AMNA NAWAZ: In the day's other headlines:# The U.S.

Federal Reserve expects to cut## rates once this year after leaving rates# unchanged for a second straight time today.

In its statement, the Fed cited uncertainty# brought on by the war with Iran.

JEROME POWELL, Federal Reserve Chairman:# The U.S.

economy is doing pretty well.## It's just we don't know what the effects# of this will be, and really no one does.

AMNA NAWAZ: Speaking to reporters, Fed Chair# Jerome Powell stressed that it's hard to know## the long-term impact of the conflict on the# economy, though, in the near term, inflation## is likely to remain elevated.

Today's meeting is# expected to be his second to last as Fed chair.

Powell also said he has -- quote# -- "no intention of leaving" until## a Justice Department probe related to the# renovation of the Fed's headquarters is over.

The Treasury Department is easing sanctions on# Venezuela's state-owned oil company, trying to## tame the rise in oil prices brought on by the# Iran war.

The move authorizes the entity, known## as PDVSA, to sell Venezuelan oil to U.S.

companies# and on global markets.

But there are limitations.## For one, Venezuela can't sell oil to Russia,# Iran, North Korea and some Chinese entities.

And according to the Associated Press,# the U.S.

will control the cash flow from## the transactions by a special account.

This# comes as Americans are now paying, on average,## $3.84 for a gallon of regular.# That's the highest since 2023.

Pakistan and Afghanistan announced a# temporary pause in cross-border fighting## today ahead of the Muslim holiday# of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end## of Ramadan.

A Pakistani official says# the halt is set to last through Monday.

It comes as Afghan authorities held a mass# funeral for victims of a Pakistani airstrike## that reportedly hit a drug rehabilitation# hospital in Kabul earlier this week.

At the## facilities gates today, family and friends were# still searching for their missing relatives.## Afghan officials say at least 408 people were# killed in the strike, with more than 260 wounded.## Pakistan has disputed those numbers and says it# had targeted military facilities in the area.

Back in this country, Illinois Lieutenant Governor# Juliana Stratton looks to have a clear path to the## U.S.

Senate in the deep blue state after# winning last night's Democratic primary.

(CHEERING) AMNA NAWAZ: Speaking to supporters, Stratton# pledged to push for higher wages and abolish ICE,## adding that she plans to -- quote -- "bring# this fight straight to Donald Trump's door."

She beat out a crowded field with the# support of Governor J.B.

Pritzker,## who's considered a possible 2028 presidential# contender.

If elected in November,## Stratton will become only the sixth Black# woman to ever serve in the U.S.

Senate.

Much of the Southwest is baking from# record-breaking heat, even though winter## officially ends in a few days.

In all, nearly 40# million Americans from the Bay Area to Phoenix## were under heat alerts and potentially# dangerous extreme heat warnings today.## The summerlike heat will build through the# end of the week, pushing temperatures up to## and above 100 degrees in places like# Palm Springs, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

That's nearly 30 degrees above normal for# this time of year.

The warmer weather is## allowing beachgoers in the Bay Area to enjoy# some time in the sun a bit earlier than usual.

CHARLES LINK, San Francisco Resident:# It is a surprise.

It's not the norm,## but it's a pleasant surprise.

JUSTYCE ROLIZ, San Francisco Resident: It# feels like summer already in .. that's crazy, but I love it.

We go to the# beach every day, and this is perfect weather.

AMNA NAWAZ: This is all in stark# contrast to the Midwest and the## Eastern half of the country, which# are still digging out after powerful## storms that led to thousands of# flight cancellations this week.

The WNBA says it's reached a preliminary deal# with its players union that could see top stars## earning more than a million dollars a year.# The exact terms are still being finalized,## but the head of the Players Association says## the agreement would tie salaries to# league revenues for the first time.

It would also quadruple the average# player's salary to around half-a-million,## and it would improve on family planning# and parental leave benefits.

The deal is## expected to reflect the WNBA's surge in# popularity and revenue in recent years,## though it still needs to be ratified# by both the players and the league.

And Venezuela is now the reigning champion of# the World Baseball Classic after a nail-biter## of a game in Miami.

They beat the U.S.

team# 3-2 thanks to an RBI double from Eugenio## Suarez in the ninth inning, with pitcher Daniel# Palencia closing out the win with a strikeout.

That kicked off mass celebrations on the field# and back home.

Thousands of Venezuelans danced## in the streets, with the revelry lasting# for hours.

Baseball is a passion there.## And the nation's first ever victory in the# tournament is a particular source of pride,## with acting President Delcy Rodriguez# declaring the occasion a national day of joy.

And on Wall Street today, stocks tumbled on# worries about rising oil prices and fewer rate## cuts by the Fed.

The Dow Jones industrial average# lost more than 750 points on the day.

The Nasdaq## fell more than 300 points, or almost 1.5 percent.# The S&P 500 posted its first loss of the week.

Still to come on the "News Hour": Cuba faces# threats from widespread power outages and## from President Trump; an investigation# uncovers abuse allegations against the## late labor rights icon Cesar Chavez; and# Judy Woodruff reports from Gettysburg on## deep divisions as the country gets# ready to note a major anniversary.