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Local Business July 27, 2026

TYRONE Tyrone Ford recognized Tyrone Ford has been named by AAA as the silver winner of the Best in Auto Repair awards for 2026. These awards recognize the top AAA Service Providers and AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across the country. A panel of AAA experts reviewed nominations for both awards. These outstanding partners have consistently achieved high member satisfaction, provided excellent service and made significant contributions to their communities. Selected from 128 nominees across the country, a total of 24 outstanding honorees were recognized for exceptional ...

Laying the groundwork

Local News July 27, 2026

John Alvarez (right) and Ryan Wilt of Henry Enterprises, Hollidaysburg, remove the turf at the All Abilities Playground at Charles W. Longer Elementary School on Monday afternoon. The project includes installation of a new rubber surface and a swing set. Mirror photos by Patrick Waksmunski

Groups seek to cut electric bills amid data center surge

Local News July 27, 2026

Progressive groups unveiled a new campaign, dubbed Building a Brighter PA, Tuesday to call for protections to lower consumer electric bills while generating more power from renewable energy sources. The effort comes as state officials debate what sort of controls should be implemented to cushion residential customers from having to shoulder higher bills as data centers have caused a spike in demand for power. The emergence of more than 60 data center projects around Pennsylvania led to grassroots resistance and spurred calls for a moratorium on data centers while state and local ...

Ebensburg Borough Council addresses parking

Local News July 27, 2026

EBENSBURG — Parking enforcement is now active with the recent hiring of enforcement officer Allison McKee, but a lot of work remains in order to get the borough’s ParkMobile agreement in place by Sept. 1, officials said. When the agreement is in place, parking rates will increase to $1 per hour and fines will increase to $10 if paid within the first 48 hours of violation and then $20, if not paid within the two-day timeframe. During Monday’s Ebensburg Borough Council meeting, the council moved to have solicitor Matt Gribler draft a new agreement addressing the revenue sharing ...

Summer lunch programs filling need

Local News July 27, 2026

For many families, the summer food service program is nice because it gets everyone out of the house and into their local sites to catch up with friends and enjoy a nutritious meal. The federally funded program is operated nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In Blair County, meals are served at the Altoona Area and Tyrone Area school districts, as well as some sites sponsored by The Nehemiah Project nonprofit organization and a site in Roaring Spring sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church, according to ...

New Pennsylvania Public School Code allows later start times

Local News July 27, 2026

Pennsylvania’s Public School Code, which was updated as part of the 2026-27 budget deal, adds a provision allowing school districts to use existing state education funding to implement later school start times. The School Code, amended by House Bill 1505, permits school districts to use basic education, transportation and special education funding, among other state education dollars, to cover the costs of adopting later start times. Before adopting a later start time, districts would be required to post the proposal online and solicit public comment at two advertised school board ...