Kellen Stepler stories, Page 2
Popular Penn State New Kensington programs to open elsewhere as college prepares to close in 2 years
A trio of Penn State New Kensington’s most popular academic programs has found new homes as the university plans to close the Upper Burrell campus at the end of the Spring 2027 semester. Penn State announced this week that three programs — biomedical engineering technology, electro-mechanical engineering technology and radiological...
Pittsburgh Public Schools enrollment continues to shrink
Student enrollment at Pittsburgh Public Schools this fall declined 2% over last fall, and 23 of the district’s schools enroll less than 250 students, according to data released this week by the school district. PPS enrolled 17,937 students from Kindergarten to 12th grade this fall; a decline of 375 students...
2 charged after 4 children found living in deplorable conditions in Knoxville
Two adults face criminal charges after four children were found living in deplorable conditions in the Knoxville section of Pittsburgh. India McKnight, 34, and Earl Kenney, 45, both of Pittsburgh, are charged with endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy in connection to a police investigation that began in...
Sewage, garbage rates in Bridgeville to increase; property tax remains the same
Bridgeville property owners will see no real estate tax increase in 2026, but they will pay more for their garbage and sewage services. The budget totals about $7.53 million and maintains a tax rate of 6.5 mills on buildings and 10 mills on land. Owners of a property assessed at...
Outgoing Bridgeville councilmen recognized
Bridgeville officials recognized three outgoing councilmen with a combined 54 years of service on the borough council. Bruce Ghelarducci, Bill Henderson and Joseph Verduci were awarded with plaques from Mayor Betty Copeland, recognizing their time on council. Ghelarducci and Henderson were on council for 22 years. Verduci was a councilman...
Route 28 crash near Millvale snarls traffic inbound
A crash near the Millvale exit on inbound Route 28 snarled traffic Thursday morning. The PA 511 traffic website reported the crash happened at 6:43 a.m. A lane was closed to traffic and was expected to be reopened by 8:30 a.m., according to PA 511. At 7 a.m., TribLive news...
Man charged in Squirrel Hill home invasion, burglary linked to Verona theft
A Pittsburgh man charged in connection to a home invasion and burglary in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood is linked to other crimes in the city and the Alle-Kiski Valley, police say. Jerry Chambers, 59, was arrested last week by Verona police on theft charges. This week, Chambers was charged in...
Property tax in Lower Burrell holds steady; rate increases to be considered next month
Lower Burrell property owners will not see an increase in their real estate taxes next year but could pay more for sewage and recycling. Council approved the city’s 2026 budget, which totals just more than $12 million. A home at Lower Burrell’s median assessed value of $20,389 will continue to...
Bus safety enforcement program coming to Carlynton
A new, technology-based bus safety program in the Carlynton School District aims to reduce or eliminate the illegal passing of stopped school buses. The school board in December approved an agreement with BusPatrol. Through the agreement, all Carlynton buses will be equipped with automated stop-arm enforcement cameras. The cameras are...
Man accused of stealing $13K worth of trading cards from New Kensington store
A Ford City man is accused of stealing more than $13,000 worth of trading cards from a New Kensington store. Police say Jeffrey James Spang, 48, stole from the Feisty Goblin store on Fifth Avenue in New Kensington on at least 12 occasions. The total reported loss was $13,118, according...
Dollar General ordered to pay $1.5M in penalties for overcharging customers
Discount chain Dollar General will pay $1.5 million in penalties for allegedly overcharging customers, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday. Sunday announced he reached a settlement with Dollar General Corp. and its parent company, Dolgen Corp., after an investigation found customers were being charged higher prices than what was...
Western Pennsylvania faces mix of snow, rain and dropping temperatures
Western Pennsylvania could see heavy wet snowfall and rain throughout the day Wednesday, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. Early Wednesday morning, the region could see wet snowflakes off and on, according to WTAE. From about 7 to 10 a.m., wet snow mixed with rain is expected, before changing over...
Penn State faculty file for union representation
Faculty at Pennsylvania State University soon could be part of a union. Members of the Penn State Faculty Alliance on Tuesday said they turned in thousands of union authorization cards to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board’s offices in Harrisburg. The alliance petitioned to represent all faculty, including at University Park,...
2 new police officers hired in Bridgeville
Two new officers have joined the Bridgeville Police Department. Borough council on Tuesday, Dec. 9 hired officers Brayden Fedorek and Matthew McDanel. “Both can, and I believe will, be assets to this department and the community for the foreseeable future,” said Chief Gary James. “We are excited to bring them...
Planned $68M health sciences building at Duquesne University to open in fall 2028
Duquesne University officials say a new, $68 million health sciences facility will locate clinical services, consolidate programs and strengthen the college’s role in regional health care. Duquesne announced Tuesday that it plans to build a new, 80,000-square-foot health sciences facility at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Magee Street that...
New administrator sees growth potential at PennWest University
The new vice president for strategic enrollment management at Pennsylvania Western University believes strong admissions recruitment and providing a solid student experience can turn the tide of declining enrollment there. Darren Wagner was named to the post at PennWest — which includes campuses at Clarion, California and Edinboro — Dec....
Morning Roundup: Water main repairs close section of Route 28
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Dec. 9: Water main repairs close section of Route 28 A section of inbound Route 28 has been closed as crews repair a water main break. The issue was reported Monday afternoon on a hillside across from the...
Victim identified in fatal shooting outside New Kensington Elks Lodge
Police continue to investigate a homicide that took place early Saturday morning outside the New Kensington Elks Lodge, 932 Third Ave. Jeffrey Ballard, 46, was shot and killed outside the bar at around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, said Melanie Jones, a spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. Ballard is...
Steelers vs. Ravens: What they’re saying in Baltimore after loss
The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled out a wild road win Sunday at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, defeating their rival Ravens, 27-22, and taking the lead in the AFC North. The Steelers squeaked away with the win after a potential, go-ahead Ravens touchdown was taken off the board with less than three...
Morning Roundup: Water main breaks on Route 51; man arrested outside Pittsburgh FBI office
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Dec. 8: Water main breaks along Route 51 in Brentwood Repairs are underway early Monday morning following a water main break along Route 51 in Brentwood. The break happened Sunday night between Greenlee Road and Marylea Avenue, according...
Man killed in Upper Burrell vehicle crash
An Allegheny Township man died Friday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Upper Burrell. Brian Edward McCormick, 60, was driving a Nissan Sedan at 6:56 a.m. Friday near the intersection of Manchester Hill Road and Route 780 when he collided with another vehicle, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office....
Pitt committee advances BioForge biomanufacturing hub project with tax credit program
The University of Pittsburgh will borrow funds through a federal tax credit program to partially fund construction of BioForge, a $250 million cell and gene therapy manufacturing facility in Hazelwood Green. Pitt’s Finance and Budget Committee on Friday unanimously approved entering into the New Markets Tax Credit program for BioForge....
Robert Morris University to pay $948K to settle pandemic-learning lawsuit
Robert Morris University will pay just under $1 million as part of a proposed settlement of a lawsuit filed by a student who alleged the Moon Township college breached its contract when it transitioned to online instruction during the covid-19 pandemic. Allegheny County Judge Alan Hertzberg this fall preliminarily approved...
Upper Burrell teen’s project to fill ‘significant gap’ in Holocaust education
An Upper Burrell teenager’s efforts to educate the younger generation about girls’ roles during the Holocaust is coming to fruition. Lily Sassani, 18, will launch her Holocaust Education Patch from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Chatham University’s Mellon Board Room, 5799 Chapel Hill Road, Pittsburgh. The two-year initiative was...
2 AI skill-building programs to be offered at Point Park University
Artificial intelligence will not replace teachers, according to Point Park University School of Education Dean Virginia Chambers. But, it is imperative for future educators to know how to use AI in the classroom, and Point Park is launching two new programs to advance that plan. Point Park will offer students...

