radioNovo News for State College: July 14, 2026

RNN STATE COLLEGE 07/14/26          PENN STATE WILL RECEIVE A 4-MILLION-DOLLAR BOOST IN STATE FUNDING UNDER PENNSYLVANIA'S NEW PERFORMANCE-BASED EDUCATION MODEL. PART OF THE NEWLY ADOPTED 2026-27 FISCAL YEAR STATE BUDGET, THE FORMULA REWARDS UNIVERSITIES FOR METRICS LIKE GRADUATION RATES, STUDENT SUCCESS, AND AFFORDABILITY. THIS MARKS PENN STATE'S FIRST STATE FUNDING INCREASE SINCE 2019.          THE GIRLFRIEND AND THE ESTATE OF A PENN STATE GRADUATE STUDENT HAVE FILED NEGLIGENCE LAWSUITS AGAINST ELECTRIC UTILITY GIANT FIRSTENERGY. THE LAWSUITS STEM FROM THE MARCH 2025 DEATH OF 23-YEAR-OLD GELIN TONG, WHO WAS ELECTROCUTED BY A DOWNED POWER LINE SUSPENDED OVER A WOODED PATH IN FERGUSON TOWNSHIP. HIS GIRLFRIEND WATCHED IN HORROR FOR OVER AN HOUR, AS TONG FIRST SCREAMED IN PAIN, THEN HIS BODY BURST INTO FLAMES.  OVER 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGES IS BEING SOUGHT.  THE CLAIMANTS SAY THE COMPANY FAILED TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN ITS ELECTRIC POWER LINES.