News

SCI Huntingdon reports inmate death

Local News October 6, 2026

John Rivello, superintendent of the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, reported that inmate Geraldo J. Maldonado Jr., 43, was found unresponsive in his cell on Monday. Prison staff and medical personnel immediately responded to the scene and provided life-saving measures. EMS arrived at the facility and advanced life support measures were continued as he was transferred to Penn Highlands Hospital, where he passed away at 1:44 a.m. Maldonado was serving a 24- to 52-year sentence for rape of a child following a Lancaster County conviction. In accordance with state policy, ...

Blair County court administration presents budget proposal

Local News October 6, 2026

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County court administration presented its proposed operating budget of about $1.1 million to county commissioners during Tuesday afternoon’s budget meeting. The amount would cover everything from pay for court-appointed attorneys to Zoom licenses. President Judge Wade A. Kagarise told commissioners Amy Webster and Laura Burke that the 2027 budget would give the county a good idea as to what to expect from court administration’s budget line items in the future as “this year and next year are the first two years we’ve had five judges” in nearly a ...

Vape sellers face $5K fines under new House bill

Local News October 6, 2026

The Pennsylvania state House on Monday approved a pair of bills creating stiffer penalties for shops caught selling electronic cigarettes to minors and banning the sale of synthetic kratom. House Bill 1434 would hike the fine for a first offense for selling nicotine vapes to underage customers to $5,000 from $100-$500. Under existing law, the fine increases for each subsequent offense, with retailers facing a penalty of $5,000 only after they’ve been caught three times illegally selling vapes to underage consumers. The legislation is “about accountability,” Rep. Amen Brown, ...

Education funding prominent issue in governor race

Local News October 6, 2026

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania will spend nearly 40% of its $50.8 billion budget on education this year. The size of that obligation, and its impact on children, teenagers, and college students across the commonwealth, make it an enormous part of annual spending talks. Unsurprisingly, it’s a prominent issue in the 2026 race for governor. Incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro has spent his governorship threading a needle on education. He has backed big spending increases, particularly for the commonwealth’s most inadequately funded public school districts. At the same time, he’s supported ...

FFA spotlight: Emma Walizer

Local News October 6, 2026

Age and school: 16, Bellefonte Area High School Family: Parents: Cliff Walizer, Sarah Walizer and Rachael Kerstetter; siblings: Maverick, Seth, James and Lilymae FFA chapter: Bellefonte FFA Years involved with FFA: Two years Amount of time spent on FFA: Two years FFA projects: Two Market ...

Agriculture briefs: 4 Seasons bull named champion

Local News October 6, 2026

TYRONE 4 Seasons Red Moose of 4 Seasons Farm LLC, Tyrone, owned by Bob VanKirk, was named the National Grand Champion Red Devon bull at the show in Remington, Va. Moose is a 2200 premiere herd sire at the farm and is well known for his characteristics that fit perfectly into grass-finished beef operations. “This bull is the biggest, stoutest, deep bodied, most masculine bull here today, not much in comparison. We just think he’s a really good example of what a mature bull should be,” said judge Will Clark. “This bull is a good way to end the day because I don’t care what ...