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Blair County briefs: County salt shed approved

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County will pay an additional $45,076 for construction of a salt shed along Loop Road, near its highway garage, increasing the general construction contract to $489,749. Commissioners Dave Kessling and Amy Webster voted Thursday to approve a change order addressing additional work for the project. Paul Shaffer, who supervises the county’s highway department, said that during construction, the contractor found contaminated soil that had to be removed and replaced with concrete. That necessitated the rerouting of pipes and insulation above the concrete, Shaffer ...

Local projects receive cut of $445M in state funding

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced funding for a slew of projects across the Commonwealth Thursday as part of the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The program will invest nearly $445 million into 356 projects across Pennsylvania to create jobs, improve infrastructure, strengthen public safety and drive long-term economic growth in various communities, according to a news release. RACP is a reimbursement grant program that supports essential design, acquisition and construction projects across the state. Roughly $8 million will flow into the region as part of Shapiro’s initiative, ...

Judge upholds sex offender’s sentence in online child exploitation case

A prison sentence of 16.5 to 56 years imposed on an Idaho man who pleaded to 11 counts of online sexual exploitation of a Hollidaysburg-area child is not excessive, according to a ruling handed down Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Superior Court. The sentence was imposed last year by Blair County ...

Tips to guard against bad air quality

When wildfires burn, smoke can travel long distances and degrade air quality far away, posing risks to those breathing it. Fires burning in one state can make the air worse several states away, and wildfires in Canada can send smoke into U.S. cities. Here’s what to know about taking ...

Pennsylvania lawmakers set new School Code policies

Lawmakers set new policy for schools in areas ranging from eating disorders to cyberbullying under the new School Code enacted Sunday. The School Code (House Bill 1505) drives out hundreds of millions of dollars of state funding to school districts for big ticket items like the Basic Education Subsidy, adequacy funding, special education, early education, Career and Technical Education and school safety. But it has an impact on policy affecting students, teachers and parents as well. HB1505 guards access to early childhood education. “The legislation amends the Public School Code ...

Never forget

Altoona Mayor Matt Pacifico invites the city's residents, veterans, first responders, civic organizations and visitors to attend the 9/11 committee's free event at the Jaffa Shrine Center, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Doors will open about 6 p.m. Friday, ...