August 25, 2026 2:20 am
Lancaster, PA – Governor Josh Shapiro, on Tuesday, outlined his administration’s aggressive statewide strategy to protect Pennsylvanians from the highly-contagious measles virus, following the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH)’s announcement of two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County. Since the April outbreak began, the Shapiro Administration has expanded access to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in affected communities – administering more than 4,100 vaccinations at pop-up clinics thus far – and equipped school nurses and health care providers with important clinical guidance as many have never handled a case of measles before. Together with health care providers, more than 35,000 Pennsylvanians received an MMR vaccine in July 2026 – 10,000 more vaccine doses than a typical month. Shapiro said measles does not care about your county, your faith, or your social circle. It’s vital for every parent to know that if you or your kids are unvaccinated, you are at an increased risk for contracting this highly-contagious virus. As the new school year begins, DOH and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) are ramping up proactive outreach to school administrators and nurses to prevent the spread of measles.
August 26, 2026 5:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s new “economic onslaught” on Iran’s financial connections around the world faces a challenge when it comes to China. Beijing is Iran’s biggest trading partner. While the U.S. is trying to isolate the Islamic Republic, President Donald Trump also is preparing to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to maintain a fragile trade truce. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s announcement this week lacked specifics about targeting China. That has raised doubts about how effective the new campaign will be when the Trump administration must balance putting maximum pressure on Iran and avoiding higher tensions with China that could be costly to the U.S. economy.
August 26, 2026 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Canada have ramped up their trade war, hitting each other with steep new tit-for-tat tariffs. Despite the bravado coming from both sides of the border over the past few days, though, analysts suspect the longtime allies will eventually strike a deal to end a conflict neither really wants. The prospects for compromise looked bleak Tuesday, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reacting to new 50% U.S. tariffs on certain Canadian goods by responding in kind on about $20 billion worth of American imports, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment. With the breakdown threatening to harm one of the world’s largest trading relationships, experts say there’s still time to avoid an even bigger trade war.
August 26, 2026 5:06 am
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Darline Graham has won the Republican nomination to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham on South Carolina’s general election ballot. Darline Graham defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s special Republican primary runoff, two weeks after they were the top two finishers in a 10-way primary. Despite being a political unknown, Graham bested some of South Carolina’s top political names in the special election. She was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to serve out the remaining months of her late brother’s current term and swiftly notched an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
August 26, 2026 5:04 am
Dolly Parton, the beloved music and film star known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting, has died of cancer. She was 80 years old. Her career spanned decades, with hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” Born in Tennessee, she rose from humble beginnings to become a country music icon. Her partnership with Porter Wagoner helped launch her career, and she later became a successful actor and businesswoman. Parton was also a philanthropist, founding her Imagination Library to promote children’s literacy. Her charm and humor made her a beloved figure across generations and political divides.
August 26, 2026 5:09 am
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — An ICE agent charged in Minnesota with firing his gun through a house door, striking a man in his leg, and then lying to justify the shooting, could walk out of a South Texas jail if a federal judge does not intervene. Minnesota’s governor and attorney general is asking a federal judge in South Texas to order the Texas governor to extradite Christian Castro, an ICE agent, to Minnesota. Texas law says he must be released after 90 days of detention, which is Thursday. Attorneys representing the Texas governor said the extradition request has not formally been denied and until the governor makes a decision, it’s too soon to involve the courts.
August 25, 2026 12:39 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania health officials report that two unvaccinated residents have died from measles. They are the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. this year, following three last year. The U.S. is experiencing its worst measles year since 1991, with 2,777 cases reported as of Thursday. In November, international health officials will assess if the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles-free status. Vaccination rates have dropped below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks, with exemptions rising to an all-time high among kindergartners. State officials aren’t giving any more details about the two people, except that they lived in Lancaster County. (Photo: AP)
August 25, 2026 3:16 pm
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry today proposed that any data center moratorium legislation should include a No Technology Pledge amendment, a commonsense accountability measure for anyone seeking to block the development of data centers while continuing to rely on the digital tools, platforms, and services those facilities make possible. “The pledge is simple,” PA Chamber Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Jon Anzur said. “If you support stopping data center development, you should also agree to stop using the technologies that depend on data centers. Pennsylvania has a choice: We can lead in energy, innovation, and infrastructure to drive meaningful investments and job growth in communities across Pennsylvania, or we can tell the next generation of employers to create those opportunities somewhere else. What we cannot do is demand instant access to every digital convenience while opposing the infrastructure that makes those conveniences possible. Data centers are not a fit for every community, but there are many that would benefit from hosting this critical infrastructure.”
August 25, 2026 2:14 pm
(AP) – Dolly Parton, the beloved music and film star known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting, has died. She was 80 years old. Her career spanned decades, with hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” Born in Tennessee, she rose from humble beginnings to become a country music icon. Her partnership with Porter Wagoner helped launch her career, and she later became a successful actor and businesswoman. Parton was also a philanthropist, founding her Imagination Library to promote children’s literacy. Her charm and humor made her a beloved figure across generations and political divides. (Photo: AP)
August 24, 2026 2:19 am
Gas prices are 18 cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.349 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is up 3 cents from last week to $4.09, which marks the highest it’s ever been on this date. This August is shaping up to be the highest on record. So far, the monthly average is $4.06, currently surpassing 2022 when the monthly average for August was $3.97. Even though gasoline demand is down, which is typical for this time of year, crude oil is pushing up the national average. Crude oil prices remain in the $80 per barrel range amid continued instability in the Strait of Hormuz. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 8.96 million barrels per day to 8.68 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 208.7 million barrels to 209.4 million. Gasoline production also increased last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.
