radioNovo News for State College: July 17, 2026

RNN STATE COLLEGE 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.          PENN STATE TRUSTEES ARE SET TO VOTE TODAY ON A BUDGET THAT RAISES TUITION, HOUSING, AND FOOD RATES FOR THE 2027-28 ACADEMIC YEAR. UNDER THE PROPOSAL, UNIVERSITY PARK IN-STATE UNDERGRADUATES FACE A TWO-POINT-FIVE PERCENT TUITION HIKE, WHILE OUT-OF-STATE RATES WILL JUMP FOUR PERCENT. FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW, IN-STATE TUITION AT COMMONWEALTH CAMPUSES WILL REMAIN FLAT.