pictured) perished.  (iStock)

The park requires visitors in thermal areas of Yellowstone to stay on specific trails, the attorney’s office said at the time.

There were two other arrests in Yellowstone last year for breaking the rules.

“Wildlife, steep terrain, geothermal features and remote landscapes all carry real risks.”

Park officials emphasized how important it is to remain on marked paths in Yellowstone’s thermal areas. 

Nearly two dozen people have died from burns in these areas since Yellowstone opened in 1872, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

four young hikers follow trail in forest

“A common issue is that some visitors underestimate how dangerous these environments can be,” an expert on park visitation said.   (iStock)

In June, an 18-year-old man slipped and fell 50 feet to his death at Olympic National Park in Washington, according to Fox13 Seattle.

The man was walking on rocks at the top of Sol Duc Falls at the time, according to the National Park Service.

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The waterfall area there is rugged and slippery, and park visitors are regularly warned to stay on designated paths, away from unstable rock surfaces near the falls.

In 2024, an 83-year-old woman was severely injured after being gored by a bison in Yellowstone National Park, the National Park Service said.

Thermal areas in Yellowstone are dangerous

Nearly two dozen people have died from burns in thermal areas in Yellowstone since the park first opened.  (iStock)

“A common issue is that some visitors underestimate how dangerous these environments can be,” Spencer said.

Last spring, two tourists died after climbing over a rail at Bryce Canyon in Utah, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

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The incident underscored how slipping past safety barriers at scenic overlooks dramatically increases risk.

“Wildlife, steep terrain, geothermal features and remote landscapes all carry real risks,” Spencer said.

“Some visitors seem insistent on ignoring the warnings — and some pay the price.”

“When visitors ignore warning signs or approach dangerous areas for photos or closer views, the consequences can unfortunately be severe.”

Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, agreed with that assessment.

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“Park rangers know what the risks to visitors are in national parks and do everything reasonable they can to warn visitors of these risks and to keep them safe,” Wade told Fox News Digital.

“Despite these warnings, some visitors seem insistent on ignoring the warnings — and some pay the price,” he added.

Stepheny Price of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. 

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Iran warns Europe will be ‘legitimate targets’ if they join conflict

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An Iranian official warned that any European countries that enter the conflict against Iran will become “legitimate targets” for Tehran’s retaliation. 

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remark to France24 as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to neighboring countries that have been attacked by the regime. 

“We have already informed the Europeans and everybody else that they should be careful not to be involved in this war of aggression against Iran,” Takht-Ravanchi told the network. “If they help, I’m not trying to name any country, but if any country joins in the aggression against Iran, joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, definitely they will be also the legitimate targets for Iranian retaliation.” 

“This war has imposed on us, and we will continue to defend ourselves to the best of our abilities,” he added. “We have an obligation to defend our people and that is what exactly we are doing.”

Then-Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi speaks to the media outside Security Council chambers at the U.N. headquarters in New York, on June 24, 2019.  (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Takht-Ravanchi also claimed Iran was “negotiating in good faith” in talks with the U.S. about its nuclear program, before America launched Operation Epic Fury and Israel began Operation Roaring Lion on Feb. 28. 

“We are sincere. We are sincere in our endeavor to arrive at a peaceful conclusion of this issue,” he told France24. 

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Damage in Tehran, Iran following joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign

A group of men inspect the ruins of a police station struck during the U.S.–Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Pezeshkian said Saturday that any future attacks coming out of Iran would only be in response to attacks against the country. 

“I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.”

Cars destroyed following Iranian missile barrage in Israel

Damage is seen in Bnei Brak, Israel, on March 3, 2026, following an Iranian missile barrage. (Nir Elias/Reuters)

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Pezeshkian made the apology during a prerecorded televised speech on Saturday after Iran launched repeated strikes on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman. 

Despite the vow, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that the country’s air defense systems intercepted 16 ballistic missiles, 15 of which were destroyed while one fell into the sea.

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Southwest Airlines considers cleaning only premium seats between flights

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Cleanliness may soon come at a price for Southwest travelers — and passengers are blasting the proposed policy.

The Dallas-based airline is considering bringing in cabin cleaners between flights to clean only the premium extra legroom seat areas of the aircraft, according to reports. 

Coach cabins will reportedly not receive the same deluxe treatment.

“Southwest Airlines flight attendants tidy every aircraft between every flight today,” a Southwest spokesperson told Fox News Digital Friday when asked about the reports.  

“That will continue, and in addition, we are looking at potentially bringing in additional cleaners when needed, at certain airports to supplement — not replace — our standard cleaning efforts.”

Southwest Airlines is considering bringing in cabin cleaners between flights to clean only the premium extra legroom seat areas, according to reports. (Eli Hartman/ Bloomberg )

“We will continue to make sure our aircraft are ready for every customer, regardless of where their seats are on the plane,” the spokesperson added.

An airline flight attendants union board member posted a since-deleted video for crew members, saying he was concerned about the experiment the airline was trying, in which premium cabins would be cleaned between every flight — but not the whole aircraft.

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The individual claimed he got a memo from Southwest on Tuesday about the new cleaning experiment.

He reportedly compared the proposed cleaning change to the upper class on the Titanic “having cigars and sipping brandy” — while passengers below didn’t get their seats cleaned. 

Southwest tests out idea of only cleaning premium part of aircraft

An airline flight attendants union board member and safety chair (not pictured) posted a video in which he reportedly said he was concerned about the new policy. The video was later removed.  (Scott Olson)

“So up front, you’ve got these super clean airplanes. In the back, you’ve got half-hearted, tidied airplanes. The passengers are going to come on board. They’re going to see it,” he said, according to the blog “View from the Wing.”

“When passengers see what’s going on, they’re going to be very upset,” he reportedly said.

Southwest passengers took to Facebook and X to voice their frustrations about the potential policy.

“I don’t ever trust anyone to clean my seat the way I want anyway.”

“Southwest Airlines [is] only gonna clean your seat if it smells like money,” wrote an angry X user. “The rest of you peasants can sit in the germ-infested filth left behind by the rest of the poor people.”

Southwest Airlines has turned into public transit. Dirty and expensive,” another person said, slamming the company.

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Facebook users felt differently.

“Bring your own wipes if you really want a clean seat,” said one person. “People need to stop leaving a mess for the flight attendants to clean up.”

Major airline says it may add luxury cleaning service for premium passengers

“People need to stop leaving a mess for the flight attendants to clean up,” said one Facebook user (not pictured).  (iStock)

Another Facebook user agreed, saying, “I don’t ever trust anyone to clean my seat the way I want anyway. I always carry wipes to wipe everything down right as I sit down so I can try to keep germs at bay.”

Said yet another Facebook user, “They pick up loose trash and lay the seat belts in the seats. I’ve sat down plenty of times with snack crumbs all around my feet.”

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Etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore of Florida said every airline passenger should be courteous.

“Everyone should clean up after themselves, regardless of whether the cleaning crew comes in or not,” she told Fox News Digital. “As a passenger, you should pack your manners — and you should clean up your surrounding area.”

Whitmore, who worked as a flight attendant for years, said it is generally the flight attendants’ job to collect garbage throughout the flight — not the responsibility of a cleaning crew.

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“I used to see this all the time,” she said. “Passengers would change their baby’s diaper on the seat. Then they might leave a dirty diaper on the seat.”

Ultimately, the potential new cleaning policy from Southwest could affect flight attendants more than passengers.

Southwest is testing out a new cleaning policy

Southwest passengers took to social media to voice their frustrations about the new reported policy. (iStock)

“After everybody deplanes the flight, attendants will go through the cabin with one final sweep,” Whitmore said.

“Personally, I’d be more upset if I were a flight attendant, not a passenger,” she added.

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This is the second time in a week Southwest has taken some heat from passengers.

The airline was slammed after it made a major process change over a month ago. The airline transitioned Jan. 27 from an open seating policy — so passengers now must select their seats or be assigned specific spots.

back of southwest seats

Southwest passengers are complaining they have issues reading the seat numbers, now that open seating has been done away with by the airline. (iStock)

Passengers say they have issues reading the seat numbers, run into snags with the boarding flow and are unable to spread out on the plane.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve our customer experience, to continue delivering the seamless and reliable travel journey that customers expect from Southwest,” a company spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella contributed reporting.

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Las Vegas plans $6 million Canada marketing push amid tourism decline

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Tourism in Las Vegas continues to decline — and officials are now considering spending heavily on the next campaign to attract new waves of visitors.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCA) board of directors is set to discuss a proposal of as much as $6 million over five years to market the city to Canada, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has reported.

The board is reportedly reviewing a one-year contract for $1.12 million for the 2027 fiscal year that would start on July 1 of this year, as well as one over the next two years for $1.16 million in fiscal 2028 and $1.12 million in fiscal 2029.

The following two years would be optional — and would cost $1.245 million in 2030 and $1.285 million in 2031, according to the same source.

The LVCA seeks to continue its current contract with Toronto-based Reach Global Marketing.

Las Vegas officials are potentially considering a marketing push of as much as $6 million over five years to win back visitors from Canada. (Michael Anthony for Fox News Digital)

Fox News Digital reached out to the LVCA for comment and further details.

The LCVA recently released its year-end summary for 2025, indicating that 38,545,700 people visited Sin City — which was down 7.5% from 2024.

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The highest visitation year ever recorded in Las Vegas was in 2019 — with 42,523,700 people coming by. 

That was before a dip during the COVID pandemic, according to data that LCVA posted on its website.

Tourists wait for rides at airport in Las Vegas.

There were 38,545,700 people who visited Las Vegas in 2025, according to the city’s convention and visitors bureau.  (Michael Anthony for Fox News Digital)

The noted visitor volume in 2025 closely mirrors the levels seen in 2000, 2002 and 2003.

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Total occupancy in 2025 was 80.3%, with average room rates at $196.54 and a convention attendance of 5,988,200.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas visitation dropped 7.5% in 2025 from the 2024 numbers. (iStock)

In comparison to 2024, convention attendance, visitors, occupancy and the daily roommate were all down.

Many officials, hotel owners and travel experts are citing a drop in Canadian tourism as a major reason that tourism numbers have been down.

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Circa Resort & Casino has launched an “at par” promotion — making the exchange rate for Canadians equal at its properties.

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“Canadian [visitors] are down anywhere from 20% to 50%, depending on what month you look at over the course of the last year,” casino owner Derreck Stevens previously told Fox News Digital.

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Daryl Hannah calls Ryan Murphy’s ‘Love Story’ portrayal false and appalling

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Daryl Hannah forcefully rejected the portrayal of her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. in Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story,” claiming the show is “not even a remotely accurate representation.”

While “Love Story” focused on the relationship between Kennedy and his wife, Carolyn Bessette, before their deaths in 1999, Hannah’s own relationship with the lawyer was briefly shown. The pair dated on and off for roughly five years before Kennedy moved on with Bessette.

Hannah insisted the version of her depicted in the series is “not even a remotely accurate representation” of her life or her relationship with Kennedy, calling the conduct portrayed “untrue.”

Daryl Hannah slammed the portrayal of herself in Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story.” (Brooks Kraft Llc / Sygma via Getty Images)

“I have never used cocaine in my life or hosted cocaine-fueled parties,” she wrote for The New York Times. “I have never pressured anyone into marriage. I have never desecrated any family heirloom or intruded upon anyone’s private memorial. I have never planted any story in the press. I never compared Jacqueline Onassis’ death to a dog’s. It’s appalling to me that I even have to defend myself against a television show. These are not creative embellishments of personality. They are assertions about conduct – and they are false.”

The “Wall Street” star warned that dramatizations using real names can carry “real-life consequences.”

“In the weeks since the series aired, I have received many hostile and even threatening messages from viewers who seem to believe the portrayal is factual,” Hannah wrote. “When entertainment borrows a real person’s name, it can permanently impact her reputation.”

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JFK Jr. and Daryl Hannah walking together.

Hannah and Kennedy dated for roughly five years before splitting in 1994. (Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

Hannah and Kennedy had a long relationship before he went on to marry Bessette. The pair first met in the early 1980s before making their relationship official at the end of the decade.

They had a tumultuous, tabloid-centered relationship until eventually calling it quits in 1994, the same year he began his relationship with Bessette.

JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy walking together in matching black attire outdoors.

Kennedy married Carolyn Bessette in 1996. (Justin Ide/Newsmakers/Getty Images)

Since the release of the first few episodes of the series on Feb. 12, fans quickly noticed how Murphy decided to portray Kennedy’s ex. According to some social media users and Vogue, “Love Story” seems to be painting the “Splash” star in a negative light.

“‘Love Story’s’ portrayal of Hannah as a whiny, coke-obsessed prima donna doesn’t quite ring true,” an opinion piece published by Vogue read. “Indeed, if I were Hannah, I’d consider suing.”

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Daryl Hannah and JFK Jr walking

Hannah and Kennedy were a hot topic in the tabloids in the 90s. (Getty Images)

Reddit users quickly weighed in on their opinions of Hannah from the “Love Story” producer’s perspective.

“Watching the show all I kept thinking was damn these writers hate Darryl Hannah,” one user wrote.

“I think the Darryl Hannah actress is horrible. They were together a long time. He really cared for her. the show makes it seem like she was irritating,” another added.

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Fox News Digital’s Janelle Ash contributed to this report.

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Barcelona doubles tourism tax to combat overtourism concerns in the city

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As popular vacation destinations continue their crackdown on overtourism, one major city has recently raised its traveler tax — making it one of the highest in Europe.

The city of Barcelona, Spain, has nearly doubled its hotel guest tax, from $5-$9 to $10-$17 per person, per night — while holiday rentals rose from 12.5 euros per night, up from $7.24 to a maximum of $14.49, Reuters reported.

The change follows overcrowding concerns from local residents due to the high number of visitors and a shortage of affordable housing for native Spaniards.

Barcelona citizens held a large protest last summer, even spraying tourists with water guns, as Fox News Digital previously reported.

Demonstrators marched with signs saying, “One more tourist, one less resident,” and “Tourist Go Home.” The demonstrators are demanding a reworking of their local economy.

Barcelona’s tourist tax is now nearly double what it was after local citizens protested the rise in travelers flooding their city last summer. (AP Photo/Pau Venteo)

Andreu Martínez of Spain humorously said at the time that the use of the squirt guns was to annoy the tourists a bit.

“Barcelona has been handed to the tourists,” said Martínez. “This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.” 

He said his rent had risen over 30%, with apartments in his neighborhood continually being rented out for short-term vacation use instead.

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The regional parliament of Catalonia said it is planning to ban all short-term rental accommodation by 2028.

“I don’t think this added expense is fair.”

Short-term rentals in Barcelona have been stagnant for years, remaining at around 10,000 since 2014, according to figures from Barcelona’s City Hall.

Barcelona city data indicates around 850,000 homes exist in Barcelona, making the 10,000 or so short-term rentals a fraction of total housing.

Barcelona citizens held a large protest last summer, with some spraying tourists with water guns to register dismay at their presence. 

Barcelona citizens held a large protest last summer, with some spraying tourists with water guns to register dismay at their presence.  (AP Photo/Pau Venteo)

Italian nurse Irene Verrazzo, who traveled to the city, told Reuters that Barcelona was already very expensive. She said she would probably not visit again.

“I don’t think this added expense is fair,” she told Reuters. “They already make money from tourists spending in shops, visiting their monuments, etc.”

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Barcelona hotel owners have expressed concern the tax rise could deter too many tourists from visiting.

Manel Casals, Barcelona’s hoteliers’ group general director, told Reuters that proposals to monitor the taxes’ impact and raise them gradually instead were ignored.

Barcelona Cathedral in Spain

In 2025, 96.8 million people visited Spain. ( Prisma by Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

“One day, they will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs,” said Casals.

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Last year, 96.8 million people visited Spain — with nearly 94 million visting in 2024, according to government data.

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Reuters contributed reporting.

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Norovirus outbreak sickens nearly 80 people on Holland America cruise ship

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Nearly 80 people fell ill with a suspected norovirus outbreak on a major cruise ship in February.

On March 1, The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) boarded Holland America’s Westerdam ship to investigate a massive outbreak in Hong Kong.

Among the approximately 2,800 passengers on board, 65 guests and 11 crew members developed symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms included diarrhea, vomiting and fever. 

“During the previous voyage of Westerdam from Yokohama, Japan to Hong Kong, a number of guests reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness,” Holland America told Fox News Digital in a shared statement.

“The cases were mostly mild and quickly resolving,” the statement continued.

Nearly 80 people got sick with a suspected norovirus outbreak on a Holland America cruise ship in Asia. (iStock)

“As a precaution and consistent with our standard protocols, we implemented enhanced sanitation procedures and conducted additional deep cleaning when the ship completed its sailing in Hong Kong,” the cruise line added.

CDC REPORTS FIRST CRUISE NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK THIS YEAR, AS NEARLY 90 PEOPLE ARE INFECTED

The ship had calls at ports including Japan, Busan in Korea, and Shanghai on the Chinese Mainland.

Testing by the ship’s lab found that stool samples from seven patients tested positive for norovirus. The CHP planned to conduct additional testing.

“We implemented enhanced sanitation procedures and conducted additional deep cleaning when the ship completed its sailing.”

“The two passengers who fell ill first boarded the cruise ship in Japan on Feb. 15 and developed symptoms on the same day,” according to a press release from the Hong Kong government.

“Subsequently, other individuals were affected.” 

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Dr. Edwin Tsui, controller of the CHP, said in the release, “After inspecting the cruise ship, the CHP personnel briefed the affected individuals and the operator on health advice and necessary infection control measures, including thorough disinfection … and attention to personal and environmental hygiene.”

Norovirus outbreak on Holland America in 2026

Sixty-five guests and 11 crew members fell ill on a Holland America cruise in Hong Kong. (iStock)

The CHP suggested the Holland America ship enhance training for the cleaning staff. Passengers and crew members who were confirmed in good health were allowed to disembark.

Once authorities made sure the vessel had undergone detailed cleaning and disinfection, and the hygiene conditions were viewed as satisfactory, new passengers and crew were allowed to board the cruise ship. That ship then departed Hong Kong for the Philippines.

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“Given the current high activity levels of norovirus … I urge cross-border cruise passengers and operators to pay special attention to personal, food and environmental hygiene to safeguard individual health and public health,” Tsui added.

Another Holland America cruise ship was also ravaged by a virus in 2026.

Norovirus on Holland America in 2026

Once authorities made sure the vessel had undergone a detailed cleaning and disinfection, new passengers could board the ship in Hong Kong. (iStock)

The Holland America Line was hit with a norovirus outbreak that sickened nearly 90 passengers and crew during its Dec 28-Jan. 9 voyage, as Fox News Digital previously reported. 

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The outbreak spread on the cruise line’s Rotterdam ship.

That vessel departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with stops in Curaçao, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica and other destinations, according to CruiseMapper.

Eighty-one passengers plus eight crew members reported diarrhea and vomiting, the CDC’s data shows.

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Over 2,593 passengers, plus 1,005 crew members, were on board at the time.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella contributed reporting.

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University of Oklahoma construction workers stunned to discover human remains

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Construction workers at the University of Oklahoma came across century-old human remains while on the job. The grim and startling discovery brought the project to a halt.

The University of Oklahoma announced the discovery in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

In the release, issued Feb. 20, the school said the remains were found at the construction site for OU’s future Life Sciences Laboratories Building. 

Pictures obtained by Fox News Digital show that the construction site was emptied out in the wake of the discovery.

OU said that work “stopped immediately” at the site once the remains were found.

Construction at the University of Oklahoma paused after workers uncovered human remains. (KOKH)

“The university notified law enforcement and the State Medical Examiner’s Office,” the statement read. 

“All required procedures and state burial protection laws are being followed.”

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“The university is committed to ensuring the remains are handled with care, dignity and respect,” the release added.

Though research is still ongoing, the university said that no foul play is suspected.

Empty construction site after discovery

OU officials said the remains appear to date to the early 1900s, based on initial evaluations. (KOKH)

“Based on preliminary evaluation, there are no findings to suggest criminal activity,” the statement added. 

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“Early indications suggest the remains date to the early 1900s.”

In a Feb. 26 statement to Fox News Digital, university officials said the remains may have been cadavers.

OU students walking on campus

The university, pictured above, said all required procedures and state burial protection laws are being followed in the startling new discovery. (Brett Deering/Getty Images)

The Oklahoma Archaeological Survey (OAS), which operates out of OU’s campus, said the remains appear to be “cadavers used for educational purposes in the early 1900s.”

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“The remains were found in the area of the former School of Biological Sciences, and their handling at the time followed standard practices,” OU said.

The construction project has since resumed.

The discovery comes nearly a year after a similar discovery was made in England.

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Last April, University of Gloucestershire reported that construction workers found 317 skeletons and 83 brick burial vaults during their work on the school’s City Campus.

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