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PA Lags Behind Northeast Neighbors In Education, New Study Says
Several Northeast states are among the most educated in the US, excelling in school quality, college attainment, and overall academic achievement, a new study said.
Massachusetts was ranked as the country's most-educated state, according to a WalletHub study released on Monday, Feb. 10. Maryland was second, followed by Vermont, Colorado, and Connecticut in the top five.
The study analyzed all 50 states using 18 factors, including educational attainment, quality, and achievement gaps.
"There's a strong correlation between being more educated and receiving higher compensation," said Wal…
New Surge In Flu Cases Reported Nationwide; These States Are Seeing Biggest Spikes
Flu cases are surging across the nation, closing nearly a dozen schools and swamping hospitals in some states.
At least 24 million cases, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths —including 57 children —have been reported for this flu season, which began in October, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday, Feb. 7.
The two strains of flu circulating this season are H1N1 and H3N2. Both are covered in this year's flu vaccine, but only about 40 percent of Americans have taken the vaccine each of the last two years, compared to 50 percent t…
PA's Women’s Healthcare System Shows Strengths, Gaps: New Study Says Why
Several northeast states are among the best in the nation for women’s health, leading in healthcare access, affordability, and safety, a new study said.
Massachusetts was ranked as the best state for women’s health in 2025, according to a study released by SmileHub on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Bay State finished narrowly ahead of second-place Hawaii, while Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey rounded out the top five.
The report evaluated all 50 states using 18 key metrics, including maternal mortality rates, hospital quality, and the cost of medical care. The findings highlight major disp…
Gerber Recalls, Discontinues Teething Sticks Sold In PA After Child Sent To ER
Gerber is recalling and discontinuing all batches of its teething stick due to a potential choking hazard for babies and young children, authorities said.
Gerber and the Food and Drug Administration announced the recall for Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks in news releases on Friday, Jan. 31. The recall follows consumer complaints, including one involving a child brought to an emergency room.
The affected products were distributed nationwide and in stores across several states, including Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The …
Tobacco Costs PA Smokers $4.3M Over Lifetimes, New Study Says
Northeast and mid-Atlantic states are among the most expensive in the U.S. for smoking tobacco, according to a new study.
New York topped the 2025 list from WalletHub called "The Real Cost of Smoking by State", with residents losing an estimated $5.4 million over their lifetime. Washington, D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island were also ranked in the top five.
The study calculated smoking-related costs by combining out-of-pocket expenses, lost income, increased insurance premiums, and missed financial opportunities, such as investing in the stock market instead of …
Kohl’s Closing 27 Stores Across The US Including In PA
Kohl’s announced Thursday, Jan. 9, the closure of 27 underperforming stores, including locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Virginia, as part of its 2025 real estate changes.
The closures are expected to be finalized by April 2025 and are part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its store portfolio while adapting to evolving consumer trends. Among the affected locations are stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
Pennsylvania
Pottstown – 351 W Schuylkill Rd.
New Jersey
East Windsor – 72 Princeton Hightstown Rd.
Massachusetts
Stoug…
PA Breaks Into Top 10 States For Cancer Research Excellence, New Study Says
Many states in the Northeast are among the country's best in the fight against cancer, with Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland ranked as leaders, a new study said.
Massachusetts was ranked as the best state for cancer research, according to a SmileHub study released on Tuesday, Jan. 7. New York was just behind the Bay State in second place.
The study, which assessed all 50 states based on metrics like clinical trials per capita and hospital quality, came as the U.S. saw more than 611,000 cancer-related deaths and nearly two million new cases in 2024.
Massachusetts boasts the highes…
Party City Going Out Of Business, Closing All 800 Stores, Including 25 In PA
The party is over for a popular chain store that's been in business for decades.
Party City is “winding down” operations immediately at its approximately 800 locations, CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees in a video call on Friday, Dec. 20, CNN reports.
Workers were told they will not receive severance pay, and that their benefits would end as the company goes out of business, CNN says.
The company, headquartered in in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, is running low on cash and unable to pay rent in some locations, according to an earlier Bloomberg report.
Party City was foun…
