Proposed Hampton Township schools budget raises taxes 3.47%
Hampton school officials will consider a proposed budget that raises taxes 3.47% next year. The proposed $68.8 million spending plan would increase the school district’s millage rate from 23.93 mills to 24.75 mills, said Jeff Kline, co-director of administrative services. A home at Hampton’s median assessed property value of $176,500...
Pitt regional campuses to offer free tuition for students of families making $75K or less
Pennsylvania residents whose households make $75,000 or less will be eligible to attend a University of Pittsburgh branch campus tuition-free. Pitt on Thursday announced its Regional Campus Tuition Pledge that will begin this fall. Students whose household adjusted gross income is $75,000 or less would pay nothing in tuition at...
IUP’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine gets state system approval
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has cleared another hurdle in establishing an osteopathic medicine college. IUP announced Thursday that its doctor of osteopathic medicine degree program was approved by Christopher Fiorentino, chancellor of the Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. It’s part of the process for any state system university to...
Pitt grad’s journey went from aiding Brazilian flood victims to pursuing sustainability career
It’s one thing to see natural disasters on the news but another to experience them firsthand, says Cassidy Laffey. During her sophomore year as a University of Pittsburgh student, she participated in a study abroad trip to Brazil. During her stay there, a catastrophic flood left thousands of residents in...
3 students, 3 firsts: Pitt-Greensburg seniors carve historic pathsVideo
Satellite college campuses can sometimes feel like a distant outpost of the main school. In recent years, some have fallen on tough times, including seven of Penn State’s satellite campuses that are slated to close in spring 2027 because of declining enrollment and budget constraints. At the University of Pittsburgh...
Student-led project at Pittsburgh King aims to address mental health needs
When 10 Pittsburgh King students were brainstorming ideas for a service project, potential ideas included gun violence, drug use and poverty. But the students found that addressing one topic could cover a bevy of issues: mental health. “We decided all of that stuff fell under mental health,” said student Carmelo...
Students return to Shaler Area Middle School after fire alarm prompts evacuation
Shaler Area Middle School was briefly evacuated Wednesday morning when an automated fire alarm went off, a district spokeswoman said. The alarm at the school on Mt. Royal Boulevard went off about 8:44 a.m., spokeswoman Carrie Butler said. A high water sensor, along with dust from work being done on...
West Allegheny unified track meet provides opportunities for life skills students — and their peers
When Carlee Lash started her senior year at West Allegheny High School this fall, the thought of entering a career in special education never crossed her mind. That’s until she got involved with the school’s new Unified Partners in Sports program, where students build relationships with their peers in life...
Meal plan, fees raised at PennWest, room rates adjusted
Meal plan costs, fees and some room rates are increasing at Pennsylvania Western University. The cost of 19-week and 14-week residential meal plans will increase by $100 per semester, said Wendy Mackall, PennWest spokeswoman. It reflects a 4.1% increase from PennWest’s vendor. The current 19-week plan is $2,475 and the...
West Mifflin School District creates trail walk and arboretum that serves wide audience
A new trail and arboretum on the West Mifflin Area High School complex was built for wellness, athletics — and some education, too. School district officials unveiled the T’s Trail and Titan Arboretum last week, culminating a 14-month process. The school district transformed what was an unused hillside on school...
More feedback needed before PPS school closure vote, say parents and activists
More public input and planning is needed before the board of the Pittsburgh Public Schools votes on the proposed Future-Ready Facilities Plan, parents and advocates said at a Monday press conference outside Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8. 412 Justice, an educational advocacy group, has held four community listening sessions over the past...
Pitt’s new, $240M Victory Heights arena to give university athletics competitive, recruiting edge
The University of Pittsburgh’s $240 million Victory Heights sports complex is on schedule to host commencement ceremonies this week and athletic competition in the fall, officials said Monday. The facility, originally announced in January 2020, hosts dedicated practice facilities and locker rooms for Pitt gymnastics, volleyball, wrestling and spirit squads....
College students wary of the job market are changing course in search of ‘AI-proof’ majors
Two years ago, Josephine Timperman arrived at college with a plan. She declared a major in business analytics, figuring she’d learn niche skills that would stand out on a resume and help land a good job after college. But the rise of artificial intelligence has scrambled those calculations. The basic...
Westmoreland Cultural Trust to recognize 64 high school seniors at ‘Achievement in the Arts’ ceremony
Sixty-four seniors from 16 Westmoreland County high schools will be recognized by the Westmoreland Cultural Trust for their exceptional artistic abilities. The Cultural Trust will host its 28th annual Achievement in the Arts award ceremony on May 13. It recognizes graduating seniors who have excelled in vocal or instrumental music,...
Duquesne University names student union in honor of outgoing president Ken Gormley, wifeVideo
A bobblehead and an engraved clock were not all the gifts to be bestowed upon outgoing Duquesne University President Ken Gormley. While Gormley thought he might be getting “one of those nice Duquesne chairs” for his office in his new post as university chancellor, he and his wife were instead...
Pittsburgh area native and astronaut makes NFL Draft appearance
Football fans got an out-of-this-world experience Saturday after NASA astronaut and Pittsburgh area native Warren “Woody” Hoburg led a Terrible Towel twirl and spoke about the Artemis II flight on the NFL Draft stage. While not a part of the Artemis II flight crew, Hoburg was able to watch the...
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...
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...
Greensburg Salem approves comprehensive plan
Greensburg Salem School Board has approved the district’s latest comprehensive plan — focusing on literacy, engagement, work-based learning and mental health. The state Department of Education requires all 500 of the state’s public school districts to submit a comprehensive plan every three years. Improving early-level literacy rates, boosting engagement among...
Yough School Board fills vacancy left by former member’s resignation
A Sewickley Township father of five has been appointed to the Yough School Board, filling a vacancy and bringing a focus on diverse learning paths for district students. Gary Wetzler, 43, was selected Tuesday during a public special meeting to replace Gregg Nogy, who resigned April 1 after serving multiple...
Westmoreland Envirothon: All winners in learning about the environment
Southmoreland senior Alexis Piovesan wrapped special tape around a large tree at Twin Lakes Park on Thursday — a yellow tape that measures diameter rather than circumference. “I’ve also learned to use a Biltmore stick to measure the lumber in a tree. I’ve identified different species of plants,” Piovesan said...
‘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....
Free pre-K class coming to Lower Burrell via nonprofit program
Westmoreland Community Action is taking enrollment for a new pre-K program in Lower Burrell. The nonprofit’s program is free to families and funded through state Pre-K Counts and federal Head Start grants. Enrollment for the 2026-27 class is filling fast, but applications are still open, said Tammy Dietrich, program manager...
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....
