News

East Broad Top Railroad salutes Big Boy

Local News June 17, 2026

ROCKHILL FURNACE — The historic East Broad Top Railroad will celebrate Union Pacific’s famed Big Boy No. 4014 as the world’s largest operating steam locomotive passes through Huntingdon County on July 8 as part of its America250 tour. As Big Boy travels across Pennsylvania, thousands of railroad enthusiasts are expected to gather along the Norfolk Southern main line to witness this rare event. East Broad Top staff and volunteers will be near historic Hunt Tower in Huntingdon to welcome visitors, share in the excitement and offer hot dogs, light refreshments and railroad ...

Celebrate community

Local News June 17, 2026

Block party marks Juneteenth The Juneteenth Community Block Party will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 19, at Prospect Park, 112 S. 15th St., Altoona. Symphony has free concert at Curve stadium The Altoona Symphony Orchestra will perform a Star Spangled Symphony concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at PNG Field. Gates will open at 6:30 for pre-concert entertainment. Admission is free. Photography exhibition honors America250 ArtsAltoona will host the “America 250 Photography Exhibition” from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the ArtsAltoona Center, 2212 Sixth Ave., ...

Hit-and-run accident

Local News June 17, 2026

State Police are searching for a vehicle and the driver they believe was involved in a hit and run. On Monday, June 16, the Geeseytown Community Fire Company was called to the 1700 block of Frankstown Road about 2:30 p.m. for a reported crash with injuries. The automobile went through a ...

Blair County to get natural gas impact fees

Local News June 17, 2026

More than $184,000 collected in natural gas impact fees in 2025 will be distributed among Blair County and its municipalities. Blair County government will receive $144,491.03 and 25 municipalities will collectively receive more than $39,500. Fees are collected from drilling companies with 60% returned to counties and municipalities affected by drilling. The other 40% goes into the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund, which supports statewide environmental initiatives, greenways and infrastructure projects. Payments are expected to be distributed in early July. According to the breakdown ...

State House passes bill to boost SNAP security

Local News June 17, 2026

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted Tuesday to advance a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening protections against Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit theft. House Bill 2540, sponsored by state Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, the majority chairman of the Human Services Committee, would require Pennsylvania to implement chip-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer cards by January 2028. The security measure is intended to combat SNAP benefit theft caused by skimming devices that capture card data from magnetic stripes at point-of-sale terminals. More than $15 ...

Woman held for high speed chase, striking vehicles

Local News June 17, 2026

A city woman was taken into custody for allegedly leading Altoona police on a high speed chase after she intentionally struck at least seven vehicles and attempted to run down three teenagers in her SUV. Jennifer Louise Fortney, 43, was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge ...