radioNovo News for Johnstown: July 17, 2026

RNN JOHNSTOWN 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.          POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER TWO MEN WERE FOUND DEAD INSIDE AN EAST TAYLOR TOWNSHIP HOME ON WEDNESDAY. CAMBRIA COUNTY CORONER JEFF LEES SAYS 69-YEAR-OLD RICHARD LING AND55-YEAR-OLD MARC COBER WERE FOUND IN THE FRIST FLOOR KITCHEN OF THE RESIDENCE.  THEY SHOWED NO SIGNS OF TRAUMA, BUT A WHITE POWDERY SUBSTANCE WAS FOUND NEAR THEIR BODIES. AN OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH FOR EACH MAN IS PENDING TOXICOLOGY RESULTS.