(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Health)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) announced yesterday that 1,004 measles cases have been confirmed across 39 counties in Pennsylvania so far in 2026. The Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to lead the robust response in Pennsylvania to the ongoing outbreak of measles and is making the most up-to-date information on cases, deaths and hospitalizations available on their measles dashboard at pa.gov/measles (click here to learn more.) 

According to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, here are the key updates that they include and more information about measles and how to treat it: 

• New Positive Cases (since October 2, 2026): 27
• Total Counties: 39
• Total Cumulative Cases: 1,004
• Total Hospitalizations: 198
• Total Confirmed Measles-Associated Deaths: 5
• Measles cases among vaccinated individuals: 4 (less than 1% of cases)

Outreach and Response 

• DOH is proactively working with residents, community organizations, and health care providers to combat the measles outbreak in the Commonwealth through access to fact-based information and access to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. 

• State health officials have administered nearly 5,200 MMR vaccinations at 156 pop-up vaccination clinics in the affected communities since the outbreak began in late April. Dozens of additional vaccine clinics are scheduled for the upcoming weeks and months, based on community interest and need. Overall, state health center staff have administered more than 7,700 MMR vaccine doses to residents across the Commonwealth in 2026. 

• Health care providers have also seen a surge of interest from residents seeking MMR vaccinations. In a typical month, Pennsylvania health care providers administer approximately 25,000 doses of the MMR vaccine. In August 2026, more than 49,000 MMR vaccines were administered across the Commonwealth and over the first three weeks of September 2026, more than 38,000 doses have been administered. 

Getting Vaccinated 

• The best protection against measles remains getting fully vaccinated. The MMR vaccine, administered over two doses, boosts a person’s immune system and provides 97% lifetime protection. People who have two documented doses of MMR do not need another. Adults who have only one dose, or who cannot find their vaccination records, should talk with a health care provider or pharmacist about getting vaccinated. 

• Residents interested in getting vaccinated should contact their trusted health care provider. 

• MMR vaccine is available across the state by contacting a health care provider, county or municipal health department, DOH State Health Center, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), or a Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. 

Measles Symptoms and Transmission 

• Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious short- and long-term health problems including pneumonia and brain swelling, with nearly 20 percent of people who contract measles being hospitalized. Death from measles, though rare, occurs in one to three patients per 1,000 cases. 

• Measles spreads when a person who is infected breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus remains infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the person with the infection leaves the area. 

• Symptoms begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis), followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward. Without proper protection or supportive care, measles can be deadly. Symptoms can start 7 to 21 days after exposure. 

• People who believe they were exposed to measles, and are experiencing symptoms, should contact their health care provider or call DOH’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258). 

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that utility work on Shenango Road (Route 4017) and 37th Street Extension (Route 4040) in Chippewa Township has been extended.   

The following restrictions will continue according to the schedule below courtesy of a release from PennDOT District 11 to accommodate gas line replacement work:

Shenango Road (Route 4017) 

• Single-lane alternating traffic restrictions controlled by flaggers will occur between Oakville Road and Crosswynds Drive from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. weekdays through late December. 

• Saturday work is permissible, as needed, between 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. 

37th Street Extension (Route 4040) 

• Single-lane alternating traffic restrictions controlled by flaggers will occur between Shenango Road and Lipinwood Drive from 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. weekdays through late December. 

• Saturday work is permissible, as needed, between 7 A.M. and 5 P.M. 

Gas line replacement work for Columbia Gas will be conducted by crews from Precision Pipeline.

(File Photo of Senator Camera Bartolotta)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Senate passed bipartisan legislation yesterday that is sponsored by Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) and Senator Nick Pisciottano (D-45) to ensure that life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are available where Pennsylvania lineworkers perform some of the most dangerous work. 

Senate Bill 1328 would require that electric utilities and their contractors would have AEDs readily available at worksites where lineworkers and other electrical workers perform their duties, which includes temporary and field locations. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A nurse, prepares a combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for a patient at a pediatrics clinic in Easley, S.C., March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Pennsylvania has surpassed 1,000 measles cases this year, state health officials said Monday, making it the largest state outbreak in more than three decades.

The U.S. is enduring its worst year for measles since 1991, with nearly 3,900 reported cases, according to the CDC. The nation has seen eight reported measles-associated deaths in the past two years — more than the combined total of reported deaths over the previous three decades.

Since the beginning of last year, large outbreaks have been reported in several states, including Texas and Utah, as well as South Carolina, which had the largest with 997 cases reported.

The governor of New York on Monday declared a disaster emergency because of measles cases in neighboring states and in rural areas of New York. The executive order extends the pool of people who can administer measles vaccines to include paramedics, midwives and others, and allows nurses to join doctors in ordering testing. The state has more than 100 cases this year.

Health officials say Pennsylvania’s current outbreak started in April, west of Philadelphia. There have been 1,004 cases, including 198 hospitalizations and five deaths, state officials said.

Health experts attribute such outbreaks to low vaccination rates.

It’s been decades since a U.S. state has seen an outbreak surpass 1,000 cases, stretching back to a multiyear outbreak in New York City in the early 1990s that infected more than 4,500 people.

The nation eliminated the domestic spread of measles in 2000 by maintaining high vaccination rates, but those rates have fallen in recent years to below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks.

In November, international health officials will meet to determine if the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles-free status.

Measles is highly contagious. It spreads when people who have it breathe, cough or sneeze, and through contaminated surfaces. It also can linger in the air for two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. measles infections have been surging in recent years, as fewer kids get routine vaccines due to parental waivers, healthcare access issues and rampant disinformation.

Pennsylvania and New York are not the only states with a growing problem. Another is Ohio, with more than 200 cases this year. Like in Pennsylvania, some of the hardest-hit Ohio counties have significant Amish populations, which tend to have lower vaccination rates.

Meanwhile, CDC officials have quietly begun to acknowledge measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania.

State officials in August announced that two unvaccinated residents died after being infected with measles.

The announcement quickly came under fire as a clash erupted between vaccine-promoting Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Trump administration appointee with a history of raising alarms about established vaccines.

Since then, Pennsylvania has reported three additional deaths.

But for weeks, the CDC — which Kennedy oversees — did not count any deaths on its measles data dashboard, instead saying it was seeking more information. That changed two weeks ago, when one death was finally counted, and again last week when a second was added to the agency’s tally.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are seven cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at about $4.64 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped to $4.36 after decreasing 11 cents over the past week to $4.36.  

This comes after a record-setting September at the gas pump.

The monthly average was $4.33, which is 50 cents higher than the previous September record of $3.83 that was set in 2023. Crude oil prices have gone back into the range of $90 per barrel, which lowers the national average, but gas prices overall are still the highest that they have ever been for this time of year. 

The report also states that the average price that you can expect for a regular gallon of unleaded gas here in Pittsburgh is about $4.73.

According to AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here are the average prices of unleaded self-serve gasoline this week in various Pennsylvania areas:        

$4.553      Altoona
$4.723      Beaver
$4.553      Bradford
$4.538      Brookville
$4.726      Butler
$4.554      Clarion
$4.546      DuBois
$4.676      Erie
$4.661      Greensburg
$4.622      Indiana
$4.631      Jeannette
$4.691      Kittanning
$4.679      Latrobe
$4.723      Meadville
$4.727      Mercer
$4.579      New Castle
$4.654      New Kensington
$4.690      Oil City
$4.729      Pittsburgh
$4.577      Sharon
$4.599      Uniontown
$4.713      Warren
$4.504      Washington 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported today that twenty-seven-year-old Dawalyn Washington of Youngstown, Ohio was charged after he crashed his vehicle in Chippewa Township yesterday.

Washington was driving on I-376 East at 5:38 a.m., and he tried to pass through the right toll lane that is located at the Chippewa exit.

His vehicle hit the impact attenuator and it continued to side swipe that attenuator until the vehicle came to rest on the right side on the road.

There were no reported injuries. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Lottery)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Brighton, PA) A winning Pennsylvania Lottery Scratch-Off ticket worth a cash option of $7.25 million was recently sold at a store in Beaver County.

The Speedway gas station that is located on 5th Street in New Brighton, will receive a bonus of $10,000 for selling the winning ticket.

The ticket was bought for the $500,000 a Year for Life game, which only costs a total of $20 to play.

Winners are advised to sign the back of their ticket immediately and call 1-800-692-7481.

Scratch-off prizes expire one year after the end-sale date of the game, which is posted on the Pennsylvania Lottery’s website.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Sean Simmers, Caption for Photo: Skill games at SkillGame Kingdom June 10, 2025. Sean Simmers of PennLive Patriot News)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is reminding businesses and establishments that continue to operate so-called “skill game” machines about the upcoming compliance deadline of October 13th, 2026, which follows the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

The state police have also launched a new informational webpage on pa.gov/psp/skillgames (click here) to provide businesses and establishments with more resources and contact information regarding the skill games decision and compliance requirements.

Businesses and establishments that have questions should use the following resources:

Establishments with a liquor license: Contact the local Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement office (click here to find out more) for assistance.

Establishments without a liquor license: Contact the local police department or PSP station (click here to find out more) for assistance.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled on June 15th, 2026 that skill games, which are often found in places like gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, mini-marts, pizza parlors, restaurants, social clubs, taverns, and other businesses, are in fact “slot machines” as defined in the Gaming Act.

Slot machines are considered as gambling devices under the Crimes Code, and someone commits a criminal offense by maintaining, owning, or operating, slot machines without a license that is issued by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

Furthermore, pursuant to section 5513 of the Crimes Code, distributors and manufacturers of such machines are cautioned that it is a criminal offense to assemble, lease maintain, make, sell or set up slot machines unless they are uthorized to do so and licensed by the PGCB.

All “skill games” devices/slot machines that are located outside of PGCB-licensed businesses are unlawful and all establishments that possess, operate and/or maintain such machines are subject to criminal prosecution and immediate seizure of the machines as of October 14th, 2026.

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT announced today that all of its driver’s license and photo centers will be closed on Saturday, October 10th, through Monday, October 12th, 2026, to observe the Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day holiday.

Customers can obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, which includes all driver training manuals, forms and publications, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website (click here.)