Kellen Stepler stories, Page 5
State Rep. Anita Kulik to retire at end of term next year
State Rep. Anita Kulik announced she will retire from office at the end of her current legislative term, Nov. 30, 2026. “Being able to serve in the areas where I grew up and spent my life made my terms in office so very special,” said Kulik, a Democrat. “The people...
Water main break in Lower Burrell impacts school district
A water main break in Lower Burrell on Wednesday morning left some without water. Water was restored just before noon. “We have a leak on a 12-inch main line on a right of way in Lower Burrell,” said Ed Saliba Jr., general manager of the New Kensington Municipal Authority. “The...
Bridgeville in need of ‘Snow Angels’
If you can lend a hand — or a shovel — to help clear snow this winter, Bridgeville would like your help. The borough is seeking volunteers to become a “Snow Angel” where they will be paired with a nearby resident in need of snow removal. Bridgeville has had the...
New Kensington sewage rates to rise; Lower Burrell also considers hike
Lower Burrell residents could see an increase as high as 5% in their sewage bills next year because of a rate increase from the Municipal Sanitary Authority of the City of New Kensington. The authority, which serves customers in Lower Burrell, Arnold, New Kensington and parts of Plum, is increasing...
Carnegie Mellon president launches advisory board to review student mental health, well-being
A new advisory board at Carnegie Mellon University will evaluate students’ mental well-being and their academic experience. President Farnam Jahanian announced the university will roll out a President’s Advisory Board on Student Well-Being, Mental Health and the Academic Experience. Jahanian, in a letter to campus, said the board will review...
H.D. Berkey students help their peers, families through ‘Change War’
Generosity — and some friendly competition — led to H.D. Berkey Elementary students in Arnold collecting spare change to help families in need as the holiday season approaches. During the month of October, students raised more than $1,000 toward needy families in a “Change War,” an initiative organized by second...
PennWest review aims to make programs stronger; some existing could ‘sunset’
The goal of an ongoing review of academic programs at Pennsylvania Western University is to ensure offerings meet area workforce demands in a way that’s sustainable to the college, said James Fisher, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs. PennWest, a state-owned university comprising campuses in California, Clarion and...
Lower Burrell manager Greg Primm recognized by international organization
More than 8,000 municipal managers attended the International City/County Management Association this week in Tampa, Fla., but only about a dozen were recognized for longtime service to the profession. One of them was Lower Burrell City Manager Greg Primm, who is coming up on 35 years as a municipal manager...
Pittsburgh homicide suspect arrested in New Kensington
A man accused of an August homicide in Pittsburgh was arrested Wednesday in New Kensington’s Parnassus neighborhood. Terrance George, 36, of Pittsburgh, is charged with criminal homicide, illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license in connection to an Aug. 26 homicide in Pittsburgh’s East Hills...
Enrollment drops at Penn State’s closing branch campuses in Western Pennsylvania
While overall enrollment at Penn State’s main campus remains steady, universitywide enrollment this fall decreased by 1.6% over last year, and dropped 5.7% overall at branch campuses. According to Penn State data released this week, 386 students are enrolled at Penn State New Kensington this fall. That’s a 10.6% decrease...
Off-duty miracle: Arnold police chief, wife save life of Lower Burrell crossing guard
Sometimes it’s just not your time. Such was the case for Dennis “Denny” Soroka on Sept. 20. The 80-year-old from Lower Burrell is alive through a miracle of happenstance: He suffered cardiac arrest at just the right place and time, in a store that had an automated external defibrillator and...
State Attorney General’s Office agents investigate at New Kensington property
Investigators with the state Attorney General’s Office conducted an investigation at a New Kensington home Wednesday evening. Attorney general’s agents were on scene at 918 Baldrick St., which is near the intersection of Stevenson Boulevard and Seventh Street. The agents on scene were unable to comment. New Kensington police Chief...
Chartiers Valley to deploy AI school safety platform
Chartiers Valley School District will work with a Carnegie Mellon University spinout to deploy a threat detection system at district buildings. School directors on Tuesday, Oct. 28 approved a five-year contract with CurvePoint for the Wi-AI Perimeter Threat Detection system. Wi-AI transforms standard Wi-Fi signals into a real-time safety system...
AI chatbot, ‘Skilly,’ to answer prospective Point Park University students’ questions
Prospective Point Park University students may soon be asking admissions questions to an AI chatbot. Skilly, a chatbot developed by SkillyAI of Pittsburgh, will assist Point Park’s admissions office in responding to questions from potential students and their families, said Marlin Collingwood, university vice president of enrollment management. “We’re in...
8 alums inducted into South Fayette’s hall of fame
Eight South Fayette Township School District alumni were inducted into the district’s hall of fame this year. The inductees are Aldo Donnelli, class of 1925; Clem Rolin, 1964; Rich Bonnaure, 1977; Tony Neely, 1978; Josh Willy, 1993; Lauren Uranker, 2004; Michael Lamberti, 2011; and Nick Faraci, 2011. The hall of...
Union: PennWest to furlough more than a dozen employees
Pennsylvania Western University plans to furlough employees at its campuses in California and Clarion because of financial and enrollment challenges. Earlier this month, PennWest notified AFSCME Council 13 that it intends to furlough more than a dozen employees at California and Clarion beginning Nov. 16, according to the union. Union...
Lisa Lambert named Chatham University president
Lisa Lambert, a longtime professor and administrator at Pittsburgh’s Chatham University, has been named the university’s 21st president. “Chatham has been a central part of my life for many years, and I am truly grateful and honored to be named Chatham University’s president,” Lambert said in a statement. “As president,...
Rose’s Discount Store in Lower Burrell to close
An anchor store leaving Hillcrest Shopping Center in Lower Burrell is another blow to the city’s business district, but officials are hopeful something else will be coming to the plaza soon. Rose’s Discount Store is scheduled to close Jan. 10, although the date is tentative, according to a Rose’s customer...
CMU study on brain-hand interaction could improve prosthetics
When people sit down for a meal, they don’t think about what to do with their hands when eating. It’s just second nature. Yet, their hands are constantly adapting posture and grip to the cutlery, food and drinks on the table, in order to enable the goal of eating. “Our...
3 candidates seek 2 seats on New Kensington Council
Three men — Chase Balla, Nicholas DiCarolis and Phil Toney — are seeking two seats on the New Kensington Council. Councilmen Todd Mentecki and Corey Pistininzi did not seek reelection. Mayor Tom Guzzo, a Democrat, is running for his seat unopposed. “At 26 years old, I want to give back...
‘We got the word out:’ Popularity, enrollment booms at Northern Westmoreland vo-tech school
Enrollment at Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center is the highest it’s ever been. This year’s enrollment stands at 621 students, which is an increase of more than 30% over the past two years, according to Director Jason Hicks. “We got the word out, and have pressed hard on that...
Alle-Kiski Valley small businesses step up as time runs out for SNAP benefits
Craig Rearic knows what it’s like to struggle. “Before I started my own business, I was on food stamps and struggling,” said Rearic, co-owner of Paint Pros in South Buffalo. “I know how important it is, especially for people on a fixed income. As a child, I grew up in...
Family-owned Hillcrest Volkswagen to close at the end of the month
The only foreign car dealership in the Alle-Kiski Valley, Hillcrest Volkswagen in Lower Burrell will close at the end of the month. Owner Bob Bordonaro said Hillcrest made a mutual decision to sell back the franchise to Volkswagen. “After 40-plus years, we made a decision that it was time to...
8 candidates in running for 4 Bridgeville Council seats
Eight candidates are seeking four positions on Bridgeville Council. Voters will choose between Democrats Justine Cimarolli, Nicholas A. Ciesielski, Joseph M. Colosimo and Nino Petrocelli Sr.; and Republicans Bruce D. Ghelarducci Sr., Joseph P. Verduci, Virginia Bott Schneider and James Haley. Cimarolli, Ghelarducci and Verduci are incumbents. Council members serve...
Pitt to deploy new AI tool to assist students, faculty
Studying and coursework might look a little more high-tech at the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt has signed a universitywide agreement with Anthropic and Amazon Web Services for an AI model — Claude for Education — that can pose open-ended questions and offer support for students, preparing them for professional AI...
