Kellen Stepler stories, Page 9
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...
Medical examiner identifies woman killed in January in Upper St. Clair house fire
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the woman who died in a January house fire in Upper St. Clair. The medical examiner’s office ruled Thursday that Meredith Miller, 42, died as the result of soot and smoke inhalation, and extensive thermal burns, from a fire Jan. 23 in...
Falcioni, LaSota square off for Heidelberg mayor; council race has 4 candidates
Two candidates are seeking the mayor position in Heidelberg, and four people are in the running for three seats on the borough council. Arnold Falcioni is challenging incumbent Kenneth LaSota for mayor. Council candidates are Sharon Wicobroda; and incumbents Dorothy McCartney, Richard A. Pattinato Sr., and William Zatolochenko. Wicobroda could...
New Kensington native Jonna Banko to be part of Rockettes’ 100th anniversary
Jonna Banko told her peers in Valley High School’s Class of 2022 to follow their dreams. “In my (valedictorian) speech, I said, ‘Don’t wish for it; you have to work for it,’” Banko said. “I put my mind into being a Rockette, and I was able to make that happen....
Carlynton’s ‘Literacy Under the Lights’ engages kids with reading
The goal of Carlynton’s “Literacy Under the Lights” night was simple: find a good book and a comfy spot to read. What was unique, however, was where students, their families and teachers were reading: under the lights at Carnegie’s Honus Wagner Field. 63 families from Carnegie and Crafton elementary schools...
At Pittsburgh summit, Shapiro highlights AI potential for the state
Pennsylvania is well-positioned to lead innovation in artificial intelligence, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday during a global summit at the University of Pittsburgh. “Pittsburgh is now a hub of AI activity,” Shapiro said. “We are proud to play a role, an important role, in this revolution as well as in...
McLaughlin Run Bridge No. 6 in Bridgeville to be repaired
Baldwin Street in Bridgeville will be closed until sometime in November, as crews work to make repairs on McLaughlin Run Bridge No. 6, according to Allegheny County’s public works department. The closure is required for sediment removal, concrete repairs and other work on the bridge, according to the county. The...
Unique wares, people the draw of Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society’s ‘Flea-Tique’
Jenn Schneider spent Sunday morning setting up her vendor booth at the Tour-Ed Mine grounds in Fawn with items varying from ornaments, toy trucks and Christmas Village collections. “We have a little bit of everything,” said Schneider of New Kensington. “It’s everything you didn’t know you needed.” Quipped her brother,...
Person hit by train, killed in West Homestead
A person was killed after being hit by a train Saturday night in West Homestead. At 11:18 p.m. Saturday, a CSX train hit a person on the tracks near West Fifth Avenue and West Waterfront Drive in West Homestead, said CSX spokesman Austin Staton. Allegheny County 911 was notified, Staton...
Winds could reach 50 mph Sunday afternoon
The Pittsburgh region could be in for wind gusts as strong as 50 mph Sunday afternoon, according to meteorologists. Heavy showers are moving through the eastern portion of Ohio and are expected to hit the Allegheny County area at about 3 p.m., said Andrew Kienzle, a meteorologist at the National...
Aliquippa woman killed in wrong-way crash on Parkway West
A 26-year-old woman died, and two others were injured, in a wrong-way crash early Sunday morning along Parkway West in Findlay Township. The crash happened at 1:18 a.m. near the McClaren Road interchange (Exit 56) on the Parkway West, near the Pittsburgh International Airport, according to state police. Summer Cartrette,...
New online Pitt program to give students expertise of AI in health data science
Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh’s new online Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics will have a leg up on the growing industry and artificial intelligence, especially as the technology continues to advance, Pitt officials say. In 2026, Pitt will launch the fully online undergraduate program that emphasizes health data...
2 candidates to face off for Allegheny Township supervisor seat
The two candidates running for Allegheny Township supervisor say they want to build on the municipality’s business growth and development. Democrat Dave Gatty, 71, and Republican Frank Weissert, 48, are seeking a six-year term on the Allegheny Township board of supervisors. Supervisor Michael Korns didn’t seek reelection. Gatty, a retired...
‘Life-changing’: Task force promotes advocacy, education for families of children with disabilities
For Shashwathee Kamalesh, resources from Local Task Force 3 on the Right to Education in Allegheny County have been a lifeline as she navigates life as a parent of a child with disabilities. “Every step of my journey, I feel like I’m supported,” said Kamalesh of Marshall, whose 12-year-old son,...
Preliminary report pinpoints location of deadly Clairton Coke Works blast
A new, independent investigation into a deadly explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works facility in August had similar findings to an earlier study done by an independent federal agency. Engineering Design and Testing Corp., retained by U.S. Steel, released preliminary findings this week that found the explosion took...
Arnold man charged after kids test positive for cocaine
An Arnold man faces three counts of endangering the welfare of children after his 5-, 3- and 1-year-old each tested positive for cocaine. Westmoreland County detectives say they began investigating Josiah Hughes, 30, in May with a case involving child endangerment, according to the District Attorney’s Office. A ChildLine report...
State-owned universities to recruit former students who never completed degrees
If you’re one of the 130,000 people who obtained course credits at one of the state system’s colleges but never finished your degree, you’ll be hearing from the university soon. Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education will be rolling out a program reconnecting with and recruiting former students who didn’t...
Plans for future of Penn State’s closing campus properties to be set by 2027
A second round of meetings with Penn State leadership and communities where branch campuses are closing, and what the future holds for those properties, will soon be underway, university administration said Thursday. Seven branch campuses — New Kensington, Fayette, Shenango, Mont Alto, DuBois, Wilkes-Barre and York — will close at...
Research shows annoying sounds might not be in your ears, but in your brain
The sound of someone sniffling can be irritating, but that has almost nothing to do with the sound itself, new Carnegie Mellon University research shows. “It’s not the sound, it’s how I feel about the person sitting next to me, and how it’s rude to sniffle,” said Laurie Heller, a...
Copeland, DeBlasio candidates for Bridgeville mayor
Bridgeville’s next mayor won’t be new to the job. Incumbent Betty Copeland, 91 who has been mayor for the past eight years, is being challenged for the position by Pasquale B. DeBlasio, 62, who was mayor from 2014 to 2017. The Nov. 4 election is a rematch of their 2017...
6 seek 3 seats on Collier Commissioners board
Six people are vying for three seats on the Collier board of commissioners. In the Spring primary election, incumbent commissioner Mary Ann Cupples-Wisniowski and Julie Murphy and Tim Downey Jr. won the Democratic party nominations, and incumbent commissioners Wayne Chiurazzi and Karianne Suter, and Mark Lewis won the Republican party...
Colts bolt: Annual run a fun day for Chartiers Valley youngsters
Seven-year-old Hallie Goodworth was dressed for the occasion. Matching her classmates with a yellow shirt, but with the words “Colt Bolt” printed on the shirt, Hallie was ready to tackle the Chartiers Valley Primary School’s annual jog-a-thon with her first grade peers. The Colt Bolt, coordinated by the school’s Parent-Teacher...
Burrell School District enrollment continues to shrink
Burrell School District’s enrollment decreased by 50 students this fall, a decline on par with what the district has seen for the past 10 years, according to Superintendent Shannon Wagner. Total district enrollment this fall stands at 1,624, Wagner told the school board this week. Enrollment was 1,674 last year....
Penn State approves new deal to keep WPSU public media open
A month after voting down an earlier proposal, Penn State University’s board of trustees approved a plan to transfer WPSU-TV and public radio to WHYY in Philadelphia. The deal means Penn State won’t have to pay an additional $17 million subsidy over the next five years to keep WPSU operating,...
3 incumbents, 2 newcomers in Carlynton School Board race
Five people are in the running for four seats on the Carlynton School Board. Candidates for this fall’s general election are incumbents Leeanne Mitchell-O’Brien, Susie Puskar and Christine Simcic; and newcomers Brittany Bova and Reece Smith. Here’s what the candidates had to say in response to questions asked by the...
