JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 821

Washington — The Federal Reserve will convene a two-day policy meeting starting Tuesday, and officials are widely expected to keep the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50–3.75 percent, according to reporting on April 26, 2026. Multiple outlets cited AFP reporting and economist commentary that elevated energy prices and supply disruptions from the Middle East are weighing on inflation decisions.

This week’s session may be Jerome Powell’s last as Fed chair, with reports noting Powell could leave around May 15 and that Kevin Warsh’s confirmation faced obstacles before a recent procedural development; the FOMC is expected to vote on Wednesday. Economists quoted, including KPMG senior economist Kenneth Kim, warned that sustained oil and gasoline price pressures keep uncertainty high for households and policymakers.

ATLANTA — Bryce Harper delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the 10th inning and finished with four RBIs as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves 8-5 on Saturday night, snapping a 10-game losing streak. The victory also featured ace Zack Wheeler's 2026 debut; he allowed two runs and struck out six over five innings after returning from surgery last September.

The win ended Philadelphia's drought that dated back to April 13 and included a decisive two-run follow-up hit from Brandon Marsh in the 10th. Brad Keller worked 1 1/3 hitless innings to earn the decision, and manager Rob Thomson said players were energized after the result; the Braves had entered the game having won nine of their previous ten contests.

Los Angeles. On Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for six runs in the fourth inning and defeated the Chicago Cubs 12-4, snapping Chicago's Major League Baseball-leading 10-game winning streak. Roki Sasaki started for the Dodgers, allowing four runs and striking out five while pitching into the sixth inning.

The Dodgers totaled 14 hits and set a season high for runs at home, adding four more runs in the sixth inning; Andy Pages delivered a two-run double and later scored on a wild pitch after Vince Velasquez had been called up Friday. Shohei Ohtani ended an 0-for-12 skid with a first-inning single and stole second during the game.

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State rallied to defeat LSU 9-8 on Saturday at Dudy Noble Field after erasing a 7-2 LSU lead in the seventh inning when Jacob Parker hit a grand slam; LSU also lost 10-8 in 11 innings on Friday, yielding two late comebacks across the weekend series.

The consecutive losses extended LSU’s SEC skid and left the Tigers 24-20 overall and 6-14 in conference play; Mississippi State improved to 33-10 and is No. 15 in D1Baseball’s rankings. Coaches and broadcasters noted bullpen and late-inning issues Saturday, and the series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday on SEC Network+.

Minneapolis — The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 112-96 in Game 4 on Saturday, taking a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals as two Minnesota players were lost to injury and Denver struggled to respond. Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score 43 points, while Donte DiVincenzo left early with a right-leg injury described as a torn right Achilles tendon and Anthony Edwards exited late in the first half after hyperextending his left knee; both teams began medical evaluations afterward.

Minneapolis — The game ended amid a bench-area scrum after Nikola Jokic confronted Jaden McDaniels following an uncontested late layup; Jokic and Timberwolves forward Julius Randle were ejected. Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Jamal Murray scored 30 but needed 25 shot attempts. Minnesota flipped the third quarter and used physical defense — including Rudy Gobert wearing down Jokic — while Denver’s supporting cast struggled, Aaron Gordon battled left calf tightness and Denver’s three-point efficiency plummeted. The Nuggets are now on the brink of first-round elimination, and Game 5 is scheduled Monday at Ball Arena.

Atlanta — Zack Wheeler made his season debut Saturday at Truist Park, pitching five innings, allowing two runs, striking out six and throwing 84 pitches after missing the end of 2025 due to thoracic outlet decompression surgery for a blood clot in his right shoulder. He left the game with a lead following five minor-league rehab starts earlier this season.

The Phillies won the game Saturday, ending a 10-game losing streak as Bryce Harper supplied multiple RBIs and the offense produced late in extra innings in some accounts; managers and teammates praised Wheeler’s command while noting medical staff will continue monitoring his velocity and workload this week as the team readjusts its rotation.

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. A small single-engine Beech F33A crashed shortly after takeoff from Crystal Airport on Saturday, killing two people, including North Dakota state Representative Liz Conmy, authorities said. The aircraft went down near Southbrook Park close to 62nd Avenue North and Florida Avenue North and caught fire on impact.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and reported no ground injuries; local police and the FAA confirmed two fatalities. The National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation this week, investigators arrived on scene the following day, families were notified, and state leaders issued statements mourning the loss while the pilot’s identity remains unreleased.

Boston. The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five coaches on Saturday after a loss that left the club in last place in the AL East; the team named Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy as interim manager, and ownership issued a statement expressing gratitude for Cora's prior successes.

Sunday brought front office comments from chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and CEO Sam Kennedy as they addressed the decision while owner John Henry remained publicly absent; players and rivals reacted within 24 hours, Trevor Story described uncertainty about direction, and Aaron Boone reported a private conversation with Cora.

PHILADELPHIA — The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Saturday night in Game 4, staving off a first-round sweep and forcing a Game 5 in Pittsburgh on Monday. Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal and Kris Letang added a third-period blast while goaltender Artūrs Šilovs recorded 25 saves in his first start of the series.

The result reduces the Flyers’ series lead to 3-1 and preserves Pittsburgh’s postseason hopes heading into Monday’s 7 p.m. matchup at PPG Paints Arena. Penguins coach Dan Muse’s decision to start Silovs and bench Stuart Skinner drew attention, and both teams will adjust lineups and tactics during the upcoming travel day.

ATLANTA — Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his first postseason triple-double on Saturday night, leading the New York Knicks to a 114-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena that tied the first-round series at 2-2. OG Anunoby scored 22 points and Jalen Brunson added 19 as the Knicks took control early and held a large halftime lead.

The win denied the Hawks a chance to regain series advantage and sends the matchup back to Madison Square Garden for Game 5 on Tuesday; the series is scheduled to return to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday. Team comments emphasized defensive intensity and opportunistic passing, and official NBA statistics recorded Towns' 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.