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Blair County Planning Commission reviews 2 data center ordinances

Blair County Planning Commission members Thursday reviewed two ordinance amendments in relation to data centers. Members found the proposed amendments from Taylor and Antis Township to be consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan. The 20-page Taylor Township ordinance seeks to amend the township’s subdivision and land development ordinance to address standards applicable to data centers and related uses. “It is a really thorough ordinance that addresses a lot of the community concerns, it has some teeth,” said Regional Planner MacKenzie Caron. “This is the first we are ...

Roaring Spring mother accused of breaking baby’s ribs

A Roaring Spring teen is behind bars after allegedly assaulting her 3-month-old daughter, breaking six of the child’s ribs. Liberti Nikole Renee Johns, 18, was arraigned Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Brian K. Baker on two felony counts each of aggravated assault and ...

Blair County Planning Commission members review plans for poultry barns

Blair County Planning Commission members Thursday reviewed plans for construction of two new poultry barns in Woodbury Township. Marlin Burkholder plans to construct two 26,000-square-foot poultry barns, two manure storage facilities, associated gravel drives and stormwater management ...

Legislature urged to create new rules for life sentences

Prosecutors and other court officials on Thursday told a panel of lawmakers that the General Assembly needs to act to set the ground rules as the judiciary adjusts to a March Supreme Court ruling finding Pennsylvania’s use of mandatory life sentences for second-degree murder convictions is unconstitutional. The ruling impacted those convicted of committing a felony that resulted in a death. Critics of the state’s use of life sentences in these cases maintain that the old sentencing scheme was unfair to those who may have been conspirators in a crime but did not directly commit a ...

House fire claims Imler resident

IMLER — A woman who was pulled from her burning home Wednesday afternoon later died from her injuries at Conemaugh Nason Hospital, according to the Blair County Coroner’s Office. Resident Carrie Lightner, 56, was home alone when the fire broke out at 11748 William Penn Road, Imler, ...

Skill games bill aim of rally-goers

About 130 people filled a room at the Bavarian Hall Tuesday to express support for passage of a state law that would rescue the “skill games” industry from a June 15 ruling of the state Supreme Court that held the devices are essentially slot machines and must be regulated as such — that is, must be located only in casinos and specially licensed truck stops. Speakers at the rally organized the Bavarian membership, DeLeo Games and manufacturer paceOmatic urged representatives of businesses and organizations that operate the games and depend on the revenue to pressure lawmakers to ...