Outbreak Prompts Push for Early Measles Shots

Some pediatricians are recommending a first measles vaccine dose as early as 6 months old, as Pennsylvania’s outbreak surpasses 1,000 cases. The first dose is usually given beginning at 12 months old.

Pennsylvania now has 1,004 confirmed cases across 39 counties, making it the largest state outbreak in the U.S. in more than three decades.

At least 195 people have been hospitalized, and fewer than 1% of cases have been among fully vaccinated people.

The CDC also recommends an early dose at 6 months for infants in outbreak areas, though that shot doesn’t count toward the standard two-dose series given at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years.

SCOTUS Refuses to Hear Ex-Judge’s Appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from former Philadelphia Judge Mark Cohen, who was suspended for partisan Facebook posts praising Democrats and their policies.

The state Court of Judicial Discipline suspended Cohen, a longtime Democratic state lawmaker before joining the bench, without pay for his final three months as a judge. Cohen also lost his pensions.

His posts included praise for then-President Joe Biden, Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, along with a photo of himself in judicial robes.

The state Supreme Court upheld the suspension in January, ruling that the judiciary’s reputation for impartiality outweighed his free speech claims.

$7.25M Scratch-Off Sold in Beaver County

A Pennsylvania Lottery player won $7.25 million on a scratch-off ticket sold at a Speedway in New Brighton, Beaver County.

The winning ticket was for the “$500,000 a Year for Life” game, a $20 scratch-off that lets winners choose lifetime annual payments or a one-time cash option of $7.25 million, before withholding.

The store earns a bonus for selling the ticket, and the Lottery says it only learns where winning tickets were sold after a prize is claimed.

The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only state lottery that directs all of its proceeds to programs benefiting older residents.

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➤ Statewide: After a frosty start in spots, most of the state will see sunny skies and highs around 60 today. Temperatures climb to near 70 by Thursday, with dry weather lasting into the weekend. (See Forecast)

➤ Lehigh Valley: Army Capt. Stephen Adjei, a 31-year-old West Point instructor, died during scuba certification training at Lake Hydra near Bethlehem. (More)

➤ Harrisburg: Gov. Josh Shapiro endorsed a House-passed bill opening Pennsylvania’s primaries to unaffiliated voters but said it’s “seemingly going to die” in the Republican-controlled state Senate. (More)

➤ Dillsburg: A local family has continued hosting a chili cook-off for seven years to honor their late son Alex Smith’s love of cooking, raising money for student scholarships. (See Story)

➤ McKean County: Bradford Regional Medical Center has closed its inpatient and emergency services, and residents are struggling while facing trips of more than 80 miles to Erie for care. (More)

➤ O’Hara Township: A ceremony honored about 2,500 Western Pennsylvania organ and tissue donors and their families. (More)

➤ The Phillies’ Brandon Marsh is being floated as an offseason trade candidate after the team’s 6-2 wild-card loss to the Braves. The first-time All-Star slumped late in the season. (More)

➤ Saquon Barkley was scheduled for more tests on his injured right hamstring after leaving Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Rams, though the injury isn’t believed to be serious. (See Update)

➤ The Steelers have signed linebacker Marte Mapu, who played in Super Bowl LX with the Patriots last season, to their practice squad. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | WNBA | NBA | Soccer

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➤ Pennsylvania drivers near the border are crossing into Ohio to fill up after the neighboring state temporarily eliminated its gas tax. (More)

➤ Virginia-based insurance brokerage Hilb Group has acquired a Pennsylvania property, casualty, and employee benefits agency. (See Details)

➤ State regulators approved a reduced UGI gas rate hike. The settlement allows a two-phase, $65 million increase, down from the $99.4 million UGI first requested. (More)

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➤ The York Area Down Syndrome Association held its 21st Buddy Walk at John Rudy County Park to celebrate inclusion and acceptance. (See Photos)

➤ Quarryville firefighters used saws and a grinder to free a border terrier trapped inside a UTV. The pup escaped with only minor injuries. (See Rescue)

➤ Butler artist Tom Panei is restoring Punxsutawney’s Phantastic Phils, the town’s beloved collection of groundhog statues. (See Statues)

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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. 

➤ Your dog’s sleep twitches aren’t random, and researchers can now decode what’s behind them. (Listen Now)

➤ Amazon is issuing a new wave of refunds worth up to $200 after regulators accused it of deceptively enrolling Prime customers. (Hear Episode)

➤ Gen Z students are fueling a Catholic surge at nearly 60 college campuses, from Texas A&M to Silicon Valley. (Hear Details)

Would you drive to another state to save on gas?

1. Yeah I would
2. I’d consider it
3. Not worth it

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you believe in cryptids like Bigfoot or the Albatwitch?

1. Definitely not: 53%
2. I keep an open mind: 41%
3. For sure: 6%

Five years after founding Germantown, its settlers wrote the first known protest in the American colonies against what?

Show me the answer