A Pacific Northwest measles outbreak has some state lawmakers rethinking the so-called “philosophical” vaccine exemption as the number of confirmed cases of the virus grows to the dozens. Washington and Oregon are among 17 states that allow some type of non-medical exemption for childhood vaccines for “personal, moral or other beliefs.” In Washington, a bill introduced by Republican Rep. Paul Harris would remove the personal exemption for the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR.

President Donald Trump is giving his State of the Union address at a sensitive time in talks to prevent another government shutdown. But the striking visual is shaping up to be the record number of women House members who will be seated in front of the president while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sits just over his shoulder on the dais. Afterward, Stacey Abrams will become the first black woman to deliver the Democratic rebuttal.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is appealing to Americans to come together from their partisan corners as he launches his 2020 presidential candidacy. The New Jersey Democrat appeared live on “The View” on Friday, telling its hosts that he is running as a counterweight to “a caustic type of politics” that threatens to divide the country. Booker, the former mayor of Newark, joins multiple other candidates of color in a diverse Democratic primary field.

PAT CATAN’S CRAFT STORE IN GREEN GARDEN PLAZA IS SET TO CLOSE. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO’S SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…