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Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh

The fall attraction benefits Parton's Imagination Library.

Culture

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dolly Parton-inspired corn maze" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dce_UTbOwP5/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dce_UTbOwP5/?hl=en" target="_blank">Dolly Parton-inspired corn maze</a> an hour from Pittsburgh opens Friday, celebrating the country music legend and 31 years of her<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Imagination Library" data-vars-click-url="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" target="_blank"> Imagination Library</a>.The big picture: Irons Mill Farmstead in New Wilmington, near the Lawrence-Mercer County line, joins a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1547704596579471" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1547704596579471" target="_blank">national</a> corn maze initiative celebrating Parton&#x27;s literacy program.

"Star Wars" vending machine stunt awakens Pittsburgh's ire

The creator says he'll repair and return the beloved Mt. Washington landmark, but not everyone's happy.

A social media stunt involving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pittsburgh&#x27;s beloved &quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/27/star-wars-vending-machine-replaced-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="068bae5b-67e9-4eb1-a4b6-3c4042b9e8e7" data-vars-headline="&quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine stunt awakens Pittsburgh&#x27;s ire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/27/star-wars-vending-machine-replaced-pittsburgh" target="_self">Pittsburgh&#x27;s beloved &quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine</a> has the region up in arms.Why it matters: Los Angeles-based content creator Braeden Days said <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/content-creator-claims-he-took-mount-washingtons-iconic-star-wars-vending-machine/OX77WMBFO5AXTGNMW6E45AAULE/" data-vars-content-id="068bae5b-67e9-4eb1-a4b6-3c4042b9e8e7" data-vars-headline="&quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine stunt awakens Pittsburgh&#x27;s ire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/content-creator-claims-he-took-mount-washingtons-iconic-star-wars-vending-machine/OX77WMBFO5AXTGNMW6E45AAULE/" target="_blank">last week</a> he took Mt. Washington&#x27;s &quot;Star Wars&quot; vending machine, prompting a flurry of reactions from locals, including prominent radio personalities.

Pittsburgh renters are paying more for less

New apartments lost 142 square feet over a decade while inflation-adjusted rents rose.

News

The average new Pittsburgh apartment shrunk by 15% in the past decade, per a new survey from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="RentCafe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/national-average-apartment-size/" data-vars-content-id="72d3e5a6-9504-411c-b1bb-31c47954daa5" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh renters are paying more for less" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/national-average-apartment-size/" target="_blank">RentCafe</a>.Why it matters: Despite shrinking square footage, Pittsburgh renters are paying more — even accounting for a 39% rise in inflation.

Shapiro, RFK Jr. clash over measles deaths

A dispute over two measles-associated deaths has fueled a broader fight over vaccine messaging.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are squaring off over vaccines.Why it matters: The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed two measles-associated deaths — including one infant — in Lancaster County earlier this week.

Pennsylvania ER visits among the nation's longest

Patients typically spend over 3 hours in Pennsylvania emergency departments.

Health

A typical emergency room visit in Pennsylvania runs more than three hours, per new federal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/dataset/apyc-v239" data-vars-content-id="f6546a56-825c-4dec-beda-d3d2ca861138" data-vars-headline="Pennsylvania ER visits among the nation&#x27;s longest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/dataset/apyc-v239" target="_blank">data</a>.Why it matters: New insurance <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eligibility rules" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/03/medicaid-work-eligibility-requirement-rules-patients" data-vars-content-id="f6546a56-825c-4dec-beda-d3d2ca861138" data-vars-headline="Pennsylvania ER visits among the nation&#x27;s longest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/03/medicaid-work-eligibility-requirement-rules-patients" target="_self">eligibility rules</a> could push more patients to delay care until their conditions become emergencies, further straining emergency departments.

Pa. kindergarten vaccine exemption rate tops national rate

Measles is surging in Pennsylvania as kindergarten vaccination rates remain below key targets.

Pennsylvania’s kindergarten vaccine exemption rate held steady at 6% in the 2025-26 school year, but remains above the national rate, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CDC data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" data-vars-content-id="268f6062-b33e-4f7b-adfa-129599445935" data-vars-headline="Pa. kindergarten vaccine exemption rate tops national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" target="_blank">CDC data</a>.Why it matters: Pennsylvania’s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="307 measles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/diseases-conditions/infectious-disease/measles" data-vars-content-id="268f6062-b33e-4f7b-adfa-129599445935" data-vars-headline="Pa. kindergarten vaccine exemption rate tops national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/diseases-conditions/infectious-disease/measles" target="_blank">307 measles</a> cases this year, nearly 20 times last year’s total and the most in at least three decades, underscore how falling U.S. immunization rates are reviving a disease <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eliminated" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html" data-vars-content-id="268f6062-b33e-4f7b-adfa-129599445935" data-vars-headline="Pa. kindergarten vaccine exemption rate tops national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html" target="_blank">eliminated</a> in 2000.

Study: AHN blood test detects colon cancer

The experimental test could boost screening for people who avoid colonoscopies.

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) says it developed a new test that can detect <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="colon cancer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/colorectal-cancer-deadliest-screening-age-colonoscopy" data-vars-content-id="56ddeb26-066c-45b7-9806-0f498948f204" data-vars-headline="Study: AHN blood test detects colon cancer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/colorectal-cancer-deadliest-screening-age-colonoscopy" target="_self">colon cancer</a> while avoiding an invasive colonoscopy.Why it matters: Colorectal cancer — which originates in the colon or rectum — is one of the deadliest cancers in the U.S., with over 55,000 deaths expected this year, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Cancer Institute" data-vars-click-url="https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/common.html" data-vars-content-id="56ddeb26-066c-45b7-9806-0f498948f204" data-vars-headline="Study: AHN blood test detects colon cancer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/common.html" target="_blank">National Cancer Institute</a>.

Pennsylvanians losing health insurance rapidly

Pennie says rising costs are pushing more residents off their health plans.

More than 10,000 Pennsylvanians are losing health insurance coverage every month, the state&#x27;s Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace tells Axios.Why it matters: The Republican-controlled Congress let Biden-era enhanced <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal tax credits" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/01/aca-premiums-double-subsidy-renewal-shutdown" data-vars-content-id="adc053db-cb4e-4815-a32e-4a924cb2a1a9" data-vars-headline="Pennsylvanians losing health insurance rapidly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/01/aca-premiums-double-subsidy-renewal-shutdown" target="_self">federal tax credits</a> expire, and costs for ACA plans have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spiked since" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/04/13/130k-drop-coverage-pennsylvania-costs-spike" data-vars-content-id="adc053db-cb4e-4815-a32e-4a924cb2a1a9" data-vars-headline="Pennsylvanians losing health insurance rapidly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/04/13/130k-drop-coverage-pennsylvania-costs-spike" target="_self">spiked since</a>, leading to massive drops in the state&#x27;s coverage marketplace, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pennie" data-vars-click-url="https://pennie.com/affordability/" data-vars-content-id="adc053db-cb4e-4815-a32e-4a924cb2a1a9" data-vars-headline="Pennsylvanians losing health insurance rapidly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pennie.com/affordability/" target="_blank">Pennie</a>.

Pennslyvania cyclosporiasis rates rise

Health officials expect more cases as the investigation continues.

Pennsylvania health officials confirmed 28 cases of cyclosporiasis earlier this month, and that figure is rising.The big picture: Although some cases of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="diarrhea-inducing illness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-infection-wash-food" data-vars-content-id="3deeb6eb-0229-44c7-be73-958eeb90da7e" data-vars-headline="Pennslyvania cyclosporiasis rates rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-infection-wash-food" target="_self">diarrhea-inducing illness</a> are reported each year, 2026 will be the worst year on record in the U.S. for this food-borne parasitic infection, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CDC" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/php/surveillance/index.html" data-vars-content-id="3deeb6eb-0229-44c7-be73-958eeb90da7e" data-vars-headline="Pennslyvania cyclosporiasis rates rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/php/surveillance/index.html" target="_blank">CDC</a> data shows.

Pittsburgh group joins national push to fight loneliness

Pittsburgh Social Health will become the Pittsburgh Chamber of Connection.

An organization dedicated to building community in Pittsburgh is joining a national effort to make social connection a civic priority.Why it matters: Pittsburgh is a city of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="neighborhoods" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/06/29/pittsburgh-pennsylvania-municipal-mergers-explained" data-vars-content-id="98cf9b24-c344-4962-ab87-63ee46310da6" data-vars-headline="Pittsburgh group joins national push to fight loneliness" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/06/29/pittsburgh-pennsylvania-municipal-mergers-explained" target="_self">neighborhoods</a>, deep-rooted social circles and a reputation for not crossing rivers, making it difficult for newcomers and longtime residents alike to foster new relationships.

Allegheny County proposes 18 weeks of parental leave

The proposal would require employers to offer paid leave to new parents and legal guardians.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Allegheny County Health Department" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/03/25/allegheny-county-health-outcomes" data-vars-content-id="ad9679b0-d478-4669-a78d-301085a5d4d3" data-vars-headline="Allegheny County proposes 18 weeks of parental leave" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/03/25/allegheny-county-health-outcomes" target="_self">Allegheny County Health Department</a> proposes to require employers in the county to provide 18 weeks of paid leave to new parents and legal guardians.Why it matters: Pennsylvania does not have any parental leave laws, and Allegheny County would be the first county in the state to enact one.

Health care gaps persist for Black and Hispanic Pennsylvanians

A new report finds disparities in access, cost and outcomes across racial groups in Pennsylvania.

Black and Hispanic Pennsylvanians still face the largest gaps in health care access and quality, per a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Commonwealth Fund report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2026/apr/commonwealth-fund-2026-state-health-disparities-report" data-vars-content-id="cfd44f41-9b94-42b0-b134-d0873e83a5dc" data-vars-headline="Health care gaps persist for Black and Hispanic Pennsylvanians" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2026/apr/commonwealth-fund-2026-state-health-disparities-report" target="_blank">Commonwealth Fund report</a>.The big picture: No state has eliminated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="health disparities" data-vars-click-url="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11806735/" data-vars-content-id="cfd44f41-9b94-42b0-b134-d0873e83a5dc" data-vars-headline="Health care gaps persist for Black and Hispanic Pennsylvanians" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11806735/" target="_blank">health disparities</a> across racial and ethnic groups, and researchers warn that recent federal policy shifts will likely widen them.

130K drop Pennie coverage as insurance costs spike

The end of federal subsidies is tied to rising costs.

Roughly 130,000 Pennsylvanians have dropped coverage through Pennie, the state&#x27;s Affordable Care Act marketplace, in the past five months.Why it matters: About 1 in 10 Americans enrolled in an ACA plan last year now lack health coverage, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surveys" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/a-follow-up-survey-of-aca-marketplace-enrollees/#c255b176-f8c5-4647-ac6f-75178b0ed76c" data-vars-content-id="a0691753-1973-4d7d-9085-e060fe1a0e7d" data-vars-headline="130K drop Pennie coverage as insurance costs spike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/a-follow-up-survey-of-aca-marketplace-enrollees/#c255b176-f8c5-4647-ac6f-75178b0ed76c" target="_blank">surveys</a> by research nonprofit KFF.

Axios Vitals

A color-coded U.S. map shows the average wait time in emergency rooms from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025. The U.S. median was 153 minutes. 

Time spent in hospital emergency departments

Data: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Map: Jim Sergent/Axios

Axios Future of Health Care

A line chart that shows kindergartner vaccine exemption rates and the U.S. average from 2011-12 to 2025-26. The local rate rose from 0.6% to 3%, with faster gains after 2020. It remained below the national average each year, which increased from 1.6% to 4.2%.

Health 🩺

Pennsylvania ER visits among the nation's longest

Shapiro, RFK Jr. clash over measles deaths

Pa. kindergarten vaccine exemption rate tops national rate

Study: AHN blood test detects colon cancer

Pennsylvanians losing health insurance rapidly