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Lawmakers seek to regulate chatbots

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A House committee has set a vote next week for legislation requiring safety protocols for artificial intelligence companionship chatbots. Companionship apps create virtual environments where human users interact with virtual avatars that respond in a human manner. Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Montgomery, said that some companionship apps boast of having 20 million users a month, a reflection of the loneliness epidemic impacting as many as half of American adults. “Some users of the AI companion have described close friendships that have led to romantic interactions with their AI ...

Pups in the park

Local News

Kelli Houser of Beaver Falls watches the Altoona Curve game against the Reading Fightin Phils at PNG Field with Boo, her 6-year-old jackawawa on Tuesday evening. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Claysburg-Kimmel School Board raises taxes to index

Local News

CLAYSBURG — Members of the Claysburg-Kimmel School Board voted 5-4 Tuesday in favor of raising taxes to offset the district’s $744,000 deficit for the 2026-27 school year. Board President Jeremy Knott, along with Mandi Daugherty, Roger Knisely, Joseph Musselman and Tony Soler voted in ...

Spring Cove School District receives 6 defibrillators

Local News

ROARING SPRING — Scott Zillinger, an electronic systems technician, was working at Central High School on March 5 when he collapsed loading equipment into his van. Quick actions by staff members using an AED device saved his life, Zillinger said Monday during the Spring Cove School District’s board meeting. Zillinger was on hand not only to tell his story, but to stand with representatives of the Nason Foundation as the group donated new AEDs to the district. “I’m grateful to the Nason Foundation for these lifesaving devices that you donated to the school,” Zillinger said, ...

Penn Cambria School Board adopts budget with tax increase

Local News

CRESSON — By a 6-2 vote, the Penn Cambria School Board adopted the final 2026-27 general fund budget, including a tax increase to the Act I Index. Board members Anthony Dziabo and Matthew Kearney were the sole dissenting votes. Jeffrey Stohon was not present during the meeting. With a 5% ...

Altoona Parking Authority hires new manager

Local News

The Altoona Parking Authority has a new day-to-day boss. He is local native David Curtis, who has worked in parking operations for the city of Wilmington, Del., and in financial management for the city of Beverly Hills, Calif., and who takes over local parking operations in the downtown as a ...