Seward man recognized with IUP’s aspiring alumni award
A Seward man was recognized by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania for his involvement in the community. Kamden Boyle, who is pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs from IUP, received the aspiring alumni award from the university during a gala earlier this month. Boyle is a 2024 IUP graduate...
57th NFL Draft pick Logan Jones to get lifetime supply of Heinz ketchup
Here’s hoping Logan Jones likes ketchup. Jones, an Iowa center, was selected by the Chicago Bears on Friday night during the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. As the 57th pick overall, the Kraft Heinz company will give him a custom jacket and a lifetime ketchup and brand deal. It’s part of...
Here’s the one place you can find calm and quiet at the NFL Draft
Turns out there is a place to find peace and quiet among the hustle and bustle of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Birmingham, Ala.-based nonprofit KultureCity set up “sensory activation vehicles” around Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore. The trailers offer a safe, quiet and calming space for people with...
Slippery Rock, PennWest name schools after philanthropic backers
Big financial investments were recognized this week by Slippery Rock and Pennsylvania Western universities. Slippery Rock on Thursday unveiled the Haverlack College of Business, the first named college at the university. It’s established from a $5 million gift, the largest in the university’s 136-year history, from Rhonda and Elliott Haverlack....
North Siders, Perry alumni to announce 224th pick in NFL Draft
Many people attending the NFL Draft this week in Pittsburgh came from all over the country. For some, it was their first time visiting the city. But the festivities were just down the road for Andrew Knight and Stalea Chapman, both of Pittsburgh’s North Side. Knight, a teacher at Pittsburgh...
Steelers’ 1st-round pick had element of surprise, draws cautious optimism from fans
Minutes before the Pittsburgh Steelers’ announced its first-round draft pick Thursday night, Josh Kelly of Baldwin predicted the team would pick up USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Alas, Pittsburgh’s cross-state rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, drafted Lemon the pick before. “I had a feeling he was going to go,” said Kelly,...
‘NFL Dads’ at Point Park forum describe the dynamics of parenting high-level athletes
Jamesetta Cleveland disagrees with a saying popular in sports circles: “Ball is life.” Instead, she believes in the opportunities created by sports. Going beyond performance on the field is what’s key, said Cleveland, founder of Sports Mom University, a consulting agency that navigates a student-athlete’s recruiting and playing sports professionally....
Chatham student develops real-time antisemitism incident tracker
Delilah Hollander, a Chatham University student, has created a real-time anitsemitic incident tracker designed to surface threats and incidents as they happen. Hollander, of Pittsburgh, has launched trackantisemitism.org, a website that flags incidents, maps emerging hotspots and preserves digital evidence of antisemitic acts worldwide through public records and news sources....
Bridgeville woman accused of stealing $18K from Chartiers Valley choral boosters account
Allegheny County Police have charged Valerie Kubiak, of Bridgeville, with stealing more than $18,000 from a Chartiers Valley booster organization. In February, county detectives started an investigation into funds being stolen from the bank account of the Chartiers Valley Choral Parents Association, according to police. Detectives determined that Kubiak, 42,...
AI-driven sports technology from Carnegie Mellon students draws interest from Mark Cuban
More than 68 million Americans play a racquet sport, but improving their skills can be difficult. Costs for lessons are becoming increasingly expensive, and feedback for technique isn’t always individualized. But three Carnegie Mellon University students think they have an answer. They launched a company called ServeSense. Pitching their technology...
PennWest merger undershot estimated tuition revenue by $63M, enrollment by 4,800 studentsVideo
While the 2022 merger of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities realized savings in personnel and operations, enrollment projections for Pennsylvania Western University were short 4,800 students and $63 million in tuition revenue last school year. “While we’ve generated significant savings, it’s not as significant as had been originally projected, and...
Former Steeler Jerome Bettis, NFL commissioner view CMU’s inventions to power sports
The intersection of sports, physical fitness and technology can be found in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood Green. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and local officials toured Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Innovation Center for the university’s “Powering the Future of Sport” showcase. More than 16 CMU-related startups —...
Physical activity, healthy foods highlighted at pre-NFL Draft rally at Duquesne schoolVideo
When Ann Marie Krautheim asked how many Duquesne City middle school students have played flag football before, only a handful of kids raised their hands. But when she followed up asking how many enjoyed playing the sport, those same hands remained in the air. At Duquesne on Tuesday, the NFL...
A boy, a racquet and a dream: Whitehall teen, a Ukrainian refugee, excels on Baldwin tennis team
Nikita Petruk was attracted to the sport of tennis because it demands athletes to pursue their own, individual style of play. Fair to say the 18-year-old’s life story has a similar philosophy. Born in Ukraine, Petruk was athletic from an early age, starting with soccer. When he was 7, a...
Brashear teacher and student chosen to announce an NFL Draft pickVideo
A Brashear High School teacher and student will be on the clock for the NFL Draft. Health and physical education teacher Megan Perfetti and student Damon Richie, 17, will announce the Buffalo Bills’ fifth-round draft pick on Saturday. It will be the 165th pick overall. The NFL Draft takes place...
New Brentwood High courses mix technology with career readiness
New classes to be offered at Brentwood High School aim to engage students and prepare them for an evolving real world, says Principal Jason Olexa. The offerings are AI Foundations, Intro to Data Science, Music Theory, Digital Art II and a revamped Personal Finance course. “All of these classes help...
Pittsburgh-area students design human-centered AI models to tackle education issues
Diego Jofre Lieva remembers some of the language barriers he faced when he came to West Allegheny High School from Chile at the end of his freshman year. “We took language assessments, and a lot of my peers really struggled,” said Jofre Lieva, now a senior at West Allegheny. “I...
Proposed Mt. Lebanon School District budget calls for 3.5% tax increase
Mt. Lebanon School District’s proposed budget calls for a 3.5% tax increase for property owners. The $129.2 million proposed spending plan maintains all district services and programs, and has no furloughs, said Patricia Connolly, the district’s director of operations. The proposal increases the district’s millage rate from 30.95 mills to...
Slippery Rock University senior wins state system’s highest academic award
Abigaile Becker, a 19-year-old Slippery Rock University student graduating in May, has won the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s top academic award. The PASSHE Board of Governors on Thursday will honor Becker with the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence, and award her $2,500. Named after founding Board...
Pittsburgh Public Schools eyes proactive discipline approach for students with special needs
The Pittsburgh Public Schools needs — and plans to — improve discipline and behavior procedures, enrollment, educational placements and state assessment outcomes for its special education students. Patti Camper, assistant superintendent for students with exceptionalities, briefed the school board Tuesday on a plan that aims to improve educational outcomes and...
Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders pitch board on ‘Future-Ready Facilities Plan’ to improve equity
Pittsburgh Public Schools officials on Tuesday presented more information on the impacts its proposed Future-Ready Facilities Plan will have on school instruction, staffing and finances. The plan calls for the closure of nine buildings and 12 schools, reconfigures grade structures at some district buildings and phases out nearly all elementary-level...
Pitt to offer online Infant Mental Health certificate
A new University of Pittsburgh academic program aims to address the mental health, growth and development needs of infants and toddlers amid a shortage of qualified, working professionals. Pitt has launched a new, online graduate certificate in Infant Mental Health. The 12-credit program kicks off this fall, said Robert Gallen,...
Research Expo at Penn State New Ken shows students resilient as ever
Solar energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources — but it has some limitations, reports Penn State New Kensington student Kaleb Schaffer. Schaffer, and three of his peers, have explored how solar power systems can sustain themselves given factors like extreme weather, temperature changes and materials degrading over...
806-unit development approved in Collier
An 806-unit development between Fort Pitt and Scotts Run roads in Collier was approved by township commissioners despite public pushback and concerns. The Collier Ridge development was approved by commissioners in a 3-1 vote, with one abstention, on March 23. The development will be on 154 acres of the total...
New contract includes interior cameras, GPS tracking for West Mifflin school buses
West Mifflin Area School District’s new transportation contract calls for a new and modernized bus fleet with enhanced safety technology, district officials say. The district entered into a 5-year contract with Krise Transportation for student transportation, said Mireille Mobley, West Mifflin spokeswoman. Krise will replace Sun Coach Lines, West Mifflin’s...
