radioNOVO News for Altoona: July 17, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 07/17/26          THE AIR QUALITY ALERT IN PENNSYLVANIA IS BEING RAISED TO A CODE PURPLE, DUE TO THE WILDFIRE SMOKE FROM CANADA.                     THE STATE D-E-P SAYS THE SMOKE IS NOW CONCENTRATED NEAR THE SURFACE, WHICH COULD CREATE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL CONDITIONS FOR EVERYONE.  CODE PURPLE IS THE SECOND-HIGHEST LEVEL ON THE EPA'S AIR QUALITY INDEX FOR ALERTS.            ALL RESIDENTS ARE ADVISED TO AVOID LONG OR INTENSE ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS, AND THOSE IN THE SENSITIVE GROUPS, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES........... SHOULD STAY INDOORS TODAY.            IF YOU MUST GO OUTSIDE, PHYSICIANS ARE RECOMMENDING WEARING AN N95 MASK.  RELIEF IS EXPECTED SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES IN.          SEVERAL CAMBRIA COUNTY SENIOR CENTERS ARE CUTTING BACK THEIR HOURS, DUE TO LIMITED STATE FUNDING AND DECLINING ATTENDANCE.  PRESIDENT COUNTY COMMISSIONER SCOTT HUNT SAYS THE CHANGES WILL ALLOW FOR ENHANCED RESOURCES AND STRONGER LONG-TERM VIABILITY.  SENIOR CENTERS IN CRESSON, EAST HILLS, FOREST HILLS, AND PATTON WILL SCALE BACK FROM FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO JUST TWO OR THREE.  THE CHANGES WILL TAKE EFFECT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.  MEANTIME, THE PORTAGE BOROUGH LOCATION IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO CLOSE ON AUGUST THIRD.