The Milwaukee Brewers continue their road trip to begin the week, as they’ll visit the St. Louis Cardinals for three games beginning Monday evening. The Brewers, who have taken two of three against the D-backs and Nationals in their last two series, are now 18-15 on the season, sitting in fourth place in the deepest division in baseball. Just above them in those standings are the Cardinals, tied for second at 20-14. The Cardinals had their six-game win streak — including a four-game sweep of the Pirates and two wins over the Dodgers — snapped on Sunday.
Midwest
Michigan grandparents imprisoned in Mexico timeshare dispute as daughter begs for their release
A Michigan couple has been detained for weeks in Mexico after what their attorney described as a disagreement over their timeshare in Cancun.
Christy Akeo, 60, and Paul Akeo, 58, who live in Spring Arbor, Michigan, have been held in a Cereso, Cancun, prison for more than three weeks since they traveled there for vacation earlier this month, their daughter and attorney told Fox News Digital.
“She doesn’t have anything. You don’t even get toilet paper in these places. So, it’s just a very, very scary environment, from what she explained,” Lindsey Lemke Hull, Christy Akeo’s daughter, told Fox News Digital of her mother. “I think she tends to keep a lot from my brother and I when we talk to her, just out of protection. … We are fearful for her … life, Paul’s life, just because we don’t know what’s going to happen to them at any given time.”
AMERICANS TRAVELING ABROAD ON SPRING BREAK SHOULD KNOW 3 CRUCIAL THINGS TO STAY SAFE: EXPERT
Paul and Christy Akeo have been detained in Mexico for weeks following a timeshare dispute. (handout)
On March 4, Christy and Paul were traveling to a resort at Isla Mujeres. Mexican authorities arrested them upon arrival and charged them with fraud for disputing credit card charges stemming from a timeshare they purchased in 2021 at a different resort in Cancun.
Lemke Hull said she and her brother haven’t heard from Paul, her stepfather and a 21-year Navy veteran and Michigan State Police employee, at all since they were detained, and they’ve only been granted occasional 5-minute phone calls with their mother.
AMERICANS CONSIDERING SPRING BREAK VACATION IN MEXICO WARNED OF MURDER SPIKE
Paul Akeo is a 21-year Navy veteran and an employee with the Michigan State Police. (handout)
“He’s done nothing wrong. I believe he’s a political prisoner,” attorney John Manly, who is representing the Akeos, told Fox News Digital of Paul Akeo. “I believe he’s targeted because he’s a veteran. He’s also an employee of the Michigan State Police.”
“The place they’re at is a hellhole.”
Manly expressed his belief that the Akeos are being held by Mexico, in part, as retaliation against the United States and the Trump administration’s punitive actions toward Mexico since taking office.
“The place they’re at is a hellhole,” Manly said. “It’s filled with cartel members, drug dealers, rapists, murderers. Imagine what that’s like every day. For this grandmother and veteran who just wanted to go on vacation. And until today, until really the last couple of days, no one has helped them.”
US ISSUES MAJOR TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR MEXICAN BORDER STATE OVER CONCERNS WITH GUN BATTLES, IEDS
An INTERPOL Red Notice was issued to facilitate the couple’s arrest. (FGE)
They were detained over a dispute with their timeshare purchased through a resort company called Palace Elite Resorts, which owns various resort properties in Mexico and has offices in Florida. In 2021, the Akeos purchased a Cancun timeshare for $6,932 per month for a term of 11 years.
In June 2022, Paul filed a complaint with American Express alleging that Palace breached their contract and failed to provide the goods and services they paid for via Paul’s American Express Card, which Palace Elite Resorts contested.
American Express investigated the complaint and sided with the Akeos, issuing a chargeback of more than $116,000 in September 2022, their attorney said.
“Ultimately, American Express sided with my parents and they were able to receive their money back from the wrongful charges from Palace Resorts,” Lemke Hull said. “During that process, my parents even hired a timeshare lawyer to make sure that they were going about the situation correctly and making sure they were crossing their t’s, dotting their i’s. And we thought this situation was done. We thought it was handled.”
TROPICAL RESORTS POPULAR WITH AMERICANS NO LONGER ‘OFF LIMITS’ FOR CARTEL KILLERS: ‘THE RULES HAVE CHANGED’
Paul and Christy Akeo entered into a Mexico timeshare agreement in 2021. (handout)
The Palace Company, local media and authorities in Mexico are telling a different story about the Akeos, saying they defrauded the hotel company out of more than $100,000.
Mexican authorities say the Akeos signed their timeshare contract in 2021, but in 2022, the hotel received 13 canceled transactions stemming from Paul’s credit card totaling $116,587, or more than 2.4 million pesos, according to a press release from the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Quintana Roo.
The Palace Company told Fox News Digital in a statement that “between 2016 and 2021, the Akeos knowingly and willingly entered into 19 separate membership agreements with Palace Elite (attached), investing over $1.4 million USD in exchange for exclusive benefits and rates intended strictly for personal use.”
“In 2021,” the company continued, “they were found to be in material breach of those agreements after promoting and profiting from their benefits on social media—conduct explicitly prohibited under the terms they agreed to. They were formally notified of this violation and, in April 2022, signed a waiver acknowledging their breach and committing to refrain from any further use of Palace Elite branding or commentary about the company.”
OKLAHOMA COLLEGE STUDENTS SAY THEY WERE DRUGGED AT CANCUN RESORT POOL BAR IN VACATION NIGHTMARE
Lindsey Lemke Hull has been working to share her mother’s and stepfather’s story in an effort to get them released from a Mexico prison. (handout)
After signing the waiver, the Palace Company alleged, the Akeos “began disputing their membership charges with their credit card companies.”
“These disputes—despite relating to services they had actively used—were granted, resulting in over $100,000 USD in reversed payments and substantial financial harm to Palace Elite,” the Palace Company said.
Palace Elite filed a criminal complaint in August 2023.
The Akeos’ attorney, responding to the Palace’s statement, said Christy wrote to a Palace representative on April 8, 2022, saying she and Paul “do still believe we have done nothing wrong to breach our contract but feel Palace has given us no other option but to sign the documents, even though this is against our better judgment.”
“We love Palace Resorts and would miss it if we could not go,” she wrote at the time.
Her attorney said there is dispute over whether the Akeos had the right to market and sell their timeshare “weeks” at the resort to third parties, but they believe the matter should be resolved in a civil suit and should not have resulted in the Akeos being sent to prison.
American Express did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
TIMESHARE TERROR LEAVES RETIRED COUPLE $50K IN THE HOLE AFTER BEING SCAMMED
On March 4, Christy and Paul were traveling to a resort at Isla Mujeres. Mexican authorities arrested them upon arrival and charged them with fraud for disputing credit card charges stemming from a timeshare they purchased in 2021 at a different resort in Cancun. (Getty Images)
Republican Michigan Rep. Tom Barrett told Fox News Digital in a statement that he has been made aware of the Akeos’ situation.
“I have spoken to their family and assured them that my team and I took immediate action and are doing everything we can to help,” he said. “I have been in contact and will continue working with the White House, State Department, and law enforcement partners in Michigan to ensure this situation is resolved as urgently and safely as possible.”
The State Department told Fox News Digital in a statement that it is aware of reports of the detention of two U.S. citizens in Mexico, and the Department takes its commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously. Due to privacy considerations, the Department declined further comment on the matter.
The State Department is aware of Christy and Paul Akeos’ detention in Mexico. (Handout)
Lemke Hull and Manly hope President Trump gets involved in trying to get her parents released, saying they believe he is the only person who can really help them.
“I believe the only person that would be able to release them to freedom is President Trump. We need his help. Big time,” she said.
A government source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital the Department has escalated the matter with the American consular agency in Cancun.
“I believe the only person that would be able to release them to freedom is President Trump. We need his help. Big time.”
A lawyer for Palace Elite filed a complaint against the Akeos with Mexican authorities, who then issued an arrest warrant, the Quintana Roo AG’s office said in a press release.
Palace Resorts allegedly made a verbal demand for a $250,000 payment from the Akeos in exchange for their release or favorable treatment, which they have not agreed to pay, according to the couple’s attorney.
A spokesperson for the Palace Company confirmed that a payment of $250,000 was proposed as part of a restitution agreement, in which the Palace Company also requested closure of a private Facebook group that Christy moderated called “Palace Resorts Members – Disappointed & Frustrated – Discuss & Take Action,” an admission of guilt and public apology from the Akeos, and their signature on a non-disparagement and non-disclosure agreement.
THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT TIMESHARES
Aerial panoramic view of Cancun hotels along a beach. (iStock)
The Akeos’ daughter, Lemke Hull — a two-time national champion gymnast who helped expose former Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse —refused to make the payment for their release at the request of her parents.
The Palace Company also offered to pay the Akeos a nominal sum in exchange for an agreement that they would not publish negative social media posts about Palace Elite Resorts, according to a copy of the proposed agreement shared with Fox News Digital.
The proposed non-disparagement agreement states that the Akeos “shall refrain from making or publishing, in writing or verbally … any disparaging, derogatory, or negative comments about PALACE ELITE RESORTS, S.A. DE C.V., together with its ownership … in or on websites, interviews, press releases, news releases, media releases, press statements or video releases, articles, commentaries, written, audio or visual (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, or the like, advertising or marketing materials, blogs, chat-rooms, etc.).”
Aerial view of an almost empty beach in Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico, on March 28, 2020. (ELIZABETH RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)
In 2023, Christy joined the “Palace Resorts Members – Disappointed & Frustrated – Discuss & Take Action,” which had about 8,000 users, in which Palace members discuss their grievances with the resort company. Christy then became a moderator of the group.
The non-disparagement agreement, which the Akeos did not sign, requests that the Akeos each “expressly acknowledge that the Disparaging Statements have damaged, and continue to damage, Palace Elite causing damages in excess of SEVEN MILLION U.S. Dollars ($7,000,000.00).”
An INTERPOL Red Notice was issued to facilitate the couple’s arrest. A Mexico judge has ruled that the case will proceed to trial, according to both the Akeos and the Palace Company. The Akeos will remain in custody until then.
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The playoff comeback of the ages is complete. The Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 on Sunday in front of what was an energetic crowd at Little Caesars Arena, advancing in the NBA playoffs.
The Pistons are the second Eastern Conference team in this year’s NBA playoffs to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win the series. The Philadelphia 76ers also rallied from a 3-1 deficit to upset the Boston Celtics.
The Pistons’ first-round win over the Magic is their first playoff series win since the 2007-08 season, and now they’ll advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and look to reach one step closer to reaching their goal of winning their first NBA championship since 2004.
Not only did the Pistons repeat history from 2003 by rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the first round against the Orlando Magic as the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, but the comeback showed their resolve as a team that could provide a huge confidence booster for the group heading into the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Tobias Harris’ Remarkable Game 7 Performance
While Cade Cunningham led the Pistons in scoring with 32 points, Tobias Harris put on arguably the best performance of his career in the playoffs. Throughout this series and in the Pistons’ three elimination games, Harris has been an unsung hero for Detroit. Without his contributions, the first-round comeback likely never would have happened for the Pistons.
In the Pistons’ win, Harris scored 30 points, nine rebounds, and two assists on 11-of-18 shooting from the field, including five three-pointers. It was a remarkable performance for a player who, in the past, faced criticism for his postseason contributions. Entering Sunday’s matchup, Harris was 0-2 in Game 7’s, and he ended that streak in a big way.
In addition to Cunningham and Harris 30-point playoff performances, Jalen Duren (15 points) and Duncan Robinson (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Pistons.
For the Magic, Paolo Banchero led Orlando in the loss, scoring 38 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. While not as efficient offensively as Banchero was in Game 7, Desmond Bane (16 points) and Wendell Carter Jr. (13 points) also scored in double figures for the Magic.
What’s Next For Pistons?
The Pistons currently await their opponent in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, as they’ll face either the Toronto Raptors or the Cleveland Cavaliers. Game 1 of the Pistons Eastern Conference Semifinals series is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena, with the game broadcast on Peacock.
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I already provided a more in-depth rundown of the Brewers’ injured list earlier today, but for the quicker version, read on. The big news here is that first baseman Andrew Vaughn should be back with the team for the first time since Opening Day as he finishes his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. Alongside Vaughn, outfielder Jackson Chourio was also expected to return Monday, but after he fouled a ball off his foot/ankle on Saturday night, that return may be slightly delayed. Regardless, we should see him soon. Jacob Misiorowski is the other big name to mention, as he exited Friday night’s win with cramps — he would be slated for the series finale in St. Louis, but the Brewers still have that spot listed as TBD. More on that below. Rounding things out: Angel Zerpa (extended absence as he weighs whether to undergo Tommy John surgery), Brice Turang (day to day after he was scratched with an illness on Sunday), Brandon Woodruff (right arm inflammation; should be back in a couple weeks), Quinn Priester (rehabbing from thoracic outlet syndrome), Christian Yelich (has begun running and hitting as he recovers from a groin strain); Jared Koenig (on a throwing program); Rob Zastryzny (playing catch again); Akil Baddoo (TBD, but no earlier than a June return). Oof.
The Cardinals have a much smaller injured list, as they’re only without outfielder Lars Nootbaar and right-hander Matt Pushard. Nootbaar underwent surgery on both heels and hasn’t appeared in a game this season. On the 60-day IL, he is eligible to come off the IL on May 24, with the team tentatively scheduling a rehab assignment to begin around May 10. Pushard is currently with Triple-A Memphis as he works his way back from right knee tendinitis that has kept him out since the end of March.
The not-so-heavy-hitting Brewer offense is currently led by Brice Turang and William Contreras, both of whom are close to batting .300 (.298 for Contreras, .291 for Turang). Tyler Black, who was recalled last week, has shined in six games with the team, hitting .429 with nine hits (four doubles) and seven RBIs over 21 at-bats. Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez have provided the little bit of power Milwaukee has had, though they’ve both been sitting with five homers for a couple of weeks. Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, Greg Jones, Brandon Lockridge, Joey Ortiz, Blake Perkins, and Luis Rengifo round out the offense, though two players will have to be optioned to make room for Vaughn and Chourio this week. As a team, the Brewers .239/.335/.354 (.689 OPS ranks 24th), with 22 homers (29th), 172 runs (eighth), and 38 steals (first).
Jordan Walker got off to a scalding hot start and leads the Cards with 10 homers this season, adding 27 RBIs, 27 runs, and six steals as he’s hitting .307/.373/.591. Rookie JJ Wetherholt adds seven homers, while Alec Burleson, Nathan Church, and Nolan Gorman have five homers each. The Cardinals also have a solid combo of catchers in Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés. Masyn Winn is the team’s starting shortstop, though he’s a defense-first player, with Yohel Pozo, Ramón Urías, José Fermín, Thomas Saggese, and Victor Scott II rounding things out. As a team, the Cardinals are hitting .241/.325/.403 (.728 OPS ranks ninth), with 44 homers (tied for fourth), 166 runs (ninth), and 26 steals (12th).
It seems like we haven’t seen Grant Anderson and Aaron Ashby quite as often in the last couple of series, but they still lead the Crew with 17 and 16 appearances, respectively. Abner Uribe, DL Hall, Shane Drohan, and Brian Fitzpatrick have also been solid recently, and Trevor Megill has improved drastically after a ridiculously cold start. Jake Woodford has served as a long-relief arm in a few of the Brewers’ blowout games this year, as he’s a former starter/swingman for these Cardinals. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.56 team ERA (fifth), including a 3.47 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.67 bullpen ERA (eighth). They’ve struck out 309 batters (seventh) over 293 1/3 innings.
Justin Bruihl leads the Cardinals’ bullpen with 18 appearances, though he has a 5.29 ERA. Closer Riley O’Brien has been solid, with a 2.20 ERA and nine saves in 11 opportunities. JoJo Romero, George Soriano, and Gordon Graceffo have all been solid, while Ryne Stanek (7.71 ERA) and Matt Svanson (9.68 ERA) have struggled. Jared Shuster, who was selected and DFA’d by the Cardinals earlier this season, rounds out the bullpen after once again being selected on Friday. He’s made three appearances with a 3.18 ERA over 5 2/3 innings this season. As a staff, the Cardinals have a 4.54 team ERA (23rd), including a 4.27 starter ERA (17th) and a 4.92 bullpen ERA (26th). They’ve struck out 236 batters (last) over 307 innings.
Monday, May 4 @ 6:45 p.m.: RHP Chad Patrick (2-1, 2.57 ERA, 4.33 FIP) vs. RHP Kyle Leahy (3-3, 5.52 ERA, 5.64 FIP)
Patrick continues to outpace his FIP, as his 2.57 ERA is nearly two runs lower than his 4.33 FIP through six appearances (four starts) this season. The former fourth-round pick picked up his second win of the year his last time out, allowing two runs on a hit and five walks while striking out five in a 13-2 win over the D-backs. He made three appearances (two starts) against St. Louis last season, going 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA and six strikeouts over 9 2/3 innings.
Leahy, who served as the Cardinals’ set-up man for the majority of last season, has transitioned into a starter this season. Through six starts, he’s an even 3-3, though he has a not-so-pretty 5.52 ERA and 5.64 FIP, striking out 22 over 29 1/3 innings. He picked up the win his last time around against Pittsburgh, allowing three runs on nine hits and striking out seven over 5 1/3 innings. He’s alternated wins and losses in each appearance this year, though, which means he’s due for a loss. In eight appearances (all relief) against Milwaukee, Leahy has a 3.65 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 12 1/3 innings.
Tuesday, May 5 @ 6:45 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (0-2, 6.75 ERA, 6.38 FIP) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (3-2, 3.73 ERA, 4.68 FIP)
It has been a rough start for Sproat in his first season in Milwaukee, as he has a 6.75 ERA and 6.38 FIP with 25 strikeouts over 26 2/3 innings. He made a pair of solid outings against the Nationals and Blue Jays a few weeks ago, allowing just two runs and striking out nine over 10 1/3 innings in those games, but he’s struggled his last two times out against the Tigers and D-backs. Against Arizona on Wednesday, he allowed four runs on six hits (two homers) and a pair of walks, striking out five in a 6-2 loss. This marks his first career appearance against St. Louis.
Pallante, 27, is now in his fifth season with St. Louis and his third as a full-time starter. After a rough -1.1 bWAR season last year, he’s bounced back to begin the 2026 season. Through six starts, he has a 3.73 ERA, 4.68 FIP, and 26 strikeouts over 31 1/3 innings. A former fourth-round pick, Pallante went six innings against the Pirates his last turn through the rotation, allowing one run on five hits and striking out six. A familiar opponent for Milwaukee, Pallante has made 15 appearances (three starts) against the Brewers, with an 0-2 record, a 5.06 ERA, and 19 strikeouts over 32 innings.
Wednesday, May 6 @ 12:15 p.m.: TBD vs. LHP Matthew Liberatore (1-1, 4.50 ERA, 5.84 FIP)
As I noted above, the Brewers haven’t yet announced a starter for Wednesday’s series finale, as this would be Misiorowski’s turn in the rotation. Miz exited Friday night’s game against the Nationals with cramping, but it seems more likely than not that we’ll still see him in this one. If that is the case, I’ll note that Miz had his best stuff in his last outing, striking out eight and allowing no hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings in the win over Washington. He made three starts against St. Louis last year (including his MLB debut), going 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings.
Liberatore, 26, is also in his fifth season with the Cardinals. He made 29 starts with a 4.21 ERA a year ago, and he looks to be on track for a similar season in 2026. Through seven starts, he has a 4.50 ERA, 5.84 FIP, and 23 strikeouts over 36 innings. He picked up the win in Friday’s series opener against the Dodgers, going 5 2/3 innings with two runs allowed on five hits and a pair of walks, striking out four. Liberatore has made 11 appearances (four starts) against Milwaukee for his career, with a 4-0 record, a 1.26 ERA, and 31 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings.
Monday, May 4: Brewers TV and nationally on FS1; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Tuesday, May 5: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, May 6: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
The Cardinals have gotten off to a solid start thanks to a strong offensive showing across the lineup. I think the Brewers’ pitching staff can hold them, though, and the return of Vaughn (and maybe Chourio) should be big for Milwaukee’s inconsistent offense. I’ll take the Crew to win two of three.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis sports bars see boost in revenue as professional teams continue playoff runs
Minnesota’s playoff runs are giving Minneapolis sports bars a boost as three Minnesota sports teams have punched their ticket into the playoffs.
Bars and restaurants in Minneapolis tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they are seeing more business as both teams keep winning in the playoffs.
Jay Ettinger, co-owner of the Rabbit Hole in the North Loop, is one example. Opening one year ago, Ettinger said the Rabbit Hole bet on Minnesota sports teams to have postseason success, and so far that bet has paid off.
“All the other restaurants in the neighborhood don’t really allow for large groups, so we built this to have large groups to celebrate things like this,” said Ettinger.
Ettinger said the restaurant is set up for sports fans with 54 TVs across the bar and seven more expected to be installed by next week to meet demand. He said playoff games on back-to-back nights have brought a major increase in business.
There are currently three Minnesota teams in the postseason: the Minnesota Wild, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Minnesota Frost. Meaning the Rabbit Hole can expect a large crowd and a large revenue boost almost every day this week.
“We’re going to have hockey tonight, basketball tomorrow, hockey, basketball…” said Ettinger. “I would say on those off nights…it’s probably triple to quadruple what our numbers would normally be.”
The Rabbit Hole is not the only business benefiting, either. The Minneapolis Downtown Council estimated last year that one Timberwolves playoff game could add up to $1.5 million for the city. But this year, for the first time ever – the Wolves and Wild are playing in May.
“After work, you come down during the week and there are people that are out getting a drink, getting a bite to eat…it makes the whole entire vibe of the city better…it’s just awesome to live down here right now,” said Minneapolis Resident, Caleb Wall.
“Like I said, something feels different this year…something just feels very different with the fandom, with the teams, with the attitude, with the culture of the teams, it just feels different this year…in a great way,” said Ettinger.
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