By Tim Lambert | Editor-in-chief
“There’s a lot of people in different settings and situations that fall through the cracks and that’s what we’re really trying to (identify) — those missed opportunities and how we can better work in our community so we don’t have so many missed opportunities.” — Heather McLean is the outreach coordinator for Mental Health America of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which is part of Westmoreland County’s first-ever Suicide Fatality Review Board.
A good Monday morning to you. As always, it’s tough to see the weekend go, but at least the Steelers and Eagles won their season openers.
Alright Beatles fans, I’ve got something for you. On this day in 1964, the biggest band in the world arrived in Pittsburgh, held a press conference and played the Civic Arena. The show in front of a crowd of more than 12,000 was the only show they ever played in the Steel City. The price of a ticket? $5.90.
Thanks for starting your day with us. As always, we deeply appreciate you reading, sharing and supporting our work. -- Tim
Vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are displayed on a counter at a Walgreens Pharmacy in Mill Valley, California, in a 2015 file photo. (Photo illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
By Sydney Roach of WPSU
Amid a growing measles outbreak, Pennsylvania officials reported the third measles-related death in the state so far this year in Jefferson County.
Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong confirmed the death of a 40-year-old female in a social media post early Sunday morning. Furlong said no further details will be shared.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease,” Furlong said.
Chief Deputy Coroner and Public Relations Officer Jason Stiver said that severe illness with measles is uncommon. Still, he said, people should not take the disease lightly. Stiver urged people to recognize early symptoms and consult with healthcare providers.
State health officials have recorded cases of measles in 37 of the commonwealth’s 67 counties. Photo by Getty Images Plus)
By Peter Hall
The commonwealth’s top doctor stressed the best protection against measles is to get fully vaccinated. During an update on the measles outbreak, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra L. Bogen said it has now sickened 676 people in the commonwealth.
Additionally, she said state health officials have recorded cases of measles in 37 of the commonwealth’s 67 counties. They included two deaths associated with the virus, announced last month, and four cases among people fully vaccinated for their ages. The Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for children 12 months and older.
“It’s important to know that people who are vaccinated rarely get measles because the two-dose MMR vaccine offers 97% protection against measles. That means for every 100 people who receive both doses, about three individuals may develop a mild case of measles if they’re exposed,” Bogen said.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and more Pennsylvanians than ever are calling 988 for mental health services. (Photo by Amanda Berg for Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
By Whitney Downard
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 to be connected to a crisis counselor free of charge 24/7.
Just under 2,000 Pennsylvanians die by suicide each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jenna Baker, the CEO of the American Association of Suicidology, said that the national suicide rate today is 32% higher than it was in 2000 and is a leading cause of death for those between the ages of 15 and 34.
“We want to make sure that we see suicide prevention as far more dynamic than the answer is (involuntary commitments) or medication. We need to create communities where people belong, and we need to realize that our state policies shape that,” Baker continued.
The federal government launched 988 as the new number for the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022, with more than 17,000 calls for help in the commonwealth reported in the last month.
Pennsylvania has 14 call centers distributed around the state to answer those calls.
Independent reporting on Pennsylvania state government that impacts communities statewide — free to read and republish.
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Shell’s ethane cracker along the Ohio River, taken in June, 2022. (Photo by Reid R. Frazier/The Allegheny Front)
By Reid Frazier of the Allegheny Front
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has fined Shell $15 million for air quality violations at its Monaca, Pa. plastics plant.
The agency says between 2023 and August 2026, Shell’s plant, called an ethane cracker, exceeded limits on visible emissions set by its state-issued air permit on more than two dozen occasions.
According to a consent agreement signed by the company Friday, the plant also went over the allowable limit for benzene, a carcinogen, and it failed to perform testing required by the state.
TODAY IN THE CAPITAL-STAR
How the US House could overturn the midterm election results: With concern mounting among GOP lawmakers they may lose control of that chamber following November’s midterm elections, it is not a stretch to imagine state officials could, just like in 2020, receive calls from the White House or powerful Republicans in Congress.
Divorce becomes next battleground as states debate family values: In recent years, more conservatives have turned to divorce as a “family values” talking point, with some pushing to make it harder for couples to divorce. By doing so, they’ve relaunched a national conversation that would have been nearly unthinkable just a few years ago.
Mixed-status immigrant households expected to lose benefits: New rules going into effect this week allow immigrants’ enrollment in safety net resources to be taken into account for lawful immigration status applications, the latest in the Trump administration’s immigration overhaul.
ICYMI
Call to apply second-degree resentencing ruling in Pa. retroactively: A coalition of attorneys urged the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to apply its ruling striking down mandatory life sentences for second-degree murder retroactively. The group shared four examples of aging prisoners it says require immediate attention.
How 9/11 changed the way America surveils its citizens: The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, did more than reshape the nation’s approach to terrorism. They changed the architecture of American intelligence and policing. They expanded how government agencies collect, share and analyze information, and brought national security tools deeper into ordinary law enforcement.
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