By Tim Lambert | Editor-in-chief
“There really isn’t a national promotion of ‘Hey, we’re having an outbreak right now. Please vaccinate your kids. The MMR is safe and effective, and it prevents measles.’ That’s not being pumped out on social media. That’s not being put on TV. So this administration is not promoting the best tool that we have to prevent severe disease from viruses.” — Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago, on the lack of federal action to address the outbreak of measles cases across the country.
A good Wednesday morning to you. I’m back at the desk today as we pop back into the 70s for the next couple of days.
After letting the disappointing Eagles and Steelers losses sit for a few days, which fan base is more frustrated? I’m going to have to go with Philly fans because their expectations are much higher for the season.
But truth be told, the most frustrated fan base in the state has to be on the Penn State side. Happy Valley certainly isn’t very happy these days.
Thanks for starting your day with us. As always, we deeply appreciate you reading, sharing and supporting our work. -- Tim
The site of the former Big Lots warehouse that Immigration and Customs Enforcement originally had plans to turn into a 7,500-person detention center in Tremont, Schuylkill County, on March 12, 2026. (Photograph by Jessica Kourkounis/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
By Katherine Dailey of the Michigan Advance
The federal government is seeking to sell two warehouses in Pennsylvania that were purchased for use as Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, along with five other warehouses nationally that were similarly intended for use as detention facilities before those plans were scrapped over the summer.
The intent to sell was first reported by Project Salt Box, a public records-based investigative newsletter reporting on ICE and Department of Homeland Security contracts. Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate firm headquartered in Chicago, is marketing the properties, offering the seven buildings individually or as a package.
Along with the facilities in Tremont Township in Schuylkill County and Upper Bern Township in Berks County, the facilities up for sale are in Romulu, Michigan; Social Circle and Flowery Branch, Georgia; Socorro, Texas; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The asking price for the warehouse now, either individually or alongside the other warehouses, is not publicly available.
Dozens gathered at a rally to demand a statewide moratorium on data center development Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026 at the Pennsylvania Capitol. (Photo by Peter Hall/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
By Peter Hall
The state Capitol rotunda echoed with dissent Tuesday afternoon as dozens called on Gov. Josh Shapiro and lawmakers to enact a statewide moratorium on data center development.
At least 100 data center projects are proposed around the commonwealth, according to Shapiro’s office.
In August, he signed an executive order removing all proposals for the facilities from the state’s Fast Track permitting process and requiring developers to comply with responsible development standards.
But speakers at the rally were critical of Shapiro for his initial embrace of Amazon and other tech companies as they scoped out sites. The development guidelines that now encompass much of the commonwealth’s data center policy are too little, too late, they said.
New York has declared a state of emergency as measles cases surge in neighboring Pennsylvania. (Photo courtesy of the City of Minneapolis)
By Shalina Chatlani of Stateline
Facing a surge of measles cases in New York state’s rural counties, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an executive order on Monday allowing paramedics, pharmacists, midwives and other non-physicians to administer vaccines.
Hochul’s decision to declare a “state disaster emergency” comes amid the nation’s worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years and an eruption in neighboring Pennsylvania that is the largest that any single state has experienced since the early 1990s.
As of Oct. 3, New York had reported 108 total cases, its highest number since 2019. Pennsylvania has recorded more than 1,000 cases this year, and state officials there have attributed five deaths to the disease (so far the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has only confirmed two of them.) There have been no deaths in New York.
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Federal immigration officers were at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 23, 2026 during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown to help with airport security. (Photo by Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
By Carter Walker of Votebeat
As the 2026 midterms near, one question repeatedly comes up in discussions about potential disruptions to election administration.
“‘What if ICE shows up?’ That’s what I’m hearing,” Olivia Hale, the election director in San Joaquin County, California, said on a recent call sponsored by the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions.
Federal law already prohibits stationing “troops or armed men at any place where a general or special election is held,” along with other voting protections. But Hale isn’t the only one raising concerns. In Pennsylvania, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) says he’s trying to respond by clarifying state law.
Pennsylvania’s election code already prohibits police from being within 100 feet of polling places. Kenyatta has introduced a bill that would expand the language to include federal agents as well.
TODAY IN THE CAPITAL-STAR
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent touts Trump accounts at Pa. Capitol: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent was in Harrisburg on Monday to promote new federal savings accounts for children that the Trump administration says will help more Americans build wealth.
States prep in case Trump tries to disrupt the midterm elections: One month from Election Day, President Donald Trump’s long-running pressure campaign over elections is approaching a decisive moment.
Trump drops aversion to mail-in voting with GOP trailing in poll: The about-face by the president is familiar. Trump encouraged his voters to cast their ballots by mail in 2024 and has repeatedly voted by mail himself, despite a long record of attacking the practice.
Dems could win majority of governor’s offices for first time in 16 years: Currently, Republicans boast a 26-24 gubernatorial advantage over Democrats. But this November, voters will choose governors in 36 states. Thirteen of those races are considered competitive by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
ICYMI
Bill to regulate kratom and ban synthetic compounds passes Pa. House: Members voted unanimously to pass a bill that would regulate natural leaf kratom products and ban the sale of synthetic compounds derived from the substance.
Pa. lawmaker urges passing a solution to skill games before deadline: Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon), who is sponsoring two bills that he said would save skill games while providing new revenue for tax relief and more, blamed Democratic House leaders for inaction on the topic.
Leaders say changes to PJM’s electric grid governance aren’t enough: Democratic leaders in Pennsylvania, Maryland and other states have long called for PJM Interconnection, which administers the regional electric grid, to give more weight to state voices in its decision-making.
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