radioNOVO News for Altoona: April 15, 2026

  TWO TYRONE BOROUGH POLICE OFFICERS ARE OUT OF A JOB FOLLOWING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.          COUNCIL VOTED MONDAY TO TERMINATE OFFICERS TRACI WINTERS AND AUSTIN MILLER, WHO HAD BEEN ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. MAYOR JOHN HARLOW SAYS THE BOROUGH FOLLOWED PROPER PROCEDURES AND DENIED CLAIMS THAT THE DISCIPLINE WAS TIED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS MILLER MADE AT A PRIOR MEETING ABOUT THE RETIREMENT OF WINTERS' POLICE DOG, GETRO.            MEANTIME, IN OTHER BUSINESS, COUNCIL APPOINTED INTERIM MANAGER KIM GUREKOVICH TO THE ROLE FULL-TIME, RETROACTIVE TO APRIL FIRST. OFFICIALS SAY SHE WAS SELECTED FROM A DOZEN OTHER APPLICANTS AND WILL EARN JUST UNDER 95-THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY.            PENN CAMBRIA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF A 4.6-MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT FOR THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR.  AS A RESULT, PROPERTY OWNERS WILL SEE THEIR SCHOOL TAXES RAISED BY THE STATE'S ACT 1 INDEX OF FIVE PERCENT.  DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY THE STADIUM RENOVATION PROJECT AND A NUMBER OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDING ARE THE TWO MAIN FACTORS PROMPTING THE NEED FOR A TAX INCREASE.             PENN STATE ALTOONA CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLUB RECEIVED HANDS-ON TRAINING THIS MONTH, AS STATE POLICE LED A “REALITIES OF USE OF FORCE” WORKSHOP — COVERING CASE LAW, POLICY, AND VIRTUAL SIMULATOR SCENARIOS.  SEVERAL STUDENT PARTICIPANTS WHO WANT TO PURSUE CAREERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SAID THE HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION WAS VERY BENEFICIAL TO THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOPIC.