radioNOVO News for Altoona: September 15, 2026

            THE ALTOONA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TURNED AN EXPECTED 4.9 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT INTO A 3.1 MILLION SURPLUS AFTER RECEIVING 8.5 MILLION IN UNEXPECTED STATE REVENUE. BUSINESS OFFICIALS SAY THE FUNDS WILL BOLSTER THE DISTRICT'S RESERVES AND OFFSET UNFORESEEN COSTS. MEANWHILE, THE SCHOOL BOARD IS EVALUATING ENGINEERING PROPOSALS RANGING FROM 6.8 TO 10.2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR POTENTIAL ATHLETIC FIELD UPGRADES AT MANSION PARK.          ALTOONA CITY COUNCIL HAS AWARDED A $103,000 DEMOLITION CONTRACT TO G&R EXCAVATING TO TEAR DOWN THE BLIGHTED SUNSET APARTMENT BUILDING ON BROAD AVENUE. RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED FROM THE NINE-UNIT BUILDING IN JULY 2025 DUE TO BOWING BRICKWORK AND WORSENING STRUCTURAL HAZARDS. CITY OFFICIALS PLAN TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT USING MUNICIPAL FUNDS AND WILL PLACE A LIEN ON BUILDING OWNER ERIC LOWEY'S ASSETS TO RECOVER THE DEMOLITION COSTS.          THE VAN ZANDT V-A MEDICAL CENTER WILL HOLD A EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE THURSDAY MORNING FROM 7:30 TO 11:30. VISITORS MAY SEE EXTRA EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND HEAR DRILL ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT OFFICIALS EMPHASIZE NORMAL HOSPITAL OPERATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT DISRUPTION.