News

Sell-off for AI stars worsens

Local Business July 17, 2026

NEW YORK — The sell-off for winners of the artificial-intelligence boom deepened Friday and yanked stock markets lower worldwide. Oil prices, meanwhile, continued to jump because of the war with Iran. The S&P 500 fell 1% to finish its first losing week in the last three and only its third since the end of March. Just a couple days earlier, it had climbed within 0.5% of its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 406 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.4%. Chip stocks and other AI darlings once again were at the center of the shaky trading. They’ve ...

Tips to guard against bad air quality

Local News July 16, 2026

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 ...

Salvation Army extends cooling center in Altoona

Local News July 16, 2026

The Altoona Salvation Army Church, 1813 Sixth Ave., has extended its availability as a cooling center for anyone who needs relief from the heat from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Friday, July 17.

Flooding response earns praise from Blair County commissioners

Local News July 16, 2026

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County commissioners, who on Thursday praised the county’s emergency management staff and responders addressing recent flooding, also expressed relief about the efforts they made earlier this year to replace members of a planning commission allowing the county’s outdated hazardous mitigation plan to lag. Commissioners Chairman Dave Kessling and Amy Webster said Thursday that county residents with flood damage from July 5 and 6 storms are in a position to rely on state and federal resources because the county’s hazardous mitigation plan has been ...

Purple haze: Region’s air quality alert moves past Code Red as wildfire smoke spreads

Local News July 16, 2026

NEW YORK — Heavy, pungent wildfire smoke darkened skies in the U.S. on Thursday from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast, reducing visibility and prompting warnings that breathing the air outside could be dangerous. Officials in many cities urged residents to stay inside or wear ...

Cambria County senior centers shifting hours

Local News July 16, 2026

EBENSBURG — Several senior centers in Cambria County are expected to reduce days of operation, while the Portage Borough center is tentatively set to close Aug. 3, as part of a broader effort to consolidate services into fewer locations, officials said in a release. With limited funding in the state budget and participation at senior centers declining significantly over the years, Cambria County President Commissioner Scott Hunt said it’s a move that will allow for expanded programming, enhanced resources and stronger long-term sustainability for the communities the senior centers ...