The Measles-Stricken Mother Who Lost Her Newborn Son The Amish man emerged from his barn to greet me, unaware that his newborn son’s death had become national news. He wore a straw hat, black trousers, and suspenders over a long-sleeved blue shirt, while one of his similarly dressed sons guided a horse-drawn plow nearby. Like most Amish people, he and his family did not watch TV, use the internet, or read newspapers. They learned about the measles outbreak and the governor’s press conference only when I told them. Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro, had announced the first two “measles-associated” deaths in the state in 35 years, both from Lancaster County, home to the largest Amish community. The deaths sparked political accusations, with Shapiro’s opponents claiming he used the tragedy for political gain. The county’s coroner later revealed an autopsy had been performed on an infant who tested positive for measles, though the cause of death was listed as a ruptured spleen. This detail fueled confusion, leading Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services, to mock Shapiro’s press conference as an example of “the weaponization of infectious disease fears for political gain.” Kennedy also suggested the deaths may have been fabricated by one of Shapiro’s staffers, though no evidence was provided. The Amish man asked me not to reveal his family’s names or location to protect their privacy. His son, whose death had drawn widespread attention, remained unidentified. The circumstances of the death matched the case in the news, and when I described it to him, he said it sounded like his son. When I shared the family’s details with the Lancaster County coroner, Stephen Diamantoni, he stated the office was not investigating additional infant deaths in the area.#robert_f_kennedy_jr #lancaster_county #josh_shapiro #stephen_diamantoni #amish_community
Severe Weather Expected in Bucks County as Tornado Watch Ends A tornado watch issued for parts of Bucks and Montgomery counties earlier Monday has been lifted by the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. The agency confirmed the watch was no longer in effect around 6:00 p.m., though a high wind advisory with potential thunderstorms remains active. The Weather Service urged residents to stay weather aware, noting damaging winds could persist later that night as a cold front moves through the region. The storm system responsible for the tornado watch spans much of the eastern United States, extending from Maryland to New Jersey. Meteorologists described the weather pattern as a series of storms moving northward, with one system “chugging its way up I-95.” Windy conditions are expected Monday afternoon and into early Tuesday as strong storms pass through the area. Severe thunderstorms are anticipated to strike Bucks County from mid-afternoon through approximately 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. While the entire region faces severe weather risks, the highest threat is concentrated in Philadelphia and areas south and west of the city. Wind gusts during the storm could reach 50 to 55 miles per hour, though meteorologist Robert Deal of the Mount Holly office clarified these are likely to be isolated bursts rather than sustained high winds. Regular wind speeds are expected to range from 20 to 30 mph throughout the event. Deal noted that severe thunderstorms will continue after 2 p.m., with the cold front bringing an additional surge of wind later that night. These conditions could lead to localized power outages and make driving hazardous, particularly for vehicles with high profiles. The Weather Service advised drivers to exercise extra caution during the storm.#national_weather_service #philadelphia #bucks_county #mount_holly #josh_shapiro
