radioNOVO News for Altoona: July 8, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 07/08/26          THE BLAIR COUNTY PRISON BOARD IS RECOMMENDING ARMOR HEALTH TO TAKE OVER INMATE MEDICAL CARE UNDER A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH A 3.7 MILLION DOLLAR PRICETAG IN ITS FIRST YEAR.            ALTHOUGH CURRENT PROVIDER PRIMECARE MEDICAL SUBMITTED TWO CONTRACT OPTIONS WITH LOWER FIRST YEAR RATES, THE PRISON WARDEN CITED ONGOING ISSUES, SUCH AS A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS FILED BY INMATES, AND UNLISTED EMERGENCY FEES AS REASONS FOR THE SWITCH. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE TAKING ALL BIDS UNDER CONSIDERATION AND WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.               THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE TWO GIRLS SWEPT THROUGH A TYRONE DRAINAGE TUNNEL DURING SUNDAY'S FLASH FLOODING IS PUSHING BACK AGAINST RUMORS THAT THEY WERE PLAYING ON AN INFLATABLE. SHE SAYS THE GIRLS WERE SIMPLY WALKING ALONG FLOODED LINCOLN AVENUE WHEN ONE STEPPED INTO DEEP WATER OVER A HIDDEN DRAIN ENTRANCE UNDER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. BOTH GIRLS WERE RESCUED AND ARE RECOVERING FROM THE TRAUMA.