District attorney seeks temporary closure of New Kensington Elks Lodge
Thirty-two incidents at the New Kensington Elks Lodge over the past three years — including a fatal shooting this month — have led the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office to ask a judge to temporarily shut down the club for at least one year. The district attorney’s office Friday filed...
Pitt’s new AI hub aims to make artificial intelligence practical for students and their careers
The University of Pittsburgh’s strategy surrounding artificial intelligence will be practical, supporting students and the workforce, said Michael Colaresi, newly named director of the academic Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership. “We’re going to be a welcoming and visible front door for AI in the academic mission,” Colaresi said...
Bon Air’s Toys for Tots drive teaches life lessons
Pam White wasn’t sure how many Toys for Tots donation boxes she’d need this winter advising the Bon Air Elementary School Student Council. “I contacted the Toys for Tots representative for our area. She asked how many collection boxes I thought I would need,” said White, who took over as...
Students say arts programs at PennWest California are in jeopardy
Students at Pennsylvania Western University’s California campus fear that planned academic program changes could result in the loss of its art programs. Koa Knopsnider, 19, is petitioning the university to not sunset the arts programs at the California campus. The online petition has purportedly reached more than 1,100 signatures within...
2 men killed in Carrick shooting identified, their deaths ruled homicides
Two men died in a shooting Thursday evening in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood. At 5:15 p.m., Pittsburgh police responded to the 1200 block of Linnview Avenue for reports of a shooting, said Eliza Durham, public safety spokeswoman. Officers found two men who had been shot multiple times, Durham said. EMS took...
Pitt chancellor gets 32% raise but vows to donate it to student, faculty causes
Pleased with her accomplishments and in an effort to retain her, a group of University of Pittsburgh trustees voted to increase Chancellor Joan Gabel’s base salary to $1.25 million next year, a 32% raise. Pitt’s compensation subcommittee voted Thursday to increase Gabel’s base pay, effective Jan. 1. She was hired...
Heidelberg holds line on taxes for 2026
Heidelberg’s property owners will not see an increase in their real estate tax bills in 2026. The borough’s $1.1 million budget holds the line at 9.45 mills, said Mayor Kenneth LaSota. A homeowner at Heidelberg’s median assessed property value of $86,200 will continue to pay about $814 annually for borough...
Spring opening planned for Lower Burrell Tractor Supply
A Tractor Supply store in the Kinloch section of Lower Burrell is set to open in the spring. A company spokeswoman said the store, located at a currently vacant lot next to a Family Dollar store along Greensburg Road, plans a soft opening in late March. The grand opening is...
La Roche University gifted buildings, including motherhouse, from Sisters of Divine Providence
A property transfer from a Catholic organization to La Roche University sets the college up for long-term growth, officials say. The Sisters of Divine Providence has gifted the Providence Heights Motherhouse and about 15 acres of nearby property to La Roche, the university announced Tuesday, Dec. 16. The transfer includes...
35% tax hike approved as Collier commissioners adopt 2026 budget
Property owners in Collier will be seeing a 35% increase in their real estate taxes next year. Commissioners on Monday, Dec. 15, voted 3-1 to adopt the township’s 2026 budget which sets the real estate tax rate at 5 mills, a 1.3-mill increase. A homeowner at Collier’s median assessed property...
Burrell bocce team drums up support for collaborative, competitive experience
Cold temperatures Tuesday morning didn’t stop hot drinks and sweet treats from being served up by members of Burrell High School’s unified bocce team. The team, comprising eight students with special needs and eight regular education students, was selling snacks and drinks at Cora Lee Cupcakes in Feldarelli Square, New...
More than 100 New Kensington-Arnold children to benefit from Angel Tree
Karen Thomas didn’t flinch when the Angel Tree she coordinates for students in need at the New Kensington-Arnold School District was the biggest it has been in more than 20 years. She knew her colleagues would step up to provide gifts for 51 families in the district — 126 children...
Some fees waived for students at closing Penn State branch campuses
Students at the closing Penn State Commonwealth Campuses can take more classes than normal in their next three semesters and save some money while doing it. With the New Kensington, Fayette, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, DuBois, York and Mont Alto campuses scheduled to close after the Spring 2027 semester, students there can...
Rare cancer diagnosis didn’t stop Pitt student from graduating early
Sarah Pine’s college experience at the University of Pittsburgh was typical, until it wasn’t. From Savannah, Ga., Pine came to Oakland in fall 2022 to pursue writing, seeking a different atmosphere than the south. “I went in with all these positive thoughts and ideas, ready to conquer the college experience,”...
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...
