News Staff Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday that Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar will leave her position, effective Friday, after her department failed to advertise a proposed constitutional amendment as required for it to appear on the ballot this spring. The Department of State in a news release called it “simple human error” and apologized, saying the … Read more
Blair County Judge Daniel J. Milliron announced on Monday that he plans to retire at the end of this year. Milliron, who will turn 66 this year, was elected to a second 10-year term that started in January 2016, meaning he was originally going to remain on the bench through the end of December 2025. … Read more
The annual Groundhog Day event at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney was held this morning, though without an audience due to the pandemic. Hosts crowded around a fake burrow and pulled “Punxsutawney Phil” out to hold him up to the cameras, as per tradition… http://blogaudio.virtualnewscenter.com/WRTA-020221-CHANT-GROUNDHOG.mp3 Groundhogs normally hibernate in the middle of the woods through the … Read more
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services says the state has received a 340-thousand dollar grant to develop a new suicide prevention lifeline. Officials say the new, national lifeline will be activated in July 2022, and will replace the current lifeline. According to reports, the 9-8-8 call number will provide for easier access for those in … Read more
PA House Health Committee Majority Chair Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) will convene a public hearing to examine the strengths and weaknesses of COVID-19 vaccine distribution throughout the Commonwealth. The hearing will feature virtual presentations from several Pennsylvania Department of Health officials. The meeting to take place Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 8 a.m. in Room 140, Main … Read more
A court hearing that had been scheduled for tomorrow for a former volunteer firefighter accused of embezzling more than $1.5 million from a federal grant, has been postponed until April due to COVID-19. 48 year old Benjamin Rhine had been scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday morning in Johnstown, but Rhine’s attorney, Michael B. Cohen of … Read more
Two men were arrested in an Altoona traffic stop that turned into the discovery of cocaine in the vehicle. 29 year old Kendall Patterson of Altoona and 33 year old Jonathan Williams of Philadelphia are both facing drug-related charges.
To continue tracking chronic wasting disease in Pennsylvania, the state Game Commission since last July has tested samples from 11,373 dead deer, with 125 of those testing positive for the disease. 8,786 of the animals tested came from hunter-killed deer and resulted in 105 positives. Another 2,448 deer were collected from roadkills, and that goup … Read more
Altoona police say a local man is facing numerous charges after he was found in possession of over 600 packets of heroin following a chase earlier this week. 41-year-old William Stahl Jr. faces charges of drug possession with the intent to deliver, fleeing and eluding police, escape, avoiding apprehension, resisting arrest, DUI and numerous traffic … Read more
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services says the state has received a 340-thousand dollar grant to develop a new suicide prevention lifeline. Officials say the new, national lifeline will be activated in July 2022, and will replace the current lifeline. According to reports, the 9-8-8 call number will provide for easier access for those in … Read more