radioNovo News for Johnstown: July 8, 2026

RNN JOHNSTOWN 07/08/26          A STATE POLICE FIRE MARSHAL HAS RULED MONDAY’S HOUSE EXPLOSION IN UPPER YODER TOWNSHIP AS ACCIDENTAL. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE EARLY MORNING BLAST ON HARSHBERGER ROAD WAS CAUSED BY A RUPTURED INTERNAL GAS LINE, POSSIBLY LINKED TO AN OLD, DISCONNECTED HEATER. ONE PERSON WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH INJURIES, AND UTILITY CREWS HAVE FOUND NO LEAKS IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD SYSTEM.                  ARCHAEOLOGISTS NEAR FORT LIGONIER HAVE UNEARTHED HUNDREDS OF ARTIFACTS FROM A FAMOUS 268-YEAR-OLD FRIENDLY-FIRE TRAGEDY INVOLVING A YOUNG GEORGE WASHINGTON. THE TEAM HAS DISCOVERED 18TH-CENTURY COINS, BUCKLES, AND MUSKET BALLS FROM THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR BATTLEGROUND. RESEARCHERS ARE NOW COMBING THE SITE, HOPING TO LOCATE A MASS GRAVE CONTAINING FORTY FALLEN VIRGINIA SOLDIERS.           JOHNSTOWN AREA RESIDENTS ARE GETTING READY TO WELCOME THE UNION PACIFIC BIG BOY 4014 TO CAMBRIA COUNTY THIS SATURDAY.  THE WORLD’S LARGEST OPERATING STEAM LOCOMOTIVE WILL MAKE A BRIEF STOP AT CRESSON RAILROAD PARK AT 10:45 A.M. AS PART OF A HISTORIC COAST-TO-COAST TOUR. FRONT STREET WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE EVENT, WITH PUBLIC PARKING AND FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE AVAILABLE AT MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE STARTING AT 8:00 A.M.