Kellen Stepler stories, Page 6

A roughly three-hour SWAT standoff in Tarentum on Thursday was resolved peacefully because of a “deliberate, patient approach that prioritized time, communication and containment,” said William Vakulick, the borough’s police chief. “We’re grateful that yesterday’s incident on East Eighth Avenue was resolved without injury to the individual involved, the public...

Two people were taken to hospitals Thursday after a vehicle crashed into a bank building in downtown New Kensington. Crews were dispatched at 2:13 p.m. for reports of a Ford Ranger pickup truck that slammed into the First National Bank, 2 Kensington Square. “The gentleman jumped the sidewalk and drove...

New Kensington-area historians and officials are hoping to turn an often-overlooked cabin on Stevenson Boulevard into a more visible educational site. The Daughters of the American Revolution Massy Harbison-Fort Hand chapter and the city of New Kensington are working to restore the cabin and Massy Harbison Park, at Oates Boulevard...

Chartiers Valley School District officials say an aggressive, early retirement incentive resulted in no furloughs and a positive staffing outlook this school year. “Contrary to published reports of mass furloughs, the board and administration implemented this strategic initiative to address ongoing fiscal challenges while maintaining our commitment to high-quality education,”...

Hundreds of students attending the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland will live in a hotel or apartments this fall, a move university officials say they made to accommodate the large, incoming freshmen class. Pitt received a record number of applications for the fall semester — 65,000 — which is a...

A Ross man is behind bars after a high-speed police chase Saturday from New Kensington to the Pittsburgh Mills mall with a woman and her 7-year-old son in the car. Charges against William Joseph Anick, 62, include kidnapping a minor, unlawful restraint of a minor, receiving stolen property, endangering the...

Planned daily closures of the Allegheny River Boulevard and Hulton Road intersection in Oakmont are delayed indefinitely. The closures for sanitary sewer repairs were scheduled to occur daily this week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A notice from the borough released Tuesday, said the property owner has delayed the...

Report cards for New Kensington-Arnold kindergarten students will look a bit different this year. Previously, students would get a letter grade for a subject area. Now, the report card will list specific academic skills in each subject and how well the student has mastered each skill. “I want kids to...

Penn State trustees on Friday authorized the purchase of the former Beta Theta Pi house where hazing led to the death of student Timothy Piazza in 2017. The university will pay $7.3 million for the 0.92-acre property, located at 220 N. Burrowes Road, State College. Sara Thorndike, senior vice president...

Penn State’s budget for the 2026-27 academic year raises tuition for all of its students attending University Park and some of its students that attend branch campuses. The $10.2 billion budget, approved Friday by the board of trustees, includes a 2% tuition increase for in-state undergraduate students attending University Park,...

State troopers arrested a New Kensington man after an undercover drug investigation turned up 27 bricks of heroin or fentanyl and more than $10,000 in cash. Raijon Deqae Wilson, 29, is charged with numerous drug-related counts in connection to a search warrant at a residence in the 1200 block of...

Allegheny Township residents soon won’t have to drive far for emergency medical care. Township supervisors Chairman Jamie Morabito said a walk-in, urgent care facility is in the works for 48 Towne Center Drive, near the magistrate’s office. “I’m real excited about it,” said Supervisor Mike Korns. “It’s in a good...

Tuition for state universities is set to increase by 3.6% for students this fall, but that figure could decrease if state funding increases, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education said Thursday. In-state undergraduate tuition for this academic year will increase by $139 per semester, to $3,997 per semester, according...

More than 20 streets in Lower Burrell are on tap to be paved this year. City Council on Monday approved a contract of close to $235,000 with Russell Standard to chip-seal 19 streets — the majority of which are in Kinloch — this summer. The full list of roads, according...

A cooperative fire agreement among Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Arnold fire departments has won approval from Lower Burrell officials. Council approved plans outlining rules to establish a Tri-Cities duty crew for daytime volunteer fire coverage among the three cities. “I’m very excited for the Tri-City duty crew and its...

Chuck Woods says his family history exemplifies the story of immigrants coming to Pittsburgh. In the early 1900s, Woods’ grandfather, Domenico Masciantonio, came to Pittsburgh from Italy with his brother, Pietro, and sister, Maria. The trio settled in Carnegie’s Cubbage Hill where Domenico worked as a stone mason. And during...

Burrell School District officials need to pare the cost of construction projects at Bon Air Elementary School after bids came in over budget. The lowest bid for Bon Air’s proposed cafeteria and kitchen addition, and heating and cooling projects, came in at $12.6 million, according to Superintendent Shannon Wagner. “That...

A Shoe Sensation is coming to Allegheny Township. The store, in the Hyde Park Plaza, 451 Hyde Park Road, tentatively plans a soft opening Aug. 15, according to a representative from Shoe Sensation. The representative offered no other details about the store. Shoe Sensation sells an assortment of shoes and...

The loud roar of diesel trucks using brake retarders will continue to be heard on Route 56 between Hillcrest Drive and Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell. City officials in April had requested that PennDOT look into outlawing brake retarders, commonly known as jake brakes, on that stretch of road after...

Leechburg officials said Tuesday they’re still investigating after a girl fell from the Leechburg Bridge on Monday night. First responders were dispatched to the Leechburg Bridge at around 7:30 p.m. for a juvenile who had fallen from the bridge and onto the shoreline along the Kiski River. It’s unclear at...

Lower Burrell police Officer Derek Kotecki’s legacy will be remembered in the city in a new way. Council approved plans for a dog park at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park. The dog park will be located past the outfield of the ballfield, closest to where people pull in to...

The Burrell School Board will meet Tuesday to consider awarding contracts for construction at Bon Air Elementary School. The board will consider hiring contractors for a cafeteria addition, air conditioning and boiler repairs at Bon Air, said Superintendent Shannon Wagner. Bids haven’t yet been made public but architects previously estimated...

Tuition for students at the University of Pittsburgh will increase again. The $3.2 billion budget, approved Friday by the Board of Trustees, includes a 2% tuition increase for in-state undergraduate and gradate students attending the Oakland campus, a 4% hike for out-of-state students and a 1% increase for students attending...

Arnold officials have taken the first step toward replacing a 31-year-old fire engine. Council on July 8 voted to advertise bids for a new fire engine, to ultimately replace its 1994 fire engine. “The maintenance side of it, it’s getting increasingly costly to maintain that vehicle,” said Chris O’Leath, fire...

Laurie Johnson-Wade sets high expectations for those who will attend the grand opening of the new Sankofa Mansion — formerly the Bloser Mansion — in New Kensington on Thursday. “They’ll be treated like royalty,” said Wade, who owns Sankofa with her husband, VonZell Wade. The grand opening will be the...