Altoona murder suspect found with another homemade weapon; more charges filed

 Posted on June 16, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  288 words  |  Delta Gatti

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Authorities in Blair County say an Altoona murder suspect is facing another batch of charges after another homemade weapon was reportedly found inside his jail cell. According to the latest affidavit, Hollidaysburg Police were contacted last month by the Deputy Warden of the Blair County Prison after a wire-like weapon was found in the cell of 52-year-old Raymond Oechsle. Oechsle was initially arrested last April after police say he was found living with the corpse of his neighbor, for three days. [Read More]

Central Cambria school board approves 'reconfiguration' of elementary school grade levels

 Posted on June 16, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  300 words  |  Barrett Giampaolo

UPDATE |CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — The Central Cambria school board has voted to approve a plan to "reconfigure" the grade levels of the district's two elementary schools. Effective next school year, Jackson Elementary will remain open but will only consist of kindergarten through second grade students who reside in Jackson Township. The Cambria Elementary School will consist of kindergarten through second grade students who reside in Cambria Township and Ebensburg Borough. [Read More]

Nittanyville residents battle the elements leading up to big game

 Posted on June 16, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  420 words  |  Barrett Giampaolo

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Despite battling the elements Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, the more than 600 people in more than 70 tents at Nittanyville in Happy Valley are still happy campers, not letting a little rain put a damper on one of Penn State football’s greatest traditions. "We could hear it a lot, but we've been staying dry, staying warm,” said Jenn Gallo, a Penn State senior. "The first night we had a leak in our tent so we had to use a couple of sweatshirts to clog it up. [Read More]

Organizers announce venue change for 'Thunder in the Valley' replacement event fundraiser

 Posted on June 16, 2024  |  1 minutes  |  149 words  |  Barrett Giampaolo

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — As we continue to follow the fundraising for “Rumble Through the Valley,” which is the summer event Cambria County organizers hope to have in place of "Thunder in the Valley,” the location for the event has changed. According to "Rumble through the Valley's" Facebook page, the fundraiser event will now take place at People's Natural Gas Park on June 22nd, instead of at Lorain Park. Festivities will start at the park at noon and will go on until 10 p. [Read More]

Pro-Palestinian protesters break through barricades, fencing to retake MIT encampment

 Posted on June 16, 2024  |  6 minutes  |  1067 words  |  Delta Gatti

NEW YORK (AP) — Pro-Palestinian protesters that had been blocked by police from accessing an encampment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Monday broke through fencing, linked arms and encircled tents that remained there, as Columbia University canceled its university-wide commencement ceremony following weeks of pro-Palestinian protests. Sam Ihns, a graduate student at MIT studying mechanical engineering and a member of MIT Jews for a Ceasefire, said the group has been at the encampment for the past two weeks and that they were calling for an end to the killing of thousands of people in Gaza. [Read More]

Assault charges filed in case of Philly motorcyclist seen smashing in back of woman's car

 Posted on June 15, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  380 words  |  Brenda Moya

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A man accused of being the motorcyclist seen smashing in the back of a woman's car while her two young children were inside near Philadelphia's City Hall and then waving a gun at her after she confronted him has been charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault. Prosecutors said 26-year-old Cody Heron is also charged with reckless endangerment and possession of an instrument of crime in connection with the incident. [Read More]

Campus protests an election problem? Keeping young voters key for Biden, experts say

 Posted on June 15, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  614 words  |  Delta Gatti

(TND) — The college campus protests over the Gaza war could be an election problem for President Joe Biden, political experts said Thursday. But the impact isn’t likely to be direct. “I think it's more a symptom,” Oklahoma State University politics professor Seth McKee said. “It's a sign of discontent among young people, which is a critical component of Biden's coalition,” he said. The protests grab the headlines, but the real threat to Biden’s reelection is if disaffected young voters stay home on Election Day. [Read More]

Hershey being sued after 'heavy metals' were allegedly found in dark chocolate

 Posted on June 15, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  218 words  |  Christie Applegate

DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Chocolate-maker Hershey is being sued over heavy metals in its dark chocolate bars. A proposed class action lawsuit alleges The Hershey Co.y failed to disclose that there's lead and cadmium in some of its dark chocolates, including Lily’s brand which is owned by Hershey. The suit comes weeks after a Consumer Reportsprobe revealed the dangerous metals in Hershey, Lindt, and Ghirardelli chocolates, as well as ones made by the likes of Trader Joe's, Beyond Good and Dove. [Read More]

Louisiana considers requiring Ten Commandments in schools

 Posted on June 15, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  361 words  |  Brenda Moya

WASHINGTON (TND) — Louisiana is close to becoming the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in schools and universities. If the governor signs the proposed bill into law, any publicly funded educational institution would be required to prominently display the Ten Commandments on a poster or framed document. The bill specifies that the display must be at least 11 by 14 inches, with the text being the central focus, printed in a large, easily readable font. [Read More]

Man contracted a flesh-eating bacteria after walking on South Carolina beach

 Posted on June 15, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  380 words  |  Merlyn Hunt

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Brent Norman has spent his whole life near the ocean. "I've grown up on beaches all my life and stepped on probably over 10,000 shells," Norman said. At the end of April, he walked his usual route on Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms in South Carolina. "Health-wise, I try to hit 15 to 20,000 steps every day," Norman said. "The way the tides were pretty high, I unfortunately stepped on several seashells. [Read More]