WUZZ Radio | radioNOVO News for Altoona: April 13, 2026

 A DECADES-LONG LEGAL BATTLE INVOLVING SIX ALTOONA CHILDREN HAS REACHED A MAJOR SETTLEMENT IN FEDERAL COURT. THREE SIBLINGS.......... REMOVED FROM THEIR PARENTS EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO AND PLACED INTO A HOME WHERE THEY WERE LATER BRUTALIZED.......... SUED BLAIR COUNTY, ALLEGING THEY WERE USED AS "COERCIVE TOOLS" IN A DRUG INVESTIGATION. THEIR FOSTER PARENTS WERE CONVICTED IN 2020 OF YEARS OF HORRIFIC PHYSICAL AND RACIAL ABUSE.           WHILE THE SETTLEMENT TERMS ARE NOT YET PUBLIC, ATTORNEYS SAY IT'S A "BIG DEAL" FOR THE NOW-ADULT SIBLINGS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES.          AN ALTOONA CONTRACTOR IS FACING A MOUNTAIN OF FELONY CHARGES FOLLOWING A MONTHSLONG FRAUD INVESTIGATION. POLICE SAY JOHN BAILEY TIPTON THE SECOND, OWNER OF TIPTON CONSTRUCTION, DEFRAUDED CLIENTS OF OVER 30-THOUSAND DOLLARS BY TAKING ADVANCE PAYMENTS FOR WORK HE NEVER FINISHED. DURING HIS ARREST, INVESTIGATORS ALSO REPORTEDLY FOUND ILLEGAL FIREARMS AND DRUGS. TIPTON IS CURRENTLY FREE ON 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL WITH A HEARING SET FOR APRIL 22ND.