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Cambria County Coroner IDs Altoona man found dead at Prince Gallitzin State Park

Cambria County emergency officials said an Altoona man was found dead at Prince Gallitzin State Park about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Cambria County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Terrance Cassidy, 76, of Altoona. According to officials, he reportedly had a medical episode near Pickerel Pond before falling into the water and drowning. According to the coroner’s office, the man was found fully clothed and face-down in approximately five to six feet of water Tuesday. His death was ruled accidental.

Altoona man files civil rights lawsuit against undercover police officers

An Altoona man arrested on drug offenses nearly a decade ago has filed a federal civil rights complaint that seeks monetary damages against the undercover officers who investigated his case. The complaint is unique because Rakim Lamar Johnson, 29, has already served his sentence of 18 months to five years on charges of possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications facility, and the Altoona Police Department undercover officers who arrested him are retired. But Johnson, who was released on parole earlier this month, argues that his petition is not untimely ...

Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company gets $10,000 grant

The Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company recently received a $10,000 grant from Energy Transfer for equipment upgrades, including two thermal imaging cameras. “It couldn’t have come at a better time to replace equipment,” Fire Chief Scott Eicher said. Eicher said the company applied for the grant almost a year ago, and they received the good news about two months ago. Since then, they’ve purchased the imaging cameras for the department, along with more supplies such as a ProPak foam system and five gallons of foam. The thermal imaging cameras aid firefighters in finding ...

Pennsylvania state lawmakers barred from touring data center

State lawmakers who are associated with a taxpayer-funded agency gathering information on the controversial data center issue showed up Tuesday for a prearranged look at a high-profile site — and weren’t allowed in the data center. One of those refused entrance, Democratic Rep. Eddie Pashinski of Luzerne County, said lawmakers who are board members of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania were in a larger group that met at the site in Salem Township, Luzerne County on Tuesday. They got to see open ground, partly constructed buildings, and ones that appeared to be finished. When it ...

Report: Nursing shortage improves in Pennsylvania

State officials and healthcare industry officials have been warning for years that Pennsylvania is facing a critical shortage of nurses. A 2021 study projected that by 2026 Pennsylvania would have the worst shortage of nurses in the country. The problem may not have gone completely away, but the state’s nursing shortage no longer seems like an inevitable crisis. At least one analysis suggests Pennsylvania will have a surplus of registered nurses by 2030. A September 2025 report found that Pennsylvania is 12th best in the nation with a nurse-to-state population ratio of 11.23 ...

Bedford County Fair a family tradition

For some, the Bedford County Fair is seven days of carnival rides, fair food, petting zoos, souvenirs and making family memories on a summer day. For others, it’s about working hard to prepare their animals for show, setting up equipment, arranging their home for the week in campers and ...