State health officials announced Tuesday that two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents have died after being infected with measles, the first US deaths this year related to the contagious virus.

The US has now seen five measles-associated deaths in the last two years—more than the combined total of reported deaths over the previous three decades—and is enduring its worst year for measles since 1991.

With 2,777 cases as of last Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year already has surpassed 2025’s measles count. Pennsylvania has recorded nearly 400 measles cases this year, state officials said.

The measles surge has coincided with moves by President Donald Trump’s administration to scale back childhood vaccinations, based on concerns—unfounded, according to scientific studies—about vaccine safety.

Doctors have raised concerns that Trump and US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are stoking confusion and hesitancy.

In a media briefing Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had spoken with Kennedy, who offered the assistance of federal health staffers. Shapiro declined the offer, saying Pennsylvania’s health department was able to handle the current situation.

“I was very, very blunt with him,” Shapiro said. “I made very clear that his actions and the rhetoric that’s coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania.”

We’ve got more about the measles surge in Pennsylvania in this story.

With the midterms approaching, we’d like to know:

What issues are driving your vote this year? 

Here’s what you’re saying:

“Elimination of government fraud; deportation of illegals; fiscal accountability; bringing back conservative and biblical values!” — Vickie Johnson, Perry County

“The economy, the latest forever war in the Middle East, climate change, the fact that the Supreme Court of the United States is bought and paid for by billionaires, the housing market, and the fact that corporations and billionaires can now buy our elections and no one seems to even care.” — Robert Graham, Bushkill

“The biggest issues for me are taking back control of Congress and getting some control over the atrocities that are occurring in Washington. The Epstein files need to be released, more humane immigration laws are needed, and we are stuck in a war that nobody wants and is unnecessary! We have become the laughingstock of the world.” — Doris Butler, Mifflin County

“Controlling Donald Trump is my main election goal, ultimately impeaching and imprisoning him for war crimes. But that may be a pipe dream.” — Laura, Bucks County

“The economy is at the top of my list. Gas, groceries, heating oil, and many other household necessities have risen drastically.” — Lindsay, Berks County

“Affordability of healthcare; ending the war in Iraq; stopping ICE; protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP.” — Cindy Bigler, Mifflinburg

“Saving our democracy, banning data centers, reducing the impact of climate change, removing corruption in the federal government, restoring a government that works for the people, conserving our places of natural beauty, getting Congress to pass legislation that enshrines Roe v. Wade, and eliminating the cap on Social Security.” — Christa Warda, Lehigh County

What’s driving your vote this year? Reply with your answer below.

A still image from Dolly Parton’s 2022 movie “Mountain Magic Christmas.” Pictured: (l-r) Mary Lane Haskell as herself, Dolly Parton as herself. (NBC via Getty Images)

There’s so much to love about Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80. From her music and funding of a Covid vaccine and pediatric infectious disease research, to staging telethons after devastating wildfires in her native Tennessee and her candidness about plastic surgery, she’s a certifiable American treasure.

Here’s another reason to love Dolly: Her Imagination Library program, which aims to inspire a love of reading in children at an early age.

Started by the legendary country singer in 1995, Imagination Library mails free books to children from birth through age 5. The program includes more than 2,700 local affiliates in 21 states, including Pennsylvania, along with affiliates in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. 

There are currently local affiliates in 16 Pennsylvania counties, including nonprofit organizations, regional libraries, and school districts. Our Ashley Adams’ son was once a member of the Kutztown School District’s Imagination Library affiliate program, and absolutely loved getting a new book each month, according to his mother.

We’ve got more about the Imagination Library program in this story, along with the story of one of Dolly Parton’s earliest Pa. gigs below.

• “Nothing has changed here in Pennsylvania for November’s election,” Gov. Shapiro said following the Supreme Court’s preliminary approval Monday of President Trump’s order restricting mail voting. Here’s the latest on the situation.

• Amtrak will operate a second daily passenger train between Pittsburgh and New York via Harrisburg and Philadelphia starting in mid-November. We have the details here.

• Fresh off an announcement earlier this month that his office is suing TikTok, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a lawsuit against Snapchat, alleging that the social media company’s 13+ age rating misleads parents and that the platform is designed to be addictive. Find out more here.

Dolly Parton performed at the York Inter-State Fair in 1971 as part of a country music show. (USA Today Network via Reuters Connect)

Dolly Parton headlined plenty of big arena gigs across Pennsylvania throughout the years in cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Hershey, and State College. 

But way back in 1971, she was on the bottom of the bill of a country show at the York Inter-State Fair (now known as the York State Fair) where you could have seen the rising county star for the low, low price of $2.50.

Learn more about one of Parton’s earliest Pa. gigs in this story.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Ashley Adams, Sean Kitchen, The Associated Press, USA Today via Reuters Connect, and Peter Hall of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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