Kellen Stepler stories, Page 2
Thousands celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Pittsburgh, suburbs
Thousands of Muslims from across the region celebrated Eid al Fitr on Friday, a major Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, in Oakland, and the Attawheed Islamic Center, in Carnegie, came together to celebrate Eid at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in...
Hampton superintendent retiring after 42 years in public education
Michael Loughead remembers having a positive experience when he was a student growing up in eastern Pennsylvania years ago. That curiosity inspired him to consider a career in public education — and that’s where he has been ever since. Loughead, 66, of Oakmont, will retire as Hampton Township School District’s...
Virtual learning for Pittsburgh Public Schools during NFL Draft draws national reaction
A decision tied to the NFL Draft is quickly turning into a national public debate, as people flood social media with reactions to Pittsburgh Public Schools’ decision to move classes online that week. Pittsburgh Public Schools announced this week that students will be learning remotely April 22 to 24, the...
Penn State faculty criticize administration’s unionization meetings
Penn State faculty trying to start a union are calling foul after university administration plans college-by-college meetings regarding unionization efforts. Members of the Penn State Faculty Alliance — a group of faculty pushing for unionization — say the meetings planned by administration are “anti-union.” On Tuesday, Penn State announced the...
Keystone Oaks junior wins statewide award for career readiness — 4 years after immigrating from Ukraine
One thing led to another for Kira Voichenko, a junior at Keystone Oaks High School. Voichenko immigrated to Pittsburgh from Ukraine in March 2022, one month after Russia’s full-scale invasion. In the fall of that year, she started at Keystone Oaks Middle School as an eighth-grade student. Toward the end...
Carlow University names Rhonda Maneval as provost
Carlow University has elevated Rhonda Maneval to the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs. Maneval joined Carlow in 2022 as dean of the College of Health and Wellness and began also serving as interim provost in fall 2023. Her appointment as provost was announced Wednesday. “Rhonda stands...
Ex-Rankin manager, Woodland Hills board member Terri Lawson to stand trial
Terri Lawson, Rankin’s former borough manager and a Woodland Hills School Board member, is headed to trial on theft charges stemming from alleged credit card misuse during her time as borough manager. District Judge Richard D. Olasz Jr. on Thursday advanced charges of access device fraud, forgery and one felony...
Women technology experts give advice to South Fayette students
High school can be like a buffet when it comes to career exploration, says Ethan Hudson, a sophomore at South Fayette High School. “You have to try a little bit of this and that, so you know what it’s like,” said Hudson, 15. That was part of the thought process...
How much energy does AI really need? Anthropic official weighs in at CMU Energy Week
It’s obvious that energy industry leaders have been talking about artificial intelligence a great deal late, said Benjamin Della Rocca, national security lead at Anthropic, a leading AI company. But it’s still uncertain, Della Rocca said, exactly what AI’s energy needs are going to be in the upcoming years. “AI’s...
Penn State Greater Allegheny social work program earns accreditation
Penn State Greater Allegheny’s bachelor’s of social work program has earned national accreditation. Greater Allegheny’s program earned accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation, the university announced this month. Located near McKeesport, Greater Allegheny is the only Penn State campus where students can complete an undergraduate...
Pittsburgh Public Schools plan online learning during NFL Draft
Students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools will learn remotely from April 22 to 24 as the city hosts the NFL Draft. PPS officials say shifting to asynchronous learning will reduce transportation challenges, minimize disruptions to the school day and ensure students learn safely and effectively. As many as 700,000 people...
Mt. Lebanon school district faces a $1.2M million shortfall next year
Mt. Lebanon school officials have a few weeks to make up a $1.169 million shortfall in the district’s budget for next year. Patricia Connolly, the district’s director of operations, told the school board this week she is projecting just above $130 million in expenses and $128.8 million in revenues next...
Collier teen named Miss Smiling Irish Eyes court maiden
Kennedy Kuntz, a Chartiers Valley High School senior, was named a court maiden for this year’s Miss Smiling Irish Eyes contest. The Miss Smiling Irish Eyes contest recognizes young women who exemplify Irish pride, leadership and community involvement. Candidates must have outstanding moral character, ethical ideals and poise, and actively...
Keystone Oaks plans renovation projects at its 3 elementary schools
The Keystone Oaks School District is undergoing a multimillion-dollar project to renovate its three elementary schools. The district plans general maintenance upgrades like HVAC, electrical and window and door replacements at Fred L. Aiken, Dormont and Myrtle Avenue elementary schools over the next couple of years. “The schools have not...
Bridgeville mulls off-street rules for large equipment
Bridgeville officials are considering rules to prohibit on-street parking and storage of large equipment. Council is considering a proposal that would prohibit on-street parking and storage of cargo trailers, boats, box trailers and storage containers, said Manager Joe Kauer. The rules, as drafted, would still allow for short-term parking of...
High winds knock out power for more than 260,000 in Pittsburgh region; a slew of roads closed
About 260,000 West Penn Power and Duquesne Light customers in the Pittsburgh region were without power Friday night after high winds blew through the area Friday afternoon. As of 9 p.m., Duquesne Light reported about 151,000 outages in Allegheny County and 16,000 in Beaver County. West Penn Power reported roughly...
Students share thoughts on AI, mental health at Woodland Hills summit
A group of Pittsburgh-area high school students challenged each other Friday to think about the future of artificial intelligence. Students from 25 area high schools — from Belle Vernon Area to Aliquippa — discussed issues ranging from academic integrity to human loneliness and whether AI should replace human employees. “It’s...
As future hangs in the balance, Duquesne City School District continues to adapt
Adapting to change has been Duquesne City School District’s story throughout the years. “We’re resilient,” said Jennifer Yocca, a 30-year employee of the district. “We always have intentional leadership, but it changes a lot.” Duquesne, working through financial struggles, is a district down to just one school, a K-8 building...
Battle of the Books tests Pittsburgh middle school students on literary works
Reading was a team sport Thursday at Pittsburgh’s Brashear High School. Forty students from Pittsburgh Public’s CAPA, South Brook, Carmalt and Sterrett middle schools participated in the Youth Battle of the Books contest, which tested students’ knowledge from six books they were tasked with reading. The initiative returned after a...
Budget deficit leads Mt. Lebanon School District officials to consider tax hike, potential staff furloughs
A projected $4.2 million deficit in Mt. Lebanon School District’s budget next school year has officials considering a property tax increase and a plan that, they say, would enable them to furlough staff if needed. The school board Monday will consider a resolution that would allow administration to furlough up...
Chartiers Valley unified bocce captures state title
Chartiers Valley High School’s unified bocce team is now a state champion. The team was one of eight to qualify for the state championship, held Thursday, March 19, at the Giant Center in Hershey. It was Chartiers Valley’s second trip to the state playoffs in the past four years. CV...
East Deer native gifts $1 million to IUP’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
Terry A. Serafini, an East Deer native and Pittsburgh businessman, has donated $1 million to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine as the university plans a fall 2027 opening for the new school. “I have a soft spot in my heart for IUP, and I appreciate...
Carnegie Elementary cereal drive nets 727 boxes for school’s free store
Alaia Tuapante admits she was a little bit nervous when she stepped up before a formidable domino line of 727 cereal boxes at Carnegie Elementary School’s gymnasium. “There was a big crowd,” said Alaia, a second grader at Carnegie. But once she tapped over the first box of Honeycomb cereal,...
Butler County Community College to launch radiologic technology program
Butler County Community College officials say a new radiologic technology program will prepare students for a high-demand career. The college plans to launch a radiologic technology program in August 2027. “We saw, across the board, a need for radiological technologists,” said Julia Carney, Butler County Community College’s dean of nursing...
Chartiers Valley to start athletic hall of fame
Chartiers Valley School District will honor its best student-athletes with a hall of fame in the near future. The district is moving forward with creating an athletic hall of fame, and is forming a committee to develop and implement the plan. “There is a rich history of athletics at Chartiers...
