McCandless named 96th designated Bird Town in Pennsylvania
McCandless is for the birds, literally. Recognized as the 96th Bird Town in Pennsylvania, McCandless was presented with a certificate and two Bird Town street signs by Nick Stahlman, community conservation adviser for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, during council’s Feb. 9 meeting. “This community is working to promote...
McCandless residents, council debate resolution on local law enforcement aiding immigration
Heated discussion and commentary from residents of McCandless lasted for more than three hours during a Feb. 9 council meeting over whether the town should adopt a resolution establishing an official policy for enforcement of noncriminal federal immigration laws. Resolution 2026-3 was presented only for discussion and to give council...
McCandless family turns snow event into teaching moment for young sons with DIY igloo
Robert and Mickey Kunkel of McCandless decided to create some nice ice when Mother Nature recently dumped record-breaking snowfall and below-freezing temps on Western Pennsylvania. Mickey Kunkel, a busy homemaker raising their two toddlers, Ernie, 3, and Cedric, 2, initially saw a video about making at-home igloos on the internet....
Early-morning fire at Ross Park Mall started in construction site
Ross Park Mall delayed its opening Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon after an early-morning fire between the mall’s floors. The call came in around 4:15 a.m., said Dillon Coleman, chief of the Berkeley Hills Fire Company. Contractors were completing renovations overnight on the first floor of the mall near...
Patriots assistant, North Allegheny grad Robert Kugler soaks in Super Bowl moment
Robert Kugler didn’t live in Western Pennsylvania for long, but the North Allegheny graduate was here enough to know there aren’t many New England Patriots fans. Still, he’s optimistic some folks from his adopted hometown will root for him Sunday night. The 33-year-old is the assistant offensive line coach for...
Tireless team effort: Crews from multiple North Allegheny departments work well in the snow
While North Allegheny students and staff experienced a weeklong closure recently due to the Winter Storm Fern and subzero temperatures, not everyone stayed home. North Allegheny’s fields and grounds department, in conjunction with the custodial department, maintained a 24/7 schedule from Sunday, Jan. 25, through Friday, Jan. 30, with the...
WPIAL alums Lincoln Hoke, Reston Lehman begin work on Pitt’s defensive line
Pitt bringing in WPIAL talent is nothing new. Last December, football coach Pat Narduzzi didn’t hesitate to advertise Pitt’s bona fides when it comes to recruiting and developing homegrown talent. “I don’t think anybody takes more players and develops more players from the WPIAL than the University of Pittsburgh,” Narduzzi...
Penn State’s Chris Stoll, ex-Steelers QB Josh Dobbs highlight local ties to Super Bowl LX
When Chris Stoll was spending two full seasons not seeing the field as a walk-on for the Penn State football team, who could have imagined he would be the only player from the program who would get onto the field to play in a future Super Bowl? Stoll, the Seattle...
Make-A-Wish grants Super Bowl dream for Pittsburgh teen
Connor Hennick, a 14-year-old, has dreamed of going to the Super Bowl for as long as he can remember. Now, the self-declared lifelong Steelers fan is headed to the San Francisco Bay Area for the Super Bowl LX through Make-A-Wish. The Hennick family, of McCandless, arrived at their hotel around...
4 North Allegheny students named to Junior Achievement’s 18 Under Eighteen for 2026
Four North Allegheny students are among a team of 18 other students in and around Western Pennsylvania who have made significant, meaningful achievements by the age of 18. As honorees in the Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania’s 18 Under Eighteen for 2026, presented by EQT, the group will be celebrated...
‘We go in the snow’: First responders in North Hills remain ready for emergencies
Preparation is key for emergency crews in the North Hills during extreme weather patterns. First responders are ready for action during the cold spell and will continue the same practices as harsh conditions continue or if they return in the coming months. “We go in the snow,” was Chief Chris...
McCandless Town Hall closed; council meeting rescheduled for Feb. 9
In the wake of Winter Storm Fern, McCandless officials have closed Town Hall today, Jan. 26, for the safety of staff and residents. The closure aims to assist the town’s public works crews as they continue to clear roadways. Hours will return to normal at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27....
Man who died in North Park crash identified
A man from Swissvale has been identified as the driver who suffered a medical event before dying in a crash in North Park on Saturday. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the man as Timothy Costello, 76, of Swissvale. According to Allegheny County Police, Costello suffered a medical event before...
Early preparation of salt supplies places North Hills communities in good spot ahead of storm
Mother Nature is pointing a frosty finger at the Pittsburgh region this weekend, and meteorologists predict nearly a foot of snow could fall. The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings across a 2,000-mile stretch of the U.S., from New Mexico to New England. Conditions are expected to start...
North Allegheny senior has open mind as he heads to D.C. for prestigious U.S. Senate Youth Program
Reading “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know” had a notable impact on Sagar Raghavan, a senior at North Allegheny and one of 104 high school students selected to attend the 64th annual United States Senate Youth Program in March. In the 2021 release, author Adam Grant...
26th annual Unity Breakfast channels King’s message of being ‘a catalyst for change’
Don’t be complacent but take action was the message from Dr. Paul Spradley, keynote speaker of the 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast on Jan. 19 at La Roche University. Spradley, the executive director of the university’s Ketteler Center for Peace, Justice and Inclusion, shared King’s message...
North Allegheny junior among group lauded by Gov. Shapiro for making difference in Pa.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently celebrated the efforts of local volunteers making a difference in the state, including North Allegheny junior Aayushi Vardhan. The 16-year-old was one of 14 girls, all members of the Pittsburgh Linxx Chapter of the National Charity League, to be invited to a luncheon Dec. 15...
At the library: Here are some upcoming programs at Northland Public Library
Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road, McCandless, is the second largest library in Allegheny County. The library serves five communities — Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, McCandless, Marshall and Ross — but is open to everyone. Northland’s regular operating hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m....
‘Sky is the limit’ for North Allegheny swimmer Claire Bacu
North Allegheny senior Claire Bacu is making quick work in the longest event in high school swimming. The Brown recruit is eyeing her third consecutive WPIAL Class 3A 500 freestyle title, something accomplished by only three other girls in league history. “As far as Claire goes, the sky is the...
North Allegheny wrestler Bradyn McConneha builds on big wins
At 6-foot, 260 pounds, North Allegheny senior wrestler Bradyn McConneha may look like a heavyweight. But he doesn’t act like one. McConneha has used quickness and aggressiveness — rare traits in most heavyweights — to construct a 22-2 record this season with a No. 1 ranking in the WPIAL and...
Bond between student, horse shines with 1st title win at Pennsylvania 4-H State ShowVideo
It was her last chance to win a grand champion title before she aged out of the Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Show, and Lilly Sauer had a pretty good feeling she and her horse, Woody, had won first place in the bowtie race. Even so, hearing the announcer call her name...
Design phase on track for construction projects in North Allegheny School District
The design phase of several North Allegheny schools was able to proceed in December once a construction manager, architect and energy consultant were approved during the November school board meeting. Hosack, Ingomar and Peebles elementary schools, as well as Phase 1 of the high school, began their design phases, with...
NA Foundation reports doubling fundraising in year-end review
A record $220,600 in funding was awarded to teachers, students and schools by the North Allegheny Foundation in 2024 to 2025, more than doubling its efforts from the previous year, according to the nonprofit’s annual report to the school board in December. The North Allegheny Foundation is a fundraiser and...
Balanced scorecard reveals North Allegheny’s successes, shortcomings
The results of a “balanced scorecard” was shared with the North Allegheny School Board on Jan. 7, providing a transparent review of both the strengths and areas needing improvement in the district. This balanced scorecard is part of the district’s 2024-29 strategic and comprehensive plan, with an emphasis on setting...
McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority helping UPMC with memory care patients
Patients with memory or cognitive deficiencies and their caregivers will have more direction when leaving the hospital, thanks to a new program being offered by the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority in collaboration with UPMC. As part of a Community Paramedic-led Transitions Intervention Program, the MFPAA, an emergency services provider in...
