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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Down with Nazism, Zionism, Hindutva? CMU’s Fence briefly said so on commencement weekend
A message that included references to nationalist philosophies of Nazism, Zionism and Hindutva was placed on The Fence during graduation weekend at Carnegie Mellon University. It is unclear who placed the message, but it spurred a few people to make social media posts. “The Fence has long served as a...
Richland Volunteer Fire Department honors quick-thinking firefighter with company’s 1st valor award
The Richland Volunteer Fire Department recognized the bravery of one of their own during its monthly meeting April 18. Chief Dave McWilliams started off the meeting by recapping the events of the March 5 fire that occurred at North Woodland Circle. Ryne Zierenberg, a union carpenter and member of the...
Wexford Volunteer Fire Company selects new chief
Wexford Volunteer Fire Company in Pine has a new fire chief. After five years in the role, Chris Ausefski decided to step down as chief to spend more time with his family. He remains with the company through his involvement in the EMS program. Following Ausefski’s resignation, a special election...
Ex-treasurer of South Park BMX group charged with embezzling $120K
The former treasurer of the South Park BMX Track Association is accused of stealing more than $120,000 from the organization over the last six years — and then creating false bank account statements to cover it up. Jennifer Meares, 45, of Baldwin Borough is charged with three counts of theft,...
New Brackenridge councilman has long history of borough service
Larry Chifulini was meant to serve on Brackenridge council. Newly appointed for a second stint, Chifulini follows in his family footsteps, continuing decades of service to the borough where he was born and raised. His father, grandfather and grandmother all served on council. “The first time I was around, my...
Sewickley Academy senior develops coding program to encourage girls to pursue STEM
Sewickley Academy senior Brooke Busatto is the only girl in her advanced robotics class. But she’s on a STEM mission to change that statistic for female students following in her footsteps as she advocates to encourage girls to embrace careers involving coding, technology and science-related fields of study. “At first...
Pa. human relations commission wants to hear about your ‘Beloved Community’
While working on Robert Casey Sr.’s 1986 gubernatorial campaign, Democratic strategist James Carville once famously said that “between Paoli and Penn Hills, Pennsylvania is Alabama.” Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Executive Director Chad Lassiter never believed that. “You have counties full of people who love their children, their families and their...
Allegheny General Hospital emergency department preps for $43M expansion
Allegheny Health Network announced Tuesday a major expansion and renovations of the emergency department at its flagship Allegheny General Hospital on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The $43 million project will add 17 beds — bringing the total to 48 — and redesign much of the interior in five phases, bringing the...
Reports: Trump’s planned EPA overhaul jeopardizes Energy Star appliance program
Any budget-aware, environmentally conscious consumer scouting out new appliances knows to look for the Energy Star label. The familiar blue-and-white logo – stuck on refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, heat pumps, washers, dryers, water heaters and air conditioners – signifies cost savings and efficiency. But the program, run by the U.S. Environmental...
Penn State disappointed but doesn’t refute report on narrowed campus closure list
Penn State officials expressed disappointment over — but failed to refute — a report that disclosed seven commonwealth campuses are slated to be eliminated as part of a university austerity plan. The Fayette and New Kensington campuses in Southwestern Pennsylvania were among the seven. “It is regrettable that our communities...
Report details Penn State New Kensington, Fayette’s plights as campuses recommended for closure
Penn State New Kensington has “struggled to maintain relevance and scale” in the Pittsburgh region’s competitive higher education environment. And Penn State Fayette has enrollment, demographic and operational challenges that make it unsustainable. That’s the reasoning behind the Penn State administration’s recommendation to close those two campuses — and seven...
Terminal Tour: A look inside Pittsburgh International Airport construction
Pittsburgh International Airport opened its doors for tour of the nearly 90% complete terminal modernization, offering a look at the nearly $1.7 billion transformation. The terminal is set to reach “substantial completion” by the end of June, according to project officials, the final touches —will continue after the public opening....
Eberly family disheartened over PSU Fayette campus potential closing
Robert Eberly Jr. is keenly aware that part of his family’s legacy hangs in the balance as a decision looms about the future of the Penn State campus named for his father. Renamed Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus in 2004, the site in the largely rural county is among...
Lower Burrell Fire Co. 3 excited for future with new rescue-engine
A custom-made rescue engine for Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 3, once deployed in 2028, will lower the number of vehicles in the company’s fleet but increase efficiency of emergency responses, its fire chief says. Company leaders last week signed a contract with Ohio-based Sutphen Co. to build a...
Judge in Johnstown becomes 1st in U.S. to uphold use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans
A federal judge in Johnstown on Tuesday ruled the government may remove Venezuelan citizens thought to be members of a violent gang under the Alien Enemies Act — but only if they are given 21 days notice and “an opportunity to be heard.” The 43-page opinion, written by U.S. District...
Latest Pittsburgh mayoral debate focuses on GOP candidates vying to reverse 100-year-trend
Pittsburgh’s Republican candidates for mayor were grilled for a solid, commercial-free hour Tuesday night during a live debate on WTAE. Artificial intelligence, education, economic development, homelessness and public safety were some of the issues the candidates touched on as they explained why Pittsburgh needs to break from a century of...
Hempfield Area to present new details on high school renovation, district budget next week
Hempfield Area School Board will present next week a schematic design for the district’s high school renovation. The district has discussed in recent years overhauling the high school building — gutting and renovating the interior while leaving most of the exterior intact. School officials declined to share details of the...
Norwin school board to consider maximum allowed tax hike under state index
Norwin school board members will vote later this month on a preliminary 2025-26 district budget that could include a 4.67-mill tax hike. At the board’s non-voting meeting Monday night, President Bill Bojalad requested that finance director Ryan Kirsch prepare a version of the new budget that includes the tax hike,...
Dancing instructor brought Broadway style to Irwin, inspired generations of students
Janet Naughton had the spirit of a Broadway hoofer and the calling to share her talent with generations of younger aspiring dancers. Naughton, who died Thursday at 88, wasn’t tall enough to realize her dream of becoming a Radio City Rockette. But she was overjoyed when students at her Irwin...
Ticktock: Officials unveil 2026 NFL Draft countdown clock
Football fans wondering how long they have to wait until Pittsburgh hosts the 2026 NFL Draft can now stop by the North Shore for a to-the-second countdown. The 18-foot tall clock — now showing just over 346 days — sits in the sprawling lawn across from Stage AE. The massive...
‘Everything I thought it would be’: East Vandergrift school revived as senior housing
It’s a new dawn for the old East Vandergrift Elementary School following its conversion into Morning Sun Senior Lofts. The $17 million, 42-unit affordable housing complex recently welcomed its first tenants. It came after more than five years of planning, design and construction, transforming the historic building from a crumbling...
Daughter’s threat against mother allowed as evidence in upcoming murder trial
Evidence that a New Florence woman threatened to kill her mother years before she and two teen-aged boys, according to Westmoreland prosecutors, conspired to commit murder is admissible at trial, a judge ruled Monday. Prosecutors contend that investigators overheard Melissa Sue Fox-Beacom say to her mother, “I am going to...
DA blames South Side slaying on sloppy housekeeping
The prosecution says a jury should find Destiny Jenkins guilty of homicide because her sloppy housekeeping habits set in motion the events that led to Eddie Kimber’s death. But Jenkins’ lawyer said his client didn’t pull the trigger and should be acquitted regardless of what led up to the fatal...
Penn Hills School Board candidate given go ahead after lawsuit was scrapped
A Penn Hills School Board candidate’s run for a seat will continue after a suit challenging her residency was thrown out. Board President Erin Vecchio filed a lawsuit on April 8 against candidate Qiana Buckner that accused her of living in Monroeville. A person living outside of a borough, city...
Penn State trustees to meet Thursday, but no vote on campus closures expected
Penn State’s trustees will meet Thursday morning, but a decision on branch campus closures will not be made then, according to a university spokesman. The board of trustees tentatively scheduled a public meeting Thursday to discuss President Neeli Bendapudi’s recommendation regarding the possible campus closures. University administrators in February announced...


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