News

Altoona-Blair County Development Corp. aims to form group to buy Logan Valley Mall

Local News September 25, 2026

The Altoona-Blair County Development Corp. is working to facilitate an effort to form a local investor group with the goal of purchasing the Logan Valley Mall from Namdar Realty Group, according to Steve McKnight, the corporation’s president/CEO. In August, McKnight told the Logan Township supervisors there is local interest in potentially purchasing the mall, but at that time, Namdar wasn’t willing to yield to an acceptable price point that meets market conditions. The mall, valued at $13.8 million, is reportedly worth $30 million to Namdar, Logan Township Manager Tim Brown said ...

Vital Signs: Revised weight restriction posted for middle bridge on North Eighth Street

Local News September 25, 2026

Blair County has recently posted weight restrictions for the middle bridge of the three successive county-owned bridges on North Eighth Street between North Fourth Avenue in Juniata and Old Sixth Avenue Road in Logan Township. Following the latest annual inspection, the 20-ton limit — 25 ...

Legality of detention in police beating incident challenged

Local News September 25, 2026

HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Blair County Chief Public Defender has filed paperwork challenging the legality of a 71-year-old city man’s July detention that left him bruised and bloody, allegedly at the hands of the arresting officer. James Paul Kuhn was taken into custody by Altoona police on ...

Local News September 25, 2026

The Mirror is seeking nominations for its 2026 Season of Sharing recipient. Launched in 2005, Season of Sharing uses the reach of the local newspaper and altoonamirror.com, the expertise of the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation and residents’ generosity to benefit area ...

Former area police officer charged with DUI in Altoona crash

Local News September 25, 2026

A Johnstown police officer who previously worked in the Altoona and Tyrone departments was charged with driving under the influence after he crashed his vehicle into a parked car on Burgoon Road in the Knickerbocker neighborhood early Aug. 31. Jeffrey T. Barr, 24, of Altoona, had red, glassy ...

Beagle Bill would ban cosmetic testing

Local News September 25, 2026

The sale of cosmetics tested on dogs and cats would be banned in Pennsylvania under a Senate-passed bill amended by the House Judiciary Committee Thursday. Senate Bill 381 would also mandate that dogs and cats used in lab testing be put up for adoption once they are no longer being used by the labs. The legislation, dubbed the Beagle Bill by lawmakers, was inspired by a 2022 case in which dozens of beagles were rescued from a Virginia lab whose operators were charged with violating federal animal welfare laws. Animal rights groups say there are more than a dozen animal testing labs ...