Merf Radio | radioNOVO News for Altoona: April 20, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 04/20/26          TRAFFIC IS FLOWING SMOOTHLY AGAIN SOUTH OF ALTOONA FOLLOWING A TRACTOR-TRAILER ROLLOVER SUNDAY AFTERNOON. EMERGENCY CREWS RUSHED TO THE U-S 22 EXIT RAMP AT STATE ROUTE 764 JUST BEFORE FOUR P.M. AFTER THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FLIPPED WHILE NAVIGATING THE CURVE. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED, AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE TRUCK WITHOUT ANY INJURIES.          UPMC ALTOONA IS BECOMING A MAJOR TRAINING HUB FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF DOCTORS. THE HOSPITAL HAS PARTNERED WITH PHILADELPHIA’S DREXEL UNIVERSITY TO SERVE AS A REGIONAL CLINICAL CAMPUS—A FIRST FOR THE ALTOONA AREA. STARTING IN MAY, A GROUP OF MEDICAL STUDENTS WILL SPEND THEIR FINAL TWO YEARS OF SCHOOL LIVING AND WORKING LOCALLY FOR THEIR CLINICAL ROTATIONS. OFFICIALS HOPE THE MOVE WILL CREATE A RECRUITMENT PIPELINE TO HELP SOLVE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES, AS MANY STUDENTS END UP PRACTICING IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY TRAIN.          ALTOONA HAS A NEW MAIN STREET MANAGER. JAMIE BASER FOUST WAS INTRODUCED FRIDAY AT A CITY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LUNCHEON.  FOUST HAS BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A MONTH, ALREADY MEETING WITH DEVELOPERS TO REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN AREA.