radioNovo News for State College: July 16, 2026

RNN STATE COLLEGE 07/16/26             THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS DECLARING A STATEWIDE CODE RED AIR QUALITY ALERT DUE TO CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE.  DEP WARNS FINE PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE AIR TODAY COULD REACH A LEVEL THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR EVERYONE.  RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE GROUPS SUCH AS CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY.           A TEAM OF EIGHT PENN STATE STUDENTS EARNED AN HONORABLE MENTION AT AN INTERNATIONAL FOOD INVENTION COMPETITION FOR CREATING THE CHIAFOLD — A HANDHELD PASTRY PACKED WITH CHIA PUDDING AND FLAVORED WITH LOCALLY SOURCED PAWPAW FRUIT. THE STUDENT-DESIGNED SNACK WAS ONE OF SIX FINALISTS AT THE INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS COMPETITION IN CHICAGO, BUT THEY'VE RETIRED THE CHAIFOLD AND DON'T PLAN TO PURSUE MARKETING IT.            THE DOWNTOWN STATE COLLEGE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT HAS RECEIVED THE PENNSYLVANIA DOWNTOWN CENTER'S 2026 COMMUNITY INNOVATION AWARD. THE HONOR RECOGNIZES ITS CALDER WAY POP-UP PROGRAM, WHICH GIVES ENTREPRENEURS AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO TEST NEW BUSINESSES WHILE HELPING FILL VACANT DOWNTOWN STOREFRONTS. SEVERAL PARTICIPANTS HAVE SINCE OPENED PERMANENT LOCATIONS.