radioNOVO News for Lebanon: July 24, 2026

RNN SELINSGROVE 07/24/26

          BLOOMSBURG TOWN COUNCIL IS HOLDING OFF ON SIGNING NEW AGREEMENTS WITH SEDA-C-O-G UNTIL THE AGENCY REMOVES A CLAUSE LIMITING ITS LIABILITY. TOWN MANAGER LISA DOOLEY SAYS THE TOWN IS CURRENTLY FIGHTING A STATE ORDER TO REPAY NEARLY $300,000 MISMANAGED BY THE AGENCY IN A FORMER HOUSING PROGRAM, AND WANTS PROTECTION AGAINST FUTURE ADMINISTRATIVE ERRORS.  
          MEANTIME, AGENCY DIRECTOR TYLER DOMBROSKI DEFENDED THE CLAUSE, STATING IT'S IN EVERY CONTRACT THEY NEGOTIATE........... AND EMPHASIZING THERE HAVE BEEN NO ISSUES WITH OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS THEY ADMINISTER.  HE SAID THE AGENCY WELCOMES DISCUSSIONS TO RESOLVE THE MATTER.

          LEWISBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BANNING CELLPHONES FROM ALL CLASSROOMS STARTING THIS FALL. THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED THURSDAY TO UPDATE ITS STUDENT HANDBOOK, REQUIRING STUDENTS TO KEEP PHONES IN THEIR LOCKERS DURING CLASS TIME. DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY THE MOVE AIMS TO CUT DOWN ON CLASSROOM DISTRACTIONS AHEAD OF POTENTIAL STATEWIDE LEGISLATION.

RNN LEWISTOWN 07/24/26

          THE MIFFLIN COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE HAS RELEASED THE IDENTITY OF THE VICTIM OF A FATAL THREE-VEHICLE CRASH IN MCVEYTOWN. AUTHORITIES SAY 21-YEAR-OLD HUNTER RAYMOND MASSEY, OF HASTINGS, CAMBRIA COUNTY........... DIED FROM MULTIPLE TRAUMATIC INJURIES FOLLOWING THE COLLISION EARLY MONDAY MORNING ON U.S. ROUTE 522 SOUTH. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE.

          CONTRARY TO SOCIAL MEDIA SPECULATION, THE MIFFLIN COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SAYS IT HAS NOT GRANTED—NOR BEEN ASKED FOR—EASEMENTS ON ITS PROPERTY FOR A PROPOSED DATA CENTER IN GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP. IN ADDITION, OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN AN OFFICIAL POSITION ON ANY SUCH PROJECT.

          PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ALONG ELECTRIC AVENUE WILL SOON SEE MAJOR SAFETY UPGRADES. MIFFLIN COUNTY IS USING NEARLY 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE GRANT FUNDING TO DESIGN NEW SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES, AND CROSSWALKS STRETCHING FROM ORT VALLEY ROAD TO DERRY PARK DRIVE.

RNN WILLIAMSPORT 07/24/26

          A 17-YEAR-OLD DAUPHIN COUNTY TEEN WILL STAND TRIAL FOR THE FATAL HALLOWEEN NIGHT SHOOTING OF A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY. A JUDGE RULED WEDNESDAY THAT CHARGES AGAINST VINCENT BASKERVILLE WILL MOVE FORWARD FOLLOWING A PRELIMINARY HEARING. INVESTIGATORS TESTIFIED THAT PHONE PHOTOS POSITIONED BASKERVILLE NEAR THE CRIME SCENE POSING WITH A GUN, WHILE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ARGUED THERE IS NO DIRECT FOOTAGE OR EVIDENCE PROVING WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER.

          WILLIAMSPORT CITY COUNCIL IS MOVING TO SELL THE CITY'S VACANT, HISTORIC CITY HALL. COUNCIL VOTED 5 TO 2 ON THURSDAY TO OPEN BIDDING FOR THE WEST FOURTH STREET BUILDING, WHICH HAS BEEN CONDEMNED SINCE 2021 DUE TO EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE. THE CITY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY OFFERS WITHIN 60 DAYS, AND CONTRACT LANGUAGE WILL SPECIFY THAT THE HISTORIC PROPERTY CANNOT BE DEMOLISHED.

RNN ALTOONA 07/24/26

          BLAIR COUNTY HAS FINALIZED A CONTRACT WITH LAWRENCE COUNTY TO HOUSE JUVENILE INMATES AT A COST OF $500 PER DAY. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SAY THE DEAL SECURES BACKUP SPACE FOR JUVENILES WHEN LOCAL FACILITIES REACH CAPACITY. BLAIR COUNTY HAS RELIED ON OUTSIDE DETENTION CENTERS SINCE CLOSING ITS ALTOONA FACILITY IN 2006.

          MEANTIME, THE SEARCH IS ON FOR A NEW ARCHITECTURAL / ENGINEERING FIRM TO DESIGN A NEW COUNTY PRISON.  COMMISSIONERS HAVE CANCELED THE CONTRACT WITH GFT, CITING IIRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES, EVEN THOUGH THE PROJECT REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY.

          PENN CAMBRIA SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS RAISED OVER $1 MILLION IN PLEDGED DONATIONS TO UPGRADE PANTHER STADIUM. THE INITIATIVE TOOK A MAJOR STEP FORWARD THIS WEEK AFTER A LOCAL CONTRACTOR DONATED AND INSTALLED A BRAND-NEW $200,000 L-E-D LIGHTING SYSTEM. OFFICIALS HOPE THE CAMPAIGN WILL FUND ARTIFICIAL TURF AND TRACK IMPROVEMENTS, ALLOWING THE DISTRICT TO HOST P-I-A-A PLAYOFF GAMES AND TRACK MEETS.

RNN FRANKFORT 07/24/26

          A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS DISMISSED A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAWSUIT AGAINST KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS AND THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. THE D-O-J SOUGHT UNREDACTED VOTER REGISTRATION DATA, INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES. FEDERAL JUDGE CLARIA HORN BOOM RULED THOSE SENSITIVE RECORDS ARE PROTECTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 21ST TO APPEAL.

           VERSAILLES ROAD IN LEXINGTON HAS FULLY REOPENED FOLLOWING A FATAL THREE-VEHICLE CRASH THURSDAY MORNING. LEXINGTON POLICE SAY THE COLLISION HAPPENED NEAR WOODFORD DRIVE AROUND 7:00 A.M. THE FAYETTE COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM AS 43-YEAR-OLD SHAWN WILSON OF LEXINGTON, WHO DIED FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE CRASH.

          FRANKLIN COUNTY’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE CAME IN AT 4.9% FOR JUNE, UP FROM 4.4% A YEAR AGO, ACCORDING TO NEW DATA FROM THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR STATISTICS.  WHILE FRANKLIN COUNTY REMAINS AMONG THE TOP TEN LOWEST JOBLESS RATES IN THE COMMONWEALTH, THE COMPARABLE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 4.4-PERCENT. 

RNN STROUDSBURG 07/24/26

          A 33-YEAR-OLD STROUDSBURG MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 4 YEARS OF PROBATION FOR FIRING A GUN INTO A CLOSED MAIN STREET BUSINESS. JOSEPH CASTRO PLEADED GUILTY TO RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT AND POSSESSING AN INSTRUMENT OF A CRIME AFTER SHOOTING THROUGH A WINDOW AT STONEHAüS MEADERY WHILE 2 PEOPLE WERE SLEEPING IN AN UPSTAIRS APARTMENT.  

           THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR TWO SUSPECTS AFTER AN ARMED ROBBERY IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY WEDNESDAY NIGHT.  BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP POLICE SAY TWO MALES ENTERED THE BEST BUY ON BIRKLAND PLACE WEARING BLACK HOODIES AND BLUE MEDICAL MASKS AND SHOWED AN EMPLOYEE AT THE SERVICE COUNTER A GUN.  AUTHORITIES SAID THEY THEN WENT BEHIND THE COUNTER AND TOOK MERCHANDISE BEFORE FLEEING THE SCENE.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE ROBBERY IS ASKED TO CONTACT BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP P-D. 

RNN JOHNSTOWN 07/24/26

          CAMBRIA COUNTY'S 2025 FINANCIAL AUDIT SHOWS SIGNS OF RECOVERY, INCLUDING A FULLY FUNDED PENSION PLAN AND REDUCED LONG-TERM LIABILITIES. AUDITORS ISSUED A CLEAN REPORT, THOUGH AN OPERATING DEFICIT AND LONG-TERM DEBT REMAIN KEY CONCERNS. WHILE BOARD LEADERSHIP SAYS THE COUNTY IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, OPPOSING COMMISSIONERS ARGUE MORE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT IS STILL URGENTLY NEEDED.

          THE SOMERSET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS MODERNIZING ITS LONGTIME LEADERSHIP SOMERSET COUNTY PROGRAM TO BETTER ALIGN WITH EVOLVING WORKFORCE NEEDS. UPDATES TO THE EIGHT-MONTH INITIATIVE INCLUDE HIRING A PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FACILITATOR AND INTRODUCING AN EXPANDED CURRICULUM. 
          LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE INVITED TO A FREE INFORMATIONAL BREAKFAST ON AUGUST 12TH AT THE SOMERSET COUNTRY CLUB TO LEARN MORE.  

RNN STATE COLLEGE 07/24/26

          PENNSYLVANIA'S SENIOR U.S. SENATOR, JOHN FETTERMAN HAS OPENED A NEW SATELLITE OFFICE IN DOWNTOWN STATE COLLEGE. LOCATED ON WEST FOSTER AVENUE NEAR PENN STATE'S CAMPUS, THE SITE MARKS FETTERMAN’S SIXTH OFFICE IN PENNSYLVANIA. STAFF WILL SERVE AS A DIRECT POINT OF CONTACT FOR CONSTITUENT SERVICES ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, ASSISTING LOCAL RESIDENTS AND LEADERS WITH FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND AGENCIES.

           A LOCAL BUS STOP ON VAIRO  <<>>>>  BOULEVARD IS GETTING A BIRD-FRIENDLY MAKEOVER. THE CENTRE AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY HAS PARTNERED WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO INSTALL SPECIALIZED WINDOW FILM ON A SHELTER TO PREVENT BIRD COLLISIONS. EXPERTS ESTIMATE NEARLY ONE BILLION BIRDS DIE ANNUALLY FROM GLASS STRIKES, BUT SIMILAR UPGRADES HAVE REDUCED COLLISIONS BY UP TO 64 PERCENT.

          IN CAMBRIA COUNTY, SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED THURSDAY EVENING AFTER A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIPPED OVER AT THE CAMBRIA COUNTY COMMUNITY HEROES CARNIVAL. A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND TIPPED THE BASKET AND DRAGGED IT ACROSS THE GROUND. PASSENGERS SAY A CARNIVAL WORKER ATTEMPTING TO STEADY THE BALLOON WAS LIFTED INTO THE AIR BEFORE BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL ALONGSIDE TWO OTHERS.

Good morning.

A Meadville man is heading to trial on felony charges after allegedly firing a handgun at a woman during a violent domestic dispute. Police report twenty-four-year-old Tyler James Hauf pulled a pistol, grazed a woman’s finger during a struggle, and fired a bullet through a television before fleeing. Hauf now faces charges including aggravated assault and strangulation, with trial set for November.

In local festival news, Meadville’s long-running "Thunder in the City" is officially getting a overhaul. Rebranded as "Tool City Summer Fest," the event kicks off next Thursday with live music, vendors, and the popular Tool City Super Cruise, capped off by a late-night burnout competition right in front of the Crawford County Courthouse.

And the annual Conneaut Valley Corn Festival is underway at Lord Mason Park through Saturday. The free, family-friendly event features over a dozen food vendors, live music, cornhole tournaments, and a massive fireworks display to wrap up the festivities Saturday night.

For more news, download the radioNOVO app. I’m Codi Gaboff, radioNOVO News, a service of Seven Mountains Media.