radioNOVO News for Altoona: September 3, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 09/03/26          A TENSE EXCHANGE BROKE OUT AT WEDNESDAY'S BLAIR COUNTY SALARY BOARD MEETING AFTER PRESIDENT JUDGE WADE KAGARISE ARRIVED LATE FROM COURT AND WAS DENIED A REQUEST TO RECONSIDER TWO COURT-RELATED VOTES. BOARD CHAIRMAN DAVE KESSLING REFUSED TO REOPEN DISCUSSION ON A PAY ADJUSTMENT AND A DRUG-TESTING PROPOSAL, LEAVING KAGARISE DISAPPOINTED OVER THE LACK OF DIALOGUE.            THE ALLEGED RINGLEADER OF A MAJOR COCAINE TRAFFICKING RING AT PENN STATE HAS BEEN RELEASED ON A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS BAIL. 24-YEAR-OLD AGOSTINO ABBATIELLO IS ACCUSED OF HEADING AN OPERATION THAT SOLD LARGE AMOUNTS OF COCAINE THROUGH TWO OFF-CAMPUS FRATERNITY HOUSES.            ABBATIELLO'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY PHILLIP MASORTI SAID HE WAS HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME OF YESTERDAY'S PRELIMINARY HEARING:          {MASORTI0903-A}------- :07 SEC.......... AND HIS FAMILY           ABBATIELLO WAS ORDERED TO SURRENDER HIS PASSPORT AND MAY NOT CONSUME DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.  HE'S EXPECTED TO LIVE WITH HIS PARENTS ON LONG ISLAND WHILE THE CASE MOVES THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.  13 OTHER MEN ARE ALSO FACING CHARGES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DRUG RING AND HAD THEIR CASES MOVED FORWARD FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY'S COURT ACTION.