RNN BOWLING GREEN 07/27/26

            A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS REVOKED PROBATION AND SENTENCED 38-YEAR-OLD ANDY SCHMUCKER TO NEARLY 6 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HIS ROLE IN A 2020 MURDER-FOR-HIRE SCHEME. SCHMUCKER WAS ORIGINALLY GRANTED PROBATION FOR DRIVING THE GUNMAN TO THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A FRANKLIN MAN, BUT JUDGE GREG STIVERS IMPOSED THE 71-MONTH SENTENCE FOLLOWING REPEATED PROBATION VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING POSITIVE DRUG TESTS

            A 33-YEAR-OLD TENNESSEE MAN WAS ARRESTED SUNDAY ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CHARGES FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION IN ALLEN COUNTY. AUTHORITIES SAY TYLER TRIVETTE OF MOUNTAIN CITY FACES MULTIPLE COUNTS, INCLUDING THIRD-DEGREE RAPE AND ELECTRONIC SOLICITATION OF A MINOR, AFTER TARGETING A 15-YEAR-OLD VICTIM ONLINE. THE MULTI-AGENCY INVESTIGATION REMAINS ONGOING.

             RETIRED BRIGADIER GENERAL DAN CHERRY HAS RECEIVED THE 2026 MEDAL OF HONOR FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THE VIETNAM WAR VETERAN WAS HONORED FRIDAY AT BOWLING GREEN’S AVIATION HERITAGE PARK FOR HIS MILITARY SERVICE, WORK IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND LONG-STANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

RNN LEWISTOWN 07/27/26

          EFFECTIVE 7AM TODAY, SOME 950 MOUNT NITTANY MEDICAL CENTER HEALTHCARE WORKERS REPRESENTED BY S-E-I-U HEALTHCARE ARE FORMALLY ON A FIVE-DAY STRIKE.   THE WALKOUT FOLLOWS ONGOING DISPUTES OVER WAGES AND STAFFING LEVELS. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAY CONTINGENCY STAFFING PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL SERVICES REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL THROUGH JULY 31ST.

          DRIVERS IN MIFFLIN COUNTY WILL FACE A DETOUR STARTING TODAY, DUE TO A PIPE REPLACEMENT PROJECT. PENNDOT SAYS WHISKEY ROAD AND MAIL POUCH ROAD WILL CLOSE FOR CONSTRUCTION THROUGH OCTOBER, WITH A MARKED DETOUR IN PLACE ALONG ROUTE 522, COUNTY LINE ROAD, AND SAMUEL’S CHURCH ROAD.

          PENN STATE HAS BEEN AWARDED A 20-MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TO LEAD AN A-I-ENABLED RESEARCH LABORATORY. THE 4-YEAR PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH THE LATTICE CLOUD LABORATORY AT UNIVERSITY PARK, USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ACCELERATE THE DISCOVERY OF MATERIALS USED IN SEMICONDUCTORS AND QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES.

RNN STATE COLLEGE 07/27/26

          EFFECTIVE 7AM TODAY, SOME 950 MOUNT NITTANY MEDICAL CENTER HEALTHCARE WORKERS REPRESENTED BY S-E-I-U HEALTHCARE ARE FORMALLY ON A FIVE-DAY STRIKE.   THE WALKOUT FOLLOWS ONGOING DISPUTES OVER WAGES AND STAFFING LEVELS. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAY CONTINGENCY STAFFING PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL SERVICES REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL THROUGH JULY 31ST.

          A CENTRE COUNTY WOMAN IS IN JAIL AFTER ALLEGEDLY SETTING HER VEHICLE ON FIRE FOLLOWING AN ARGUMENT OUTSIDE A GREGG TOWNSHIP BAR. STATE POLICE SAY 46-YEAR-OLD KAREN HASH TORCHED HER CAR NEXT TO THE GREGG COMMUNITY AND FAMILY RECREATION CENTER, CAUSING OVER 5,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. HASH WAS DENIED BAIL AND FACES MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES.

          PENN STATE HAS BEEN AWARDED A 20-MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TO LEAD AN A-I-ENABLED RESEARCH LABORATORY. THE 4-YEAR PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH THE LATTICE CLOUD LABORATORY AT UNIVERSITY PARK, USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ACCELERATE THE DISCOVERY OF MATERIALS USED IN SEMICONDUCTORS AND QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES.

RNN SELINSGROVE 07/27/26


          A PROPOSAL FOR BLOOMSBURG POLICE TO PARTNER WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 220-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FUNDING APPEARS UNLIKELY TO PASS. POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL FOSSE ASKED THE TOWN TO CONSIDER THE I-C-E AGREEMENT TO HELP FUND EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES. HOWEVER, LOCAL LEADERS SAY COUNCIL MEMBERS AREN'T EXPECTED TO EVEN OPEN THE MOTION FOR DISCUSSION.


          THE BLOOMSBURG THEATRE ENSEMBLE HAS NAMED 29-YEAR-OLD SHEMAR WHEELER AS ITS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR. WHEELER TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT DUTIES EARLIER THIS MONTH, BRINGING A BACKGROUND IN ARTS EDUCATION AND THEATER MANAGEMENT. HIS INITIAL GOALS INCLUDE EXPANDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INCREASING LOCAL ARTS CLASSES, AND INTRODUCING FLEXIBLE TICKET PRICING FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON.


          A 50-YEAR-OLD MONTGOMERY MAN DIED SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOLLOWING A MOTORCYCLE CRASH IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUN TY.  STATE POLICE SAY ADAM ERDLY WAS RIDING NORTHBOUND ON ROUTE 405 IN DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, WHEN A MAZDA DRIVEN BY 47-YEAR-OLD ARMAN SHIRAZI ENTERED THE LANE WITHOUT CLEARANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. ERDLY WAS TRANSPORTED TO GEISINGER IN DANVILLE, WHERE HE DIED FROM HIS INJURIES.

RNN JOHNSTOWN 07/27/26

          A 51-YEAR-OLD SALISBURY MAN HAS DIED FOLLOWING AN ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE CRASH SATURDAY IN SOMERSET COUNTY. OFFICIALS IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM AS WALTER KENNETH BITTINGER, WHO WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE NEAR PINEY RUN ROAD IN ELK LICK TOWNSHIP. THE CORONER RULED THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA, AND STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CRASH.

          AN INMATE AT S-C-I SOMERSET NOW FACES MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY INJURING 2 CORRECTIONS OFFICERS DURING AN INCIDENT JULY 8TH.  STATE POLICE SAY 34-YEAR-OLD STEVEN WALLACE FRACTURED AN OFFICER'S SHOULDER, SPIT ON GUARDS, AND PHYSICALLY RESISTED ARREST. WALLACE HAS BEEN SERVING A SENTENCE FOR A SERIES OF 2011 ROBBERIES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY.

          THE JOHN MURTHA JOHNSTOWN-CAMBRIA COUNTY AIRPORT IS BRINGING ON RETIRED LATROBE AIRPORT EXECUTIVE GABE MONZO TO HELP LAUNCH A 2027 AIR SHOW. MONZO WILL SERVE AS A CONSULTANT TO GUIDE EVENT PLANNING. MEANWHILE, AIRPORT OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THAT A SEPARATE PROPOSAL TO EXPLORE A SOLAR FARM AT THE FACILITY HAS BEEN SHELVED FOR THE TIME BEING.  

RNN FRANKFORT 07/27/26

          KENTUCKY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN HAS BEEN ELECTED NATIONAL CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION FOR 2026 AND 2027. SELECTED BY HER PEERS AT THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL MEETING, COLEMAN IS THE 4TH CHAIR FROM KENTUCKY SINCE 1962 AND WILL LEAD THE NONPARTISAN GROUP'S STRATEGIC EFFORTS THROUGH JUNE 2027.

          A 2ND GUARD AT THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER IN LEXINGTON HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO FALSIFYING RECORDS IN A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. FORMER OFFICER JONATHAN VAGO ADMITTED TO WRITING A FALSE REPORT TO COVER UP A JUNE 2025 INMATE ASSAULT INVOLVING ANOTHER OFFICER. VAGO FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON WHEN SENTENCED IN OCTOBER.

                    THE LMPD HAVE ARRESTED 41-YEAR-OLD GERRARD HARRIS IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING AT THE IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD ON JULY 25. INVESTIGATORS SAY 1 VICTIM WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH A NON-LIFE-THREATENING GUNSHOT WOUND AFTER GUNFIRE BROKE OUT DURING A YOUTH FOOTBALL GAME. HARRIS FACES MULTIPLE CHARGES, INCLUDING ASSAULT AND UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.

RNN STROUDSBURG 07/27/26

          A 60-YEAR-OLD MONROE COUNTY MAN HAS PLEADED NO CONTEST TO STRANGLING A FAMILY MEMBER DURING A DISPUTE OVER AN ESTATE. LEONARD GEARHART ACCEPTED A PLEA AGREEMENT IN COURT ON FRIDAY, PLEADING DOWN TO 2 MISDEMEANOR CHARGES OF STRANGULATION AND SIMPLE ASSAULT. STATE POLICE SAY GEARHART ASSAULTED THE RELATIVE THREE TIMES AT A JACKSON TOWNSHIP HOME IN OCTOBER 2025. HE FACES SENTENCING ON OCTOBER 19TH.

          A NEW JERSEY MAN HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY IN A FATAL WRONG-WAY CRASH THAT KILLED 31-YEAR-OLD DESTINN MCKNIGHT OF EAST STROUDSBURG. A JURY CONVICTED 46-YEAR-OLD VICTOR PETERS OF FIRST-DEGREE AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER FOR DRIVING INTOXICATED ON INTERSTATE 80 AND HITTING MCKNIGHT'S TRUCK HEAD-ON IN FEBRUARY 2025. PETERS FACES SENTENCING ON SEPTEMBER 11.

RNN ALTOONA 07/27/26

          THE ALTOONA REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A 1.5-MILLION-DOLLAR SALES AGREEMENT FRIDAY TO SELL THE FORMER I-C-E FACILITY ON CHESTNUT AVENUE TO DOUBLE TAP RANGE AND ARMORY. OWNERS PLAN TO EXPAND THE 5.6-ACRE PROPERTY INTO A 26-LANE SHOOTING FACILITY, OFFERING TRAINING SPACE FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEASING OUT OVER 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE.

          A 9-MONTH DRUG INVESTIGATION IN BLAIR COUNTY CULMINATED IN 29 ARRESTS DURING A POLICE WARRANT SWEEP LAST THURSDAY. ALTOONA POLICE SAY OFFICERS TARGETED 44 SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN TRAFFICKING FENTANYL, METHAMPHETAMINE, AND COCAINE FROM PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH. POLICE SERVED 2 SEARCH WARRANTS DURING THE SWEEP, SEIZING A FIREARM, AND STILL HOLD ACTIVE FELONY WARRANTS FOR 15 REMAINING SUSPECTS.

RNN WILLIAMSPORT 07/27/26

          THE WALMART ON NORTH LOYALSOCK AVENUE IN MONTOURSVILLE WAS EVACUATED SHORTLY AFTER 3:30 P.M. FRIDAY FOLLOWING AN UNVERIFIED THREAT. EMERGENCY CREWS SET UP A COMMAND POST AND CLEARED THE STORE FOR NEARLY 3.5 HOURS BEFORE ALLOWING EMPLOYEES TO RETURN JUST BEFORE 7 P.M.

          THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA WELCOMED 26 IMMIGRANTS REPRESENTING TWELVE COUNTRIES AS AMERICAN CITIZENS FRIDAY, FOLLOWING A FEDERAL NATURALIZATION CEREMONY AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN WILLIAMSPORT.   
          U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE SEAN CAMONI PRESIDED OVER THE CEREMONY, SAYING IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO COME TO THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE.

          A LYCOMING COUNTY JUDGE HAS RULED ON A CIVIL LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THE WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER ALLEGED PAST SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY FORMER STAFF. JUDGE WILLIAM CARLUCCI ORDERED THE FORMER STUDENT PLAINTIFF TO FILE AN AMENDED COMPLAINT WITHIN 20 DAYS, REQUIRING CLEARER FACTS TO SUPPORT CLAIMS OF DISTRICT NEGLIGENCE WHILE DISMISSING OTHER CLAIMS REGARDING THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS.  

Good morning. 

In state policy, Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Attorney General’s office are calling on Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood to cancel a twenty-nineteen agreement with I-C-E. The demand follows May’s passage of the "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act," which prohibits local law enforcement from enforcing civil immigration laws. Sheriff Hood has thirty days to rescind the agreement.

In Central New York, three baseball legends were officially inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent took the stage on Sunday in front of thousands of fans and dozens of returning Hall of Famers. Beltrán, who spent seven seasons with the Mets, thanked New York fans for shaping his career.

In state development news, officials approved twelve million dollars to support a forty-seven-million-dollar overhaul of the historic Pleasant Valley Winery in Hammondsport. Founded in 1860 as America’s first bonded winery, the site shuttered last year. The revitalization project will re-open historic champagne cellars, support local grape growers, and create sixty-nine jobs.

Turning to public transit, Allegany County’s ACCESS Allegany system has become the first transit fleet in New York to convert entirely to propane autogas, cutting local fuel costs by forty percent.

Agricultural officials are warning residents across the Southern Tier that spotted lanternflies have reached their adult stage. Travelers and truckers are urged to check vehicles to prevent the invasive pest from spreading into local orchards and vineyards.

And in court news, Livingston County investigators confirm DNA testing solved a four-decade-old missing persons case, identifying remains found in Florida as Rose Marie Gayhart, a former Dansville woman missing since nineteen-eighty-five. Florida authorities are investigating her death as an active homicide.

And on a lighter note to finish up: over eighty-five hundred people flooded the Ulster County village of Ellenville over the weekend for the annual Borscht Belt Fest. The festival celebrated Catskills comedy, culture, and classic Jewish comfort food—proving that the comedy legacy of the Hudson Valley is still very much alive and well!

For full regional updates, download the radioNOVO app. I’m Codi Gaboff, radioNOVO News, a service of Seven Mountains Media.