radioNOVO News for Altoona: June 15, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 06/15/26          COMMUNITIES ALONG THE ROUTE OF UNION PACIFIC'S BIG BOY STEAM LOCOMOTIVE ARE PREPARING FOR HUGE CROWDS WHEN THE HISTORIC ENGINE ROLLS THROUGH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA NEXT MONTH. IN GALLITZIN, LEADERS ARE URGING RAILROAD OFFICIALS TO ROUTE THE TRAIN THROUGH THE ALLEGHENY TUNNEL, CREATING A DRAMATIC PUBLIC VIEWING OPPORTUNITY.           MEANWHILE, TYRONE IS PLANNING A FESTIVAL AND PREPARING PARKING AND SHUTTLE SERVICES FOR AN ESTIMATED 5,000 VISITORS, EVEN THOUGH THE LOCOMOTIVE IS NO LONGER EXPECTED TO MAKE A SCHEDULED STOP IN THE BOROUGH.          A NURSING SCHOOL IS RETURNING TO ALTOONA AFTER NEARLY THREE DECADES. UPMC ALTOONA CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF A SATELLITE CAMPUS OF THE UPMC MERCY SCHOOL OF NURSING ON FRIDAY, WITH CLASSES SET TO BEGIN AUGUST 31ST. THE 16-MONTH DIPLOMA PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE 900 HOURS OF CLINICAL TRAINING AT THE HOSPITAL AND FEATURE ADVANCED SIMULATION LABS. FORMER ALTOONA HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING GRADUATE CAROL RUFFLEY, NOW AN INSTRUCTOR, SAYS SHE'S EXCITED TO HELP TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF NURSES IN THE CITY WHERE SHE BEGAN HER CAREER.