North American Community Hub Statistics
Pennsylvania is dealing with one of the fastest growing measles outbreaks in the country, and the latest numbers show that the problem is moving well beyond a small cluster in Lancaster County. By Wednesday evening, the Pennsylvania Department of Health had confirmed 424 measles cases in 2026. 94 of those cases were diagnosed in the … Read more
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure gave policymakers another uncomfortable reading today. U.S. prices rose 0.2% in July under the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, leaving the annual inflation rate at 3.7%. The July PCE report, released August 26 by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, was firmer than economists expected. Headline inflation had been … Read more
Eastern States Exposition is making visible changes ahead of The Big E 2026, and one of them has ended a tradition that lasted nearly two decades. Opa-Opa Brewing Company, a Massachusetts brewery that had operated at The Big E for almost 20 years, will not return when the fair opens in West Springfield on September … Read more
Canada will impose tariffs of 15%, 25% or 50% on C$27.6 billion, about US$20 billion, in American goods beginning September 8. Ottawa announced the action after the United States placed a 50% tariff on an equal value of Canadian products on August 22. Canadian duties will cover U.S. steel, aluminum, dairy products, appliances, farm equipment, … Read more
New research from the University of Oxford found that people who received Shingrix had a lower rate of major cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, strokes and heart failure, during the following three and a half years. The study looked at health records from about 70,000 U.S. adults aged 60 and older. Researchers found a roughly … Read more
Mail-in voting rules for the 2026 midterm elections remain unsettled after two major court decisions landed within days of each other. On August 24, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with parts of its election order while the legal fight continues. One day later, a federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that … Read more
Neck pain linked to screens is often associated with office work, but a smartphone may place even more stress on the body during a typical day. “Tech neck” describes neck and upper-back discomfort tied to prolonged screen use, especially when the head repeatedly leans forward. Computer work can certainly strain muscles and joints. Yet a … Read more
Florida is preparing new restrictions on how families can spend Temporary Cash Assistance benefits, with video games, theme park tickets, tattoos and several other purchases set to be blocked. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the changes on August 24, saying Florida will amend its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families state plan to restrict purchases considered luxury, … Read more
Minnesota is increasing impaired-driving enforcement during one of the busiest periods of the summer travel season. Nearly 300 law-enforcement agencies across the state are taking part in extra DWI patrols that began August 19 and continue through Labor Day. Increased enforcement comes as officials confront a serious toll linked to alcohol-impaired driving in 2026. By … Read more
Labor Day weekend marks one of the final major travel periods of summer, putting millions of motorists on highways at roughly the same time. Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, 2026, with the holiday traffic period running between 6 p.m. Friday, September 4, and 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 7. Holiday travel periods are associated … Read more