radioNOVO News for Altoona: July 16, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 07/16/26             THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS DECLARING A STATEWIDE CODE RED AIR QUALITY ALERT DUE TO CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE.  DEP WARNS FINE PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE AIR TODAY COULD REACH A LEVEL THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR EVERYONE.  RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE GROUPS SUCH AS CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY.            THREE MEMBERS OF AN ALTOONA DRUG TRAFFICKING RING TIED TO A 2022 FATAL OVERDOSE ARE HEADED TO STATE PRISON.           RICKEY JOYNER WAS SENTENCED TO 14 TO 30 YEARS AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND MULTIPLE DRUG CHARGES. MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ RECEIVED FIVE TO 10 YEARS, WHILE KIRSTEN WRIGHT WAS SENTENCED TO TWO TO FOUR YEARS.           THE CASE STEMMED FROM THE FENTANYL AND COCAINE OVERDOSE DEATH OF 26-YEAR-OLD MARLANA KOEHLE.          THE MARTINSBURG MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY HAS SECURED ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE FUNDING FOR MAJOR WATER SYSTEM UPGRADES. THE PROJECT INCLUDES BUILDING A NEW STORAGE TANK NEAR THE AIRPORT, REFURBISHING ITS CURRENT TANK, AND REPLACING OUTDATED WATER LINES.