radioNOVO News for Williamsport: July 17, 2026

RNN WILLIAMSPORT 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.          A 62-MILE STRETCH OF ROUTE 15 IN LYCOMING AND TIOGA COUNTIES OFFICIALLY BECOMES INTERSTATE 99 ON JULY 30TH.  THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION GRANTED THE NEW DESIGNATION AFTER IT WAS DETERMINED THE CORRIDOR MEETS ALL FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR INTERSTATE DESIGN, SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE.           PENNDOT BEGAN WORK ON THE CORRIDOR IN 1984, PLOWING SOME 480-MILLION DOLLARS OVER 34 MODERNIZATION PROJECTS, IN THE PROCESS.  CREWS ARE NOW INSTALLING NEW HIGHWAY SIGNS FROM THE INTERSTATE 180 INTERCHANGE IN WILLIAMSPORT TO THE NEW YORK BORDER.