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Altoona-Blair County Airport numbers remain on the up and up

MARTINSBURG — The Altoona-Blair County Airport’s numbers were all looking good for April, airport manager Tracy Plessinger said, with Contour Airlines’ overall completion rate for the month at 100%. During Wednesday’s airport authority board meeting, Plessinger said Contour carried 2,032 passengers outbound and inbound during April. Looking toward the summer, Plessinger said the airline hasn’t yet told him anything about a potential uptick in reservations for the week of July 8, when Union Pacific Railroad’s “Big Boy” steam engine will pass through Blair ...

Briefcase: Everett Giant opens today

EVERETT The new Everett Giant at 250 W. Main St. officially opens its doors for business this morning (Friday). Giant announced the acquisition of Everett Foodliner in February. The store was temporarily closed to complete minor remodels, install new signage, and undertake an overall decor update. The Everett Giant operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. As part of Giant’s commitment to making a difference in the local communities it serves, the Everett Giant is celebrating its opening by donating to the following organizations that are building healthier communities ...

Briefcase: Business news of local interest

Giant Eagle, Ibotta partner Ibotta, a digital promotions network, has announced an exclusive partnership with Giant Eagle Inc., one of the nation’s largest multi-format food and pharmacy retailers. Giant Eagle has joined the Ibotta Performance Network, selecting Ibotta as its exclusive provider of digital promotions across its 200+ supermarkets and digital platforms. The partnership represents a significant step forward in Giant Eagle’s recently announced “Because It Matters” business strategy, a multi-year plan centered on delivering better everyday value and a modernized ...

Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ estimated to cost $1.2T

President Donald Trump’s plan to put weapons in space — pitched as a “Golden Dome for America” missile defense program — is estimated to cost $1.2 trillion over a 20-year period, according to a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, a far heftier sum than the initial $175 billion price tag he gave last year. The nonpartisan CBO report, published Tuesday, is described as an analysis that reflects “one illustrative approach rather than an estimate of a specific Administration proposal.” The futuristic system was ordered by Trump in an executive order during his ...

Gas prices fuel US inflation surge

U.S. consumer prices climbed sharply again last month as the 10-week war with Iran delivered higher gasoline prices and more pain for Americans. The Labor Department’s consumer price index rose 3.8% from April 2025, the biggest jump in three years, and up from a 3.3% year-over-year gain in March. On a month-to-month basis, April prices rose 0.6% from March as gasoline prices rose 5.4%, according to the data released Tuesday. The month-over-month gain was down from a 0.9% increase in overall prices from February to March, when the initial financial shock from the war hit the U.S. ...

Briefcase: Chipotle opens in Bellefonte

Chipotle Mexican Grill is now open for business at 2673 Benner Pike, Bellefonte. Chipotle is a fast-casual restaurant chain known for its customizable menu featuring burritos, bowls, quesadillas, tacos and salads. Business hours are 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Breakfast Club hosts judges The Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club on May 21 at the Blair County Convention Center will provide a unique opportunity to hear from the five commissioned Blair County judges: Wade Kagarise, president judge; Jackie Atherton Bernard, David Consiglio, Louis Schmitt Jr. and ...