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…

WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST, 2019

TODAY – SNOW SHOWERS THIS MORNING. BECOMING
PARTLY CLOUDY LATER. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
LESS THAN ONE INCH. HIGH – 21.

TONIGHT – PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. LOW – 14.

SATURDAY – PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 41.

SUNDAY – CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF A RAIN SHOWER.
HIGH – 51.

A handful of lawmakers in three states have switched party affiliations, leaving the Republicans and joining the Democrats. That includes several lawmakers in Kansas, where the former Republicans joined the state’s minority party. The lawmakers cite various reasons for their decision, but have one thing in common: They say the GOP under President Donald Trump has become too extreme and out of touch with the concerns of their constituents.

Democrats are offering further details of their border security plan. They unveiled a measure Thursday that would not provide money for President Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall and denying his request for additional border agents. The move ignores Trump’s warnings that they’d be wasting their time if they don’t come up with wall money.

A Pittsburgh TV news producer who was fired for writing a graphic calling New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a “cheater” says he was just trying to have a little fun. Michael Telek tweeted Wednesday that he got fired from KDKA-TV for putting the phrase “known cheater” underneath Brady’s name in the Monday news segment. He says he understands why he was let go, but is a bit worried since he just bought a house. Brady was accused of using underinflated footballs in a 2015 playoff game.