Third Measles Death, First Adult

A 40-year-old Jefferson County woman died Saturday of complications from measles, the county coroner said, marking Pennsylvania’s third death in the outbreak and its first adult victim.

Coroner Greg Furlong released no other details and asked the public to respect the family’s privacy. The woman was unvaccinated and had an underlying respiratory condition, and the state Health Department is reviewing the case.

Deputy Coroner Jason Stiver said many people think of measles as a childhood illness, but it can cause serious respiratory illness at any age. Two Lancaster County infants died last month, the state’s first measles deaths in 35 years.

Pennsylvania has reported 676 cases in 37 counties this year, with 124 hospitalizations.

Washington Declares Flood Emergency

The city of Washington declared a state of emergency Saturday after flash flooding that Mayor JoJo Burgess called the worst in years. The declaration runs five days.

Storms hit around 2:30 p.m. and blew manhole covers into the street, stranding cars on Jefferson Avenue. Catfish Creek jumped its banks near Cameron Stadium and poured in, suspending Washington & Jefferson’s football game at halftime. Burgess watched a driver climb out a window near city hall, and fire crews spent hours pumping basements.

In neighboring South Strabane, which declared its own emergency, the stormwater pipe under the fire station’s parking lot collapsed and firefighters evacuated nearly 80 people from their own property.

No deaths or serious injuries were reported. The stretch by Phantom Fireworks has flooded three times since June, and Burgess says the roads are state-owned and the city will press Harrisburg for a fix.

Erie Hands Billy Blanks the Key

Tae Bo creator Billy Blanks came home to Erie this weekend and left with the key to the city, the first Mayor Daria Devlin has handed out since taking office in January.

Blanks, 71, led a Saturday morning Tae Bo class at Ascend Erie, kids and grownups punching and kicking along, then spoke at the “Power and Purpose” wellness conference, which his niece organized as part of the state’s 250th anniversary celebrations. City Councilman Andre Horton used the occasion to propose renaming West Third Street “Billy Blanks Avenue.”

One of 15 children, Blanks grew up in Erie with a hip condition and dyslexia, took up karate at 11, competed internationally, and turned a martial-arts-meets-boxing workout into the infomercial phenomenon that had millions of Americans kickboxing in their living rooms in the late 1990s.

“Thank God that I grew up in Erie,” Blanks said. On Friday night he stopped in at Cafe 7-10, the restaurant his sister and niece co-own.

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➤ Pike County: Saturday marked 12 years since Cpl. Bryon Dickson II was killed in an ambush outside the Blooming Grove state police barracks, an attack that set off a 48-day manhunt for Eric Frein. (See Post)

➤ Philadelphia: Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in North Philadelphia after a man and a woman were found shot Saturday. Investigators recovered a gun from the man’s hand. (More)

➤ West Homestead: Police are searching for two suspects accused of running up $14,000 on a stolen credit card at the Waterfront Costco. Investigators have released images of the pair and are asking the public to help identify them. (More)

➤ Hanover: Downtown Hanover held its second annual Oktoberfest Saturday, with a German brass band in Center Square, a beer-flight stroll through five local breweries and a meadery, and a cornhole tournament. (More)

➤ York County: The Route 74 bridge over Conewago Creek in Dover and Warrington townships has reopened after an eight-month replacement project, ending a detour that started in January. (More)

➤ Bethlehem: Dylan Stroup, a Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem board member, summited 19,341-foot Mount Kilimanjaro after a weeklong climb and raised $55,000 for the 96-year-old club. (Read Story)

➤ The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the Mike McCarthy era with a 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons after linebacker T.J. Watt broke the game open early in the fourth quarter with a pick-6. (Watch Play)

➤ Philadelphia stuffed the Washington Commanders’ potential game-tying 2-point conversion with 1:01 remaining to preserve a 24-22 season-opening victory. (Watch Play)

➤ Meanwhile, Eagles rookie tight end Eli Stowers, the 54th overall pick in the 2026 draft, landed on injured reserve with quadriceps and hamstring injuries. (More)

➤ The Phillies salvaged the finale in Atlanta, scoring seven runs in the eighth inning to beat the Braves 9-4 and avoid a sweep. Philadelphia sits five games back with 14 to play. (Recap)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | NFL | MLB | NASCAR | F1 | Soccer | FIBA

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➤ Reading & Northern Railroad is the recommended buyer for Luzerne County’s 56-mile rail line at $10 million, beating current operator R.J. Corman’s $8.2 million bid. The Redevelopment Authority board votes Tuesday. (More)

➤ Maple Grove Raceway in Brecknock Township will reopen Sept. 18 with races scheduled through Nov. 14, a month after it abruptly suspended operations for what it called restructuring. The drag strip has run since the 1960s, and its ownership status remains unclear. (More)

➤ Minnich’s Pharmacy in York marks 80 years Wednesday with an event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on South George Street. Opened in 1946, the employee-owned pharmacy has stuck to its goal of “taking care of people.” (More)

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[ACT FAST] This Robotics Stock’s Price Changes Thursday

Fresh off two major product acquisitions, including from a once-SoftBank-backed robotics pioneer, Miso Robotics’ share price will change Thursday. 

From those acquisitions alone, Miso added new customers like Jersey Mike’s, Cinnabon, and Auntie Anne’s and grew its patent portfolio 10X overnight. 

And that’s not all Miso’s done this year. In addition to major restaurant chains, Miso’s robots are now being deployed on college campuses and even an NBA arena.

Everyday people like you who don’t want to miss the robot boom have already invested more than 44,000 times to date. Industry powerhouse Ecolab even invested too. 

Hurry to join them before Miso’s price changes from $5.48/share Thursday night.

➤ Sister Mary Geraldine Vargo turned 100 Saturday at the Sisters of Divine Redeemer in Elizabeth Township, marking 80 years of service and a lifetime of teaching hundreds of children to love music and play the piano. (See Video)

➤ Runners raced through history Saturday in Forty Fort, finishing among Revolutionary War and Civil War graves at the borough’s historic cemetery. The third annual run has grown from 370 participants to 600. (More)

➤ A coyote wedged itself between two walls in a Pittsburgh alley and couldn’t get out. Animal Care and Control officers spent hours freeing it before releasing it in a wooded area outside the city. (See Photos)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Two best friends of 30 years took DNA tests, and what came back explains why everyone said they had the same laugh. (Hear Story)

➤ A New York honors student was suspended on the first day of school over a cup of coffee. (Hear More)

➤ MIT scientists found a simple sound, played while you sleep, that may help your brain wash itself clean. (Listen Now)

Billy Blanks got the key to Erie. Which workout craze did you actually try?

1. Tae Bo
2. Sweatin’ to the Oldies
3. Jazzercise
4. The ThighMaster
5. Other (reply to tell us!)

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your go-to Hershey’s candy?

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: 50%
2. Classic Hershey’s bar: 16%
3. Kit Kat: 15%
4. Hershey’s Kisses: 13%
5. Other: 6%

Grace Kelly’s father, a Philadelphia bricklayer, won three Olympic gold medals in what sport?

Show me the answer