WZUM is the Pittsburgh Jazz Channel! Support the service and the growing jazz community with a click at the Donate Now button We use cookies and similar technologies to run this website and help us understand how you use it First Wednesdays at the Blind Pig Erin Burkett - Virgil Walters at the Blind Pig Saloon Virgil Walters - Bass; Max Leake - piano; Eric DeFade - sax WZUM's Jazz Central - for live Jazz events in the Pittsburgh Region. Send your information about live jazz in an email to info@wzum.org Powered by Listener Members © 2018 Pittsburgh Public Media PO 456 South Park PA 15129 412-322-8500 Main Office | 412-322-1800 Membership Hotline TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need West Mifflin police officers left a visibly injured assault victim untreated in a holding cell for more than nine hours after arresting him last summer according to a federal civil rights lawsuit filed Monday alleges West Mifflin and seven police officers were at fault in the July 8 Officers watched as Vong crawled around in his cell kicking and flinching in “pain and agony” from a head injury Vong’s family alleges the police department lacked policies and training for officers governing how to handle people in custody the 31-year-old man from New Kensington was left to suffer from “untreated brain hemorrhaging culminating in his slow and painful death.” An autopsy report found Vong died from untreated trauma to his face and head The lawsuit also alleges Vong was handcuffed so tightly his wrists were cut and bleeding we’re all devastated by what happened,” Jonathan Nguyen said during a news conference Monday in Downtown Pittsburgh at the offices of lawyer Alec Wright He was joined by about 20 of Vong’s relatives some of whom cried as Nguyen recalled how Vong Wright filed the lawsuit on behalf of Angie Vong Lookabill Vong’s aunt and the administrator of his estate The complaint names as defendants two people it said were West Mifflin police officers during the incident Ronald Bobick and someone identified only by the last name Cheslock It also lists five unnamed defendants: John Doe police officers 1-5 said he and other borough officials cannot comment on pending litigation A West Mifflin police arrest report provided to TribLive by Wright indicates Vong was arrested at 2:56 a.m The heavily redacted report states Vong was being charged with a nontraffic citation for public drunkenness who was listed as the victim in the police report told TribLive he never spoke to Vong and his only involvement in the incident was calling police when someone banged on his door at 3 a.m Wright said the police blacked out almost the entire page-long narrative describing what happened Vong was assaulted early that morning while celebrating the Fourth of July with friends The lawsuit offers no details about the assault Vong approached homes and a gas station seeking medical help Police who responded to calls about Vong found him “injured delirious and seeking medical attention.” The lawsuit indicated Vong had “visible injuries to his face bleeding and bruising that were consistent with significant trauma officers left Vong “without justification” in a West Mifflin Police Department holding cell for about nine hours and eventually Vong lost consciousness on the cell floor When officers eventually found him unconscious rescue breaths or other basic first aid efforts Vong went into a coma and died three days later The West Mifflin police report lists Vong as being from New Kensington Wright said Vong was living with his mother there The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office Wright said he believes that’s where the mother of Vong’s children lived The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages Allegheny County Police investigated Vong’s death and turned over their findings to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office The DA’s office declined to comment Monday Mourning relatives keep photos of Vong in their homes and cars Everyone hangs out with people they shouldn’t hang out with be in places that they probably shouldn’t be in That shouldn’t be a death sentence,” Nguyen said He questioned why officers didn’t help Vong as he sat in a holding cell “He shouldn’t be dead right now,” Nguyen said Julia Burdelski is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jburdelski@triblive.com Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVE 1-800-909-8742 © 2025 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved About Us Advertise Career Opportunities Contact Advertising Contact Circulation Contact Newsroom Contact Us Feedback Request Correction Resource Center Scholarship Opportunities Send Letter to the Editor Send News Tip Subscribe Subscriber Services Blog eFeatures Email Newsletters eTrib Facebook Home Delivery Instagram LinkedIn Marketing Minute Store Locations TribLIVE App - App Store TribLIVE App - Google Play X (formerly Twitter) Arts & Entertainment Best of the Best Business Directory Circulars Contests Coronavirus Lifestyles Local News YaJagOff Obituaries Opinion Our Publications Photos Real Estate Sports Video Weather Cookie Settings Privacy Policy Terms of Service ResearchNew Kensington to host Research and Student Engagement Expo on April 15Coincides with career fair and professional networking eventCredit: Penn State. Creative Commons — Penn State New Kensington will host its annual Research and Student Engagement Expo alongside its Career Connections Day located inside the campus’ Athletics Center co-chaired by Amy Rustic and Penelope Morrison creativity and academic excellence involved with undergraduate research Penn State New Kensington students have presented on topics such as "Women’s Rights and Health in Afghanistan," "Cryptococaryon Irritans in Fish," and "Interventional Radiography in Veterinary Practice." Nearly 50 projects were featured at the 2023-24 Student Engagement Expo of which 10 students were awarded the University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award for their excellence in information literacy students will have opportunities to network and present their academic work to faculty and potential employers during Career Connections Day Exact details on this portion of the event are not yet finalized Job recruiters interested in attending Penn State New Kensington’s Career Connections Day should contact Sarah Krupp These members of Kebort’s Karate Tigers placed at the Pittsburgh Karate Championship in New Kensington recently placed first in Women’s Senior Master Blackbelt Kata and second in sparring Renshi Malahki Schroder placed first in Master 4th Dan and up (18-34) Kata and third place in sparring It’s still early in the track and field season but Southwestern’s girls are breaking long-standing school .. 3 ranking in Class C softball makes the Golden Falcons the highest-ranked local team in this .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of New York | https://www.post-journal.com | PO Box 3386 and Ryan Gould hold signs during a rally supporting Penn State New Kensington inside the branch campus’ gymnasium in Upper Burrell April 25 The 30 pieces of silver have already changed hands That’s what it feels like as a Pennsylvanian watching Penn State turn its back on the very communities that built it I’m here to speak plainly: If Penn State closes its branch campuses it is betraying the people of Pennsylvania I attended Penn State New Kensington from 2001 to 2008 I came in as a provisional student with a 1.14 GPA out of high school the fifth of six kids raised in public housing by a single mother earned grades that placed me in the top 1% of Penn State students and got into medical school — without even having a bachelor’s degree I’m now a practicing physician at one of Ohio’s top hospitals local grit and the access provided by Penn State New Kensington The branch campuses don’t just educate — they save lives the underestimated and the working-class Pennsylvanians And if Penn State chooses to go forward with these closures let me be absolutely clear: It will be doing to the people of Pennsylvania what Jerry Sandusky did to those children That abuse happened on the watch of the main campus the institution is violating the trust of the people who believed in it most It’s exactly what Penn State New Kensington — and every other branch campus — was meant to do These campuses are embedded in Appalachian towns and Rust Belt cities They’re in places where opportunity doesn’t just knock — it needs to be airlifted in Without legacy admissions or ivy-draped buildings Shutting them down is an admission Penn State no longer wants to be a land-grant university But let’s be honest — when the real scandal hit the betrayal of children by a predator protected by silence that didn’t happen in a branch campus parking lot It happened in the heart of the very system now claiming to know what’s best for us So don’t tell me this is about “enrollment” or “sustainability.” You don’t cut lifelines to struggling communities while inflating administrative salaries and recruiting out-of-state students like a for-profit diploma mill And don’t tell me this is about “strategic realignment.” We see exactly what it is: abandonment Let’s not pretend this wasn’t decided long ago The 30 pieces of silver have already been accepted Penn State was never meant to be an elite gated community for out-of-state tuition dollars and corporate interests who raised six kids alone in a housing project who graduated high school with a 1.14 GPA but clawed their way into medical school because a local campus existed just over the hill It was built for the families still living in New Kensington Mont Alto — people who don’t need a “global research hub.” They need a chance And you’re doing it while standing on the shoulders of the very Pennsylvanians who funded this university and bled blue and white when the brand was toxic let history show: You didn’t just close campuses you did to the working people of Pennsylvania what Jerry Sandusky did to its children William Dailey is a New Kensington native and graduate of Burrell High School Renshi Malahki Schroder placed first in Master 4th Dan 18-34 Kata and third place in sparring PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the NFL draft with a very real need at quarterback Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of Pennsylvania LLC | https://www.timesobserver.com | PO Box 188 This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time — Penn State New Kensington hosted its Scholarship Luncheon on April 16 celebrating the generosity of donors and the achievements of student recipients senior director of campus development (southwest region) “[Our students] are the future leaders and the embodiment of the dreams that Penn State New Kensington strives to fulfill,” Chasin said inspires excellence and ultimately strengthens our community.” senior director of enrollment management for Southwestern Pennsylvania “Many of our students juggle one or even two jobs and some also support their families financially,” Smith said a scholarship isn’t just a monetary gift — it’s peace of mind It’s the ability to concentrate on their studies a senior business major focusing on accounting she has held leadership roles in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee She also played college basketball and volleyball “When I first arrived at [Penn State New Kensington] and working to pay my college tuition,” Usko said I can tell you that every bit of financial support is a blessing to the awardees I have found these scholarships have not only decreased the financial burden Usko dedicated more time to campus and community initiatives As president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee she worked to connect student-athletes with local families and organized the campus’ first Trunk or Treat event bringing together students from all majors sports and clubs to engage with the New Kensington and Burrell communities Former Penn State New Kensington CEO Robert Arbuckle displays one of the books in the Elisabeth S Blissell Library at the PSNK campus in Upper Burrell Robert Arbuckle has myriad suggestions for what Penn State could do to combat declining enrollment and financial issues at its branch campuses “You have to use your imagination and be creative,” said Arbuckle who was the Upper Burrell college’s CEO from 1977 to 1992 “There are alternatives that are more productive to the university than closing these campuses.” University administrators in February announced that 12 out of Penn State’s 19 Commonwealth Campuses — including Beaver Greater Allegheny and New Kensington — could close after the 2026-27 school year because of declining enrollment and finances Penn State would be making a major mistake by closing the campuses “that’s what these campuses were created to do.” of Plum envisions that the Southwestern Pennsylvania campuses could be specialized an entrepreneur training center and co-working space The Fayette campus is a logical location for a focus on agriculture or agribusiness is prime for an urban focus — with programs centered on business administration Beaver could tap into the nearby Pittsburgh International Airport and create programming to boost that industry or supplement urban-related programs with McKeesport Arbuckle also suggested eliminating dormitories at the branch campuses as a way to save money When Arbuckle left Penn State New Kensington he became president of Lake Superior State University in Michigan from 1992 until his retirement in 2002 the university worked with labor unions to offer credit for apprenticeship training and skilled craftsmanship Arbuckle also fears closing branch campus won’t win Penn State any favors from state lawmakers The university relies on the state for a good portion of its appropriations Closing campuses could negatively impact that in politicians’ minds He sent letters to Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi outlining his suggestions “She said she would take it into consideration,” he said three degree programs were added at New Kensington in the 1980s: a bachelor’s in electromechanical engineering technology an associate in radiology sciences and an associate in biomedical engineering technology “We added these programs in response to community need,” he said is radiology operations manager at Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital He estimates about half of his staff are PSNK graduates from the radiology program “there would be even more of a technician shortage than there is now,” Tutak said “Almost every student who graduates now is offered a position in the local area “There would be a serious impact not having these students in the area anymore.” have warned of the negative impact that losing Penn State New Kensington could have on the local economy Closing Penn State New Kensington would lead to job loss reduced local spending and a weakened workforce A talent drain would result — young people who might have attended Penn State New Kensington would be forced to go elsewhere Penn State New Kensington’s radiological sciences program is one of two in the Pittsburgh region that is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology It’s the only location in the Penn State system that offers a degree in radiologic sciences “It’s a very demanding program: They require a lot out of you to be able to move up and be successful,” Tutak said Penn State New Kensington’s enrollment has declined 21% over the past five years University spokesman Wyatt DuBois said the Commonwealth Campuses follow a rolling admissions process which means applications and admits will be processed throughout the summer ‘We’re thinking about closing the campus,’ what would you do if you were a young person looking for a college?” said Larry Pollock who served as Penn State New Kensington’s chancellor from 2002 to 2008 of Washington Township spent three decades as Penn State New Kensington’s director of student affairs his role was to visit 30 to 40 high schools in the area But Penn State did not anticipate a decline in high school enrollment “They didn’t adjust the programs to meet the needs The population in Western Pennsylvania — really all of Pennsylvania — the enrollment of young people is declining.” A group of Penn State New Kensington professors organized an open letter to Penn State trustees in support of the Commonwealth Campuses the campuses were suffering because they’d been designed as locations only for two-year degree programs and 2 2 programs (two years at a branch campus followed by two at the University Park main campus) “The result of growth challenges was to invest in these locations to offer four-year degree programs,” the letter said such that total enrollment across the 19 undergraduate campuses in 2011 included more than 25,000 students seeking baccalaureate degrees.” Penn State adopted “curricular integrity,” which limits the proliferation of multiple degrees that bear the same name “Smaller campuses have had to rely on the goodwill of the few deans who opened up their portfolios to make available high-demand majors at locations other than University Park,” the letter said “We have known for a very long time that our own policies and processes have hindered the growth at Commonwealth Campuses and yet no academic leadership has taken a stand to address these structural barriers.” Arbuckle noted Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses were in place before the state had revived its community college system it’s been very integrated with the renaissance of the City of New Kensington,” Arbuckle said “These campuses wouldn’t be here without the support of the local communities university faculty and students have spoken out against the closure noting its accessibility and affordability for those wanting to pursue post-secondary education has said her understanding is Penn State plans to maintain its Digital Foundry business service Petitions and legislation in response to the proposed closures continue to circulate across the state it’s a “tossup” regarding what will happen to Penn State New Kensington he said — such as what would happen with the campus “I would guess right now the decision’s been made,” he said although he’s not sure what exactly that looks like The university is non-committed at this time All of us dedicated to Penn State are urging them to reconsider but I can’t tell you where she’s going to go.” ResearchNew Kensington recognizes students with Information Literacy Award for researchCampus celebrates scholarly persistence, creativity and excellenceCredit: Penn State. Creative Commons — Penn State New Kensington has announced the recipients of the 2025 University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award for Excellence in Information Literacy this award recognizes undergraduate research projects that demonstrate exemplary information literacy skills Students presented their research at Penn State New Kensington’s annual Research and Student Engagement Expo psychology: "The Effects of a Phobic Stimulus on the Populace" biology: "Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in Cats: Is It Really ‘Cat AIDS’?" criminal justice: "Perceptions of Safety in the Presence of Campus Law Enforcement" biobehavioral health: "Investigating the Association Between Stress and Eating Habits" biobehavioral health: "he Effect of Social Media Use on the Mental Health of College Students" criminal justice: "The Ripple Effect: Friends biobehavioral health: "The Impact of Caffeine on Sleep Quality" each winner will receive a $70 award deposited to their student account and a certificate of recognition Obianuju Anyaogu can remember times in her life when she chose to turn obstacles into stepping stones rather than allowing them to become setbacks When she was in college at Slippery Rock University she overcame deep depression and suicidal thoughts I say that intentionally — choosing to win — instead of giving up,” said Anyaogu “It doesn’t mean I didn’t feel these things it means I made intentional decisions to move forward — in spite of.” she’s teaching others to love themselves through a children’s book she published last month called “I’m Awesome Positive Affirmation Book for Children.” Brightly illustrated and filled with affirmations of positivity It costs $9.99 on Kindle and $14.99 in paperback “I’m so happy to uplift people on a large scale that’s the goal for my life,” Anyaogu said She hopes the book helps children build self-esteem “We all really are awesome in our own way,” she said I hope that people read this book and can connect with the greatness inside of them and can live out their greatness.” Anyaogu’s book is a long time coming for her she would recite affirmations to him daily and write them down ‘That would be a really cool book,’” she said It was important for Anyaogu to provide these affirmations to her young son so he would grow up having a positive relationship with himself therefore having a positive relationship with others and having a better attitude when dealing with life’s challenges “What I really encourage my son — and anyone who’s reading this book — is to say it daily,” she said a fifth grader at New Kensington-Arnold School District’s Roy A “I’m really intentional about developing the mind subconscious programming and how that affects their lives,” she said Friend Zaire Bracey of Forest Hills said “I’m Awesome!” is more than a book “It’s an early invitation for kids to take control of their inner narrative,” Bracey said “I think it is an indisputable truth that we become the stories we tell ourselves — and it begins when we are children … I plan to pass that down to my son and ensure that he recognizes the power of that truth with this book.” Anyaogu was born and raised in New York City Her family moved to New Kensington in 2004 She graduated from Valley High School in 2006 and attended Slippery Rock where she graduated with a degree in business management in 2010 and Baltimore before returning to New Kensington in 2016 “It’s been a beautiful uphill journey,” she said “I really appreciate things regardless of the climate I’m really grateful to have taken this path.” Bracey said that since he met Anyaogu in 2023 at the gym Webb’s World of Fitness in Penn Hills Anyaogu has made it her mission to learn new things to help people in her community Bracey said Anyaogu proves that entrepreneurship and motherhood are not mutually exclusive “She advocates strongly for Black women and gives them a space to unveil both traumas and untapped potential that they otherwise would not have seen,” Bracey said “(She) has such a unique high-demand niche service — something both essential and rare Make Chocolate Cake.” That would serve as a lifestyle or self-help book for adults ‘Self love is the best love.’ ” she said Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com Betsy Kennon said what she got back from the funeral home that cremated him was so lovely that she was moved to thank the man responsible in person he was sympathetic and he empathized with my feelings,” Kennon said “He gave me a hug when he saw how upset I was Kennon’s memory of her February encounter with Patrick Vereb is colored differently now that he is accused of dumping the bodies of cats and dogs in landfills and giving grieving owners ashes that were not their beloved pets Vereb, 70, of Hazelwood, the owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorials, is facing multiple felony charges and a class action lawsuit He is charged with the theft of almost $660,000 from customers who paid for pet cremations returns of ashes and other services between 2021 and 2024 now can’t be certain that the ashes contained in a shadowbox with CrackerJack’s name are actually his or even if the tuft of black fur on the back came from him Kennon said she was with Vereb for only about five minutes at his location in Harrison and he thanked her for stopping in because no one else had Kennon said people have asked how they could know for certain that the ashes they receive are their pets’ other than trusting they were dealing with a reputable person Kennon told Vereb that because of what she had received from him I cannot believe he looked me straight in the face and it didn’t faze him one bit,” she said “It’s unfathomable that somebody could be that callous and that two-faced.” adopted CrackerJack in 2021 at Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley in New Kensington where she volunteers her services and as of this year became president of its board and two tabby siblings that were quickly adopted black cats are the last to get adopted,” she said “He was there for three weeks by himself.” Kennon was too distraught to bury him in her own pet cemetery where nearly all of her pets from more than three decades rest CrackerJack went to Vereb because Animal Protectors was using his funeral home for cremations because Animal Protectors is now looking for another Kennon wasn’t immediately sure how many pets Animal Protectors sent to Vereb Fees ranged from $100 for those five pounds or less up to $300 for those between 91 and 120 pounds One of Vereb’s employees, Tiffany Mantzouridis, took her concerns to police In addition to improper storage of pets’ bodies she found no crematory records for pets under 30 pounds and feared Vereb was giving leftover ashes from large animals to those who paid for small ones to be cremated Kennon euthanized Tami Haslett’s 8-year-old cat a member of the Animal Protectors board who lives in the Banksville section of Pittsburgh took Ralphie to Vereb at his facility in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood Haslett felt comfortable entrusting Ralphie to Vereb after her veterinarian had sent three of her dogs to him for cremation in 2016 “Little did I know,” Haslett said and described him as having been short and rude on the phone “Maybe he was having a bad day,” she said When she heard of the charges and accusations against Vereb “You trusted they were going to take care of them and get them back to you and they assured you of that,” she said to think my animals may have been thrown in a landfill somewhere just breaks my heart.” The shadowboxes and ashes Haslett got from Vereb are part of a memorial on her mantle to the pets she’s had since 1986 if they’re not my pet they’re somebody’s It would seem not right to throw them out,” she said “I still would probably treat them with respect It’s just sad you’re pretty sure it’s not them.” Kennon still has CrackerJack’s shadowbox Since Vereb is accused of mishandling pet remains from 2021 to 2024 “He’s the only one that knows,” she said Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com a veterinarian and president of Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley in New Kensington With Vereb now facing charges for mishandling pet remains Kennon can’t be sure if the ashes inside the shadowbox are from her cat he was sympathetic and he empathized with my feelings,” Kennon said “He gave me a hug when he saw how upset I was Kennon’s memory of her February encounter with Patrick Vereb is colored differently now that he is accused of dumping the bodies of cats and dogs in landfills and giving grieving owners ashes that were not their beloved pets now can’t be certain that the ashes contained in a shadowbox with CrackerJack’s name are actually his Kennon said people have asked how they could know for certain that the ashes they receive are their pets’ I cannot believe he looked me straight in the face and it didn’t faze him one bit,” she said “It’s unfathomable that somebody could be that callous and that two-faced.” black cats are the last to get adopted,” she said “He was there for three weeks by himself.” Kennon wasn’t immediately sure how many pets Animal Protectors sent to Vereb One of Vereb’s employees, Tiffany Mantzouridis, took her concerns to police In addition to improper storage of pets’ bodies Kennon euthanized Tami Haslett’s 8-year-old cat took Ralphie to Vereb at his facility in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood “You trusted they were going to take care of them and get them back to you to think my animals may have been thrown in a landfill somewhere just breaks my heart.” The shadowboxes and ashes Haslett got from Vereb are part of a memorial on her mantle to the pets she’s had since 1986 It would seem not right to throw them out,” she said “I still would probably treat them with respect It’s just sad you’re pretty sure it’s not them.” What started as a sewer repair in a New Kensington alley has devolved into a public safety and health hazard “It’s technically not a sinkhole but it turned into one,” said Vince Davis “The hole originally was like (the width of) a manhole it’s probably bigger — at least 12 by 14 feet (wide).” The hole is located on Moss Alley in a residential part of New Kensington “It’s going to get bigger if something doesn’t happen,” said Sierra Sweitzer Davis said the situation started about four months ago when a homeowner’s sewer project went awry It’s since sat there and the hole has gotten bigger and deeper as the days go by While traffic cones surround the hole to keep people out who said children and adults use the alley to play and travel It’s eroded feet away to the corner of Davis’ property’s foundation It’s filled with trash,” Davis said New Kensington city officials didn’t return requests for comment Wednesday Sweitzer is also worried about neighbor children playing in the area She said the alley is impassable to vehicles because the hole has gotten so big I almost fell into it — and that was three months ago when it was smaller,” she said Sweitzer said New Kensington officials mailed letters to Fifth Avenue residents about a month ago directing them to put their trash cans on the street instead of the alley “It keeps getting worse,” she said described the situation as “horrible.” it’s a danger for these kids,” she said Davis believes if the hole is not fixed soon trash and debris stew in the hole’s stagnant water “You won’t be able to keep you windows open it was 100% worse than what it is now,” he said A fire in a planter caused minor damage Sunday to the exterior of a cat rescue in downtown New Kensington The fire at Frankie’s Friends in the 700 block of Fifth Avenue was reported about 5:20 p.m. the fire originated in a small planter outside the front entrance to the building It was caused either by a discarded cigarette or spontaneous combustion No one was inside the building at the time the fire broke out Toriano “Tido” Wilson, owner of Tido’s Corner on the same block, put out the fire with an extinguisher before authorities arrived, said Dr. Becky Morrow, founder, president and medical director of Frankie’s Friends a veterinary clinic that provides cats and other animals relief from cruelty and neglect The planter was “disintegrated” by the fire The fire did not extend into the interior of the building which Saliba said firefighters opened up to be sure it had not ignited the wood framing or insulation “We were very fortunate,” Saliba said The Giant Eagle supermarket in New Kensington is undergoing some changes to its layout A renovation of the store’s Starbucks is connected to a change in Giant Eagle’s overall layout The beer and wine department is being relocated to the middle of the store and a new Starbucks kiosk will be moved slightly — into the area where the beer and wine department was previously located “The existing Starbucks kiosk will continue to operate until the new one is complete so there will not be any interruption of service,” Drexler said “The new Starbucks kiosk will have a refreshed look and feel but the offerings will remain consistent.” Drexler anticipates the work to be complete by late summer Although a new Starbucks location opened in February just yards away in Riverview Plaza the Giant Eagle Starbucks kiosk was due for an upgrade “We are regularly reviewing all of our store locations and their features to ensure we’re keeping everything up to date for our customers,” she said the New Kensington location was due for a refresh and the timing worked nicely with the other planned changes to the store layout.” and operates its in-store Starbucks locations with its employees following Starbucks guidelines and procedures If you goWhat: Rally supporting Penn State New KensingtonWhen: 1-2 p.m FridayWhere: Penn State New Kensington main parking lot Another rally supporting Penn State New Kensington is planned this week as a decision on the Upper Burrell campus’s fate is anticipated to be made in less than a month Too Final” rally will be at Penn State New Kensington’s main parking lot in Upper Burrell Penn State in February announced 12 of its branch campuses — including the Beaver Greater Allegheny and New Kensington campuses — could close due to declining enrollment and finances A decision on which campuses will close is expected in mid-May; none would close before the 2026-27 academic year Some Penn State New Kensington professors penned an open letter to the university’s board of trustees Monday That letter is in support of an op-ed published by some trustees last week voicing opposition to the proposed closures “We ask the rest of your group to consider their primary question: when it comes to the fate of the Commonwealth campuses ‘Have all the viable alternative options and innovations been explored?’ We believe that the answer is a resounding no,” the New Kensington professors’ letter said Branch campuses closing would limit access for some students seeking a postsecondary education programs exist at branch campuses that can combat budget issues and enrollment decline A program in radiological sciences exists only at Penn State’s New Kensington and Schuylkill campuses and PSNK has the only program in biomedical engineering technology issued a statement: “The announcement that campuses would close came on Feb we have very little information about how this decision is going to be made “This rally is a chance for the Penn State New Kensington community to be together and to amplify calls from Trustees Jay Paterno and Ted Brown to delay campus closure decisions by two years while other alternatives are considered and communities are consulted.” Friday’s rally would mark the second such event in support of the New Kensington campus since the possible closure announcement was made two months ago A video recording of a March 20 rally at the New Kensington City Hall along with letters from area leaders detailing the importance of saving Penn State New Kensington and the college’s importance to the region was sent to Penn State President Dr Guzzo said he’s concerned for local current and future students having an opportunity for a quality and affordable education if Penn State New Kensington closes The mayor also noted Penn State New Kensington has played a “major role in the resurgence and revitalization of the city of New Kensington.” “We have formed a tremendous partnership and the results are undeniable,” Guzzo said “The Corner Launchbox and the Digital Foundry have and continue to be such great resources for both attracting businesses and preparing owners and employees.” A Westmoreland County judge ruled Friday a New Kensington man cannot have a new lawyer ahead of a retrial scheduled in June in connection with a fatal shooting five years ago during what police said was a botched robbery Latresse Williams, 35, was acquitted of first-degree murder following a weeklong trial last year related to the Jan A Westmoreland County jury deliberated 14 hours over two days before it rendered a mixed verdict Willaims faced a mandatory life prison sentence if convicted of first-degree murder A mistrial was declared after jurors reported there was just one holdout who did not support convictions on the remaining charges Westmoreland County prosecutors said they will argue at the retrial that Williams can be found guilty of second-degree murder — a killing that occurs during the commission of another felony — or third-degree murder — a killing committed with malice — as well as robbery A conviction of second-degree murder carries a mandatory life prison sentence Prosecutors contend Williams and a second person who has never been identified shot and killed their victim as they attempted to steal money and drugs was shot three times as he sat in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle in front of an abandoned housing project in New Kensington evidence was presented that Latresse Williams’ DNA was found on the suspected murder weapon and police said he later confessed to his role in the fatal shooting asked to have a new lawyer appointed for his defense He claimed he had a breakdown in communication with attorney Jaclyn Shaw who took over the case last year following his initial trial “I feel like there is no communication I never talked to this lady until I came to court,” Williams said Shaw said she was willing to continue to work with Williams and is continuing to prepare for the retrial Common Pleas Judge Scott Mears rejected Williams’ request for a new lawyer who have represented Williams since he was charged in 2021 “We have to keep this moving,” Mears said including allegations that he attempted to kill four people in 2019 Police contend Williams shot at three people in a parked vehicle and another nearby with the same same gun that fired the shots that killed Anthone Williams a year later Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth opened for the season on Friday The street event will take place on the fourth Friday of the month from 5 to 9 p.m Food trucks were out in force for opening evening offering just about any type of food one could think of They came from New Ken and Arnold and as far away as Pittsburgh to offer their fares Shane Dunlap is a TribLive photographer covering Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. He grew up in the Ohio Valley near Pittsburgh and has worked for newspapers as far away as Fayetteville, N.C., where he covered the U.S. Army at Fort Liberty. He can be reached at sdunlap@triblive.com Campus LifeNew Kensington to host anti-human-trafficking taskforce Jan. 30Students to receive free lunch following tabling services, presentationCredit: Penn State. Creative Commons — Penn State New Kensington will host an anti-human-trafficking presentation and tabling session featuring Kristin Malone-Bodair education outreach program manager at the Blackburn Center students and community members are invited to attend the event on Jan strongly believes there’s a disconnect between Penn State decision makers in State College and students at its branch campuses professors and community members who attended a rally Friday at the Upper Burrell campus advocating against the closure of Penn State New Kensington “A lot of people at University Park think we want to go up there,” said Carter who graduates from PSNK next month with degrees in biobehavioral health and psychology We want to stay in these communities.” The small campus environment at Penn State New Kensington was a better fit for her than attending the main campus would have been it’s much better for my needs,” said Carter “I like getting to know my professors and the smaller class sizes “I think Penn State is claiming to be a land-grant university but at the same time is not upholding that by this quick fix.” Twelve Penn State branch campuses — including Beaver Fayette and New Kensington — are at risk of closure because of declining enrollment and finances No campus would close before the 2026-27 academic year Administration intends to announce which campuses will close next month Those who spoke Friday in the Penn State New Kensington gym said Penn State New Kensington as well as the university’s other branch campuses underscored the affordability and accessibility of the colleges especially for students in rural communities is the only college that offers four-year degrees in Fayette and Somerset counties 47% of students at PSNK are first-generation college students according to an open letter from PSNK professors the number of Pell Grant recipients at branch campuses can reach 50%; at the main campus at University Park New Kensington math professor Kristen Pueschel pointed to a recent op-ed by trustees Jay Paterno and Ted Brown advocating against the closures and criticizing the current process “We’re standing together and calling for more time to make this decision and to reaffirm the importance of our campus,” Pueschel said Elected officials attending the rally included Upper Burrell supervisors Ross G Cooper said she has a House resolution urging Penn State to be transparent with its closure decisions The legislation’s co-sponsors include house Republicans and Democrats in districts where Penn State branch campuses are located That resolution calls for a process that would ensure people have access to the data and criteria being used to evaluate the campuses provide opportunity for affected communities to participate in the decision-making process demonstrate how educational access will be maintained in those communities and develop transition plans to minimize harm to students Ten people pleaded guilty this week in Pittsburgh for their roles in a cross-border drug ring that smuggled fentanyl and meth from a Mexican cartel into the United States The drugs were distributed throughout the country 19 of the 35 people arrested have pleaded guilty in federal court who served as the local connection to the drug trafficking organization in Phoenix investigators relied on more than 50 controlled drug buys and wiretaps on dozens of phones to dismantle the criminal organization which trafficked millions of fentanyl pills and hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from August 2021 to June 2023 the organization smuggled the illegal drugs into the United States inside bulk shipping containers and hidden within consumer products including nutrition supplement tubs checked in commercial airline luggage Others then sold the drugs throughout the U.S. The group was importing the drugs from Mexico the only defendant from Western Pennsylvania is scheduled to be sentenced May 28 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering and possession with intent to distribute The other defendants are primarily from Arizona Pinkston made seven trips from either Pittsburgh or Cleveland to Phoenix agents intercepted a parcel being delivered to a home in New Kensington and recovered thousands of blue fentanyl pills weighing more than 1.7 pounds Agents seized nearly five additional pounds of pills inside a suitcase of a person traveling with Pinkston at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Aug According to a search warrant affidavit in the case a recording device hidden inside Pinkston’s car captured his frustration over his missing luggage and discussions about whether it was lost by the airline or seized by law enforcement during a coordinated operation in the case nine search warrants were executed in Phoenix investigators recovered more than $200,000 Among those who have pleaded guilty in the case is Humberto Arredondo-Soto He pleaded guilty to conspiracy before U.S Arredondo-Soto was the supplier for the organization numerous military-grade guns were trafficked into Mexico for him as payment for the drugs Arredondo-Soto was arrested in Mexico in August 2023 and extradited to the United States in February 2024 Two of the defendants believed to be leaders of the drug trafficking organization Marcos Monarrez-Mendoza and Marco Monarrez Jr. The government alleged Monarrez-Mendoza and Monarrez paid Arredondo-Soto hundreds of thousands of dollars in U.S Investigators said Monarrez also paid another defendant to commit a drive-by shooting Monarrez and others provided 1 million fentanyl pills every few weeks for distribution throughout the Pacific Northwest Even while incarcerated at the Cambria County Prison Monarrez used contraband cell phones to continue to run his drug trafficking organization coordinating the distribution of 500,000 fentanyl pills from inside Paula Reed Ward is a TribLive reporter covering federal and Allegheny County courts. She joined the Trib in 2020 after spending nearly 17 years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where she was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. She is the author of "Death by Cyanide." She can be reached at pward@triblive.com Coming upWhat: Ethical Hope grand openingWhen: 4 to 9 p.m New KensingtonHours: Announced on social media Meredith Hedeen believes her newer and bigger space can provide people in New Kensington with a little more hope She is nearly quintupling the size of her store and having a grand opening Friday during Downtown New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth event “I’m really excited to see how the community takes it,” Hedeen said but it’s about seeing them enjoy the space and what it can offer.” A soft opening Saturday was “well-received,” she said The front portion of Hedeen’s new digs is a “gift shop with a little bit of everything,” she said Wares at Ethical Hope each have a story: They’re made by artisans worldwide who have overcome trauma such as human trafficking or severe poverty Products sold include home goods and decor Hedeen started Ethical Hope in 2018 with an online store She attended markets and found her way to New Kensington where she opened a small brick-and-mortar store at 932 Fifth Ave 12 — have spent the past couple of months moving into 938 Fifth Ave. which is the former Feisty Goblin game store building The old space was about 500 square feet; the new space is 2,500 The space will also be more than a store: Hedeen plans to tap into local talented artists to provide art classes and the space also has a small event room for group meetings movie nights or gatherings like baby showers “I would love to see it as a community hub: people hanging out people wanting to spend time together to make it something not just for special things but an everyday ‘want to be there,’ ” Hedeen said Like Knead Community Café with food and Olde Town Overhaul for businesses Hedeen hopes the space can cultivate life and community in downtown New Kensington entertainment and event venue all in one can feed the local economy and support other businesses operations manager for Olde Towne Overhaul and Ethical Hope’s building owner “We’re really excited to see her expansion and happy she’s been so successful in a short time,” Thom said If you goWhat: Downtown New Kensington farmers marketWhen: 9 a.m to noon starting April 19 and every Saturday through Oct goals for an upcoming farmers market in downtown New Kensington are twofold The Downtown New Ken Partnership president wants to provide healthy fresh food in the area and increase foot traffic for small businesses there The farmers market — which Thom believes is the first of its kind in New Kensington — kicks off from 9 a.m “We are trying to do it because we are in a ‘food desert,’ and we’ve been trying to find a solution to that for years,” Thom said Thom anticipates about a dozen vendors each Saturday but they will sell items ranging from meat Market vendors will accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program There has not been a grocery store in downtown New Kensington since Shop ’n Save closed in 2020 people in that area without transportation or other means are stuck with limited food options such as frozen meals or processed foods from Dollar General which aren’t as healthy as produce from the farmers market “This was the next step we could do to help solve that problem,” she said The closest grocers are Golden Dawn on Freeport Road and Giant Eagle and Aldi on Tarentum Bridge Road But those are largely out of reach to downtown residents without transportation So the downtown partnership helps sponsor a Fresh Food Shuttle service for door-to-door service available from 10 a.m People can schedule by calling 724-895-8270 New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said the community market will serve many purposes “It will be a great opportunity for our folks who live near our downtown area to have access to fresh healthy and seasonal produce,” Guzzo said “It is great for the entire city and surrounding areas to come down and support our local farmers and economy “It will be yet another opportunity for people to come downtown and do some shopping and go to our restaurants and support our downtown businesses and continue to create a great sense of community.” The partnership is still accepting interested produce vendors They can contact Thom at downtownnkmarkets@gmail.com A New Kensington man remains behind bars after was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of possessing an instrument of crime Mikesell was arraigned Thursday before New Kensington District Judge Frank J Online court records indicate Pallone denied bail because “no combination of conditions” would ensure Mikesell’s appearance at the preliminary hearing or the safety of the victims New Kensington police responded to the 1800 block of Rebecca Street at 9:43 p.m Wednesday for reports of a man struck repeatedly with a baseball bat and bleeding from his head Mikesell had left the scene before police arrived Police located a man in the home in “excruciating pain” and bleeding significantly from his head He was unable to tell police what had happened other than to say that “Brian” hit him in the head and ribs with a baseball bat EMS crews took the man to a hospital in critical condition A witness told police Mikesell had come up from the basement bathroom with the baseball bat and motioned as if he was going to swing it at the man Mikesell then struck the man numerous times with the bat A witness was able to take the bat from Mikesell The witness told police that Mikesell said I’ll get rid of the body,” before leaving the house Officers went to the hospital to visit the man where he was in the intensive care unit for several injuries to his head Mikesell is being held in the Westmoreland County jail A preliminary hearing before Pallone is scheduled for Thursday Lead water service lines soon will be replaced in New Kensington and Arnold in a project that will affect 100 residential customers in the two cities “This will replace all lead service lines We will not have any lead lines in the New Kensington water system,” said James Matta manager of the Municipal Authority of the City of New Kensington Private sections of lead service lines also will be replaced Those lines are spread throughout the city He anticipates project bidding to start in June and construction in July Matta anticipates the replacements to be complete in November The project will replace lead service lines that affect 73 customers in New Kensington and 27 in Arnold The Municipal Authority of the City of New Kensington will receive a $1.4 million state grant and a $74,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority The 20-year loan has an interest rate of 1% “Replacing service lines that have the potential to leak lead into our drinking water is a top priority but it’s also very expensive,” Pittman said “I am pleased this state funding will go such a long way toward keeping people safe while shielding them from substantial cost increases.” more than 14,000 authority customers would have seen a projected 341% increase in their fees Officials said the project also will improve the reliability of water for nearly 49,000 people and retain compliance with the federal government’s Lead and Copper Rule “This investment is a win for public health affordability and the future of our infrastructure,” Cooper said “No family should have to choose between clean water and their household budget Projects such as this ensure our communities can move forward without leaving anyone behind.” 4 associate; most of Penn State's 275+ programs start here as part of the 2+2 Plan Clubs & Organizations20+ student groups HousingPrivately owned housing is available near campus Experience a top-notch Penn State education while enjoying a close-knit campus with endless opportunities. Enroll in engaging classes, join exciting student organizations, and make the most of intercollegiate athletics. Discover what makes New Kensington campus the perfect place to grow and thrive. chevronRight iconThe Digital Foundry provides access to modern software tools and hands-on training by linking digital data and equipment in manufacturing, operations, and business management. You'll engage in cutting-edge research and receive workforce training, preparing you for successful careers in the industry. Stay active with a variety of fitness options right on campus. Enjoy the fitness center with weights and cardio equipment, play sports in the gymnasium or on the outdoor soccer field, and relax in the yoga and group fitness room. Whether you're looking to stay fit, compete, or unwind, there's something here for you. Enjoy a variety of visual and performing arts. Browse the on-campus Art Gallery that showcases works from local, regional, and international artists. 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No matter your interests, you can discover the city’s vibrant culture and sports scenes. Explore unique health care degrees like biomedical engineering technologyand radiological sciences, featuring hands-on training in advanced campus labs and partner hospitals. Alternatively, you can earn two degrees in just five years with the accelerated 4+1 program in biobehavioral health, starting at the New Kensington campus and finishing with a master's of public health at Penn State’s College of Medicine in Hershey. I love the small class sizes and personal interactions with my classmates and professors. The wide range of clubs and activities, from academic to athletic, has helped me make lifelong friends both in class and on the field. Choosing Penn State New Kensington has been one of my best decisions. Enroll in one of our degree offerings or begin nearly any of Penn State’s majors here. 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Penn State Word MarkThe Pennsylvania State University Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 1/11/2025 5:41:00 PM | - Tyler McIntosh © 2025 Slippery Rock University Athletics Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Leechburg residents are getting the chance to share their ideas A group of Penn State New Kensington business students is working on a marketing plan for the borough to attract homeowners and visitors “We want to emphasize the hidden gems and the little treasures Leechburg has to offer,” said Madaline Struhar She is working on the plan with colleagues Jack Ford The study is looking at a few facets of the town including how Leechburg can shape its identity post-industrialism and change its perceived image concerning the environment people didn’t want to swim in the (Kiski) river because it was orange,” Struhar said “We’re trying to change that stigma and idea.” the Kiski River was declared the most polluted river in the United States Orange and yellow seepage from abandoned coal mines dotted the riverside where creeks meet the river Various forms of wastewater also were predominant and the Kiski is a popular spot for kayaking of Upper Burrell is leading the team through a series of steps business owners and those who work in Leechburg “The feedback has been great,” she said “We’ve gotten so many responses from posting on NextDoor and Facebook Everyone has been very transparent and supportive.” She said a lot of feedback has focused on the town’s lack of visibility to other communities and wanting to know more about what’s happening in the borough a management and entrepreneurship professor at Penn State New Kensington said Leechburg Mayor Doreen Smeal reached out to the university for student assistance with the plan Smeal said contacting the university was a bit of a guess on whether she could find the right help “I really had no idea what I was asking for,” Smeal said in a text Herko said the request reached the school’s business department “I hope it makes a difference in changing the perception of Leechburg as a steel town to a tourist town,” Smeal said Herko said the university fields a lot of requests for student assistance and supervisors assess the work before assigning projects “I’m the first one in,” Herko said “I’m going to make sure it’s the right situation for a student.” He said Smeal took him on a walking and driving tour and discussed ways the students could be compensated for their work Ford and Zampogna are receiving credit in exchange for the study Smeal said the students are also helping to launch a website called Live Leechburg “They’re great kids,” Herko said “When they have a skill or passion they can contribute they just want to help out and they just want to be involved.” Herko helped the students throughout the process, including making plans for getting the word out about the borough’s 175th anniversary this year Struhar said they’ve all been learning the attractions of the town the Hyde Park walking bridge and the town’s murals “Everyone’s kind of fallen in love with this little town,” Struhar said Haley Daugherty is a TribLive reporter covering local politics, feature stories and Allegheny County news. A native of Pittsburgh, she lived in Alabama for six years. She joined the Trib in 2022 after graduating from Chatham University. She can be reached at hdaugherty@triblive.com — Eleven radiological science students from Penn State New Kensington attended the Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists (PSRT) spring conference and state meeting March 21–22 at the Blair County Convention Center made up of eight second-year and three first-year students lecturer of radiological sciences and program clinical coordinator assistant teaching professor and program director “Our students proudly and professionally represented Penn State New Kensington,” Curler said and participated in various student competitions.” Among the highlights of the weekend was the Techni-Bowl a fast-paced academic competition featuring 30 questions aligned with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam The ARRT certification recognizes individuals who have met rigorous professional standards to perform in specialized roles in medical imaging radiation therapy or interventional procedures Twelve teams from seven institutions across the state competed in the Techni-Bowl Penn State New Kensington fielded two teams The second-place team included Britta Lindgren and Samantha Wise This marks the second year in a row that the campus placed in the top three Wise was also awarded first place in the PSRT scholarship competition recognized her for meeting stringent eligibility requirements and submitting multiple essays and letters of recommendation Editor’s note: All charges against Mayona Harrington were withdrawn by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office on Jan prosecution witnesses fail to appear to testify at a hearing on the charges A relative of a woman convicted of helping a New Kensington police officer’s killer escape seven years ago is wanted for threatening to shoot a woman “like we shot up Brian Shaw,” police allege in court paperwork An arrest warrant was issued for Mayona Dania Harrington New Kensington police charged her Friday with burglary Lisa Harrington was sentenced in September 2020 to serve three to seven years in prison for helping her cousin flee New Kensington after he shot and killed Shaw after a traffic stop Nov Holt was convicted in November 2019 of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The state Supreme Court upheld his death sentence in April 2022 an officer went to the 1300 block of Leishman Avenue after a report of a group of people The people fled toward Constitution Boulevard before the officer arrived The woman who called told police Mayona Harrington came to her home with several others with the intention of “jumping” her After the woman’s friend closed the front door and locked it the woman said Harrington tried to break it down The officer reported in court records the frame of the door was caved in and there was mud and wet snow on the door The woman said Harrington made threats to “shoot you (her) up like we (she) shot up Brian Shaw,” the complaint states Others in the house identified two of the vehicles fleeing the scene as a white minivan and a silver sedan In the 1700 block of Constitution Boulevard officers reported seeing a group of people walking from near the white van owned by Lisa Harrington and going inside a residence A man answered the door and pretended nobody else was in the house and that he did not know anything Police said Mayona Harrington and Lisa Harrington arrived at their station later Mayona Harrington admitted to being at the Leishman Avenue house but said she did not know who tried to break down the door After at first claiming she arrived at the house by herself Mayona Harrington admitted to being there with others A Facebook Live video from the woman inside the home shows a woman matching Mayona Harrington’s description walking up to the front door before it is shut and locked Knocking on the door is heard followed by someone trying to break down the door while the woman inside tries to hold it shut Security footage from the home shows Mayona Harrington and a large group of people arriving in multiple cars and yelling “You was talking all that (expletive) on Facebook,” and “Come outside!” the complaint states They are then heard trying to break down the door before getting back in their cars and leaving Penn State officials have made it clear that it will close some of its branch campuses and all four of those in Southwestern Pennsylvania are among those that might close University President Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement Tuesday that she expects a final recommendation to be announced no later than the end of the current semester She expects to make a final decision before spring commencement But a Penn State spokesman said that no campuses will close before the end of the 2026-2027 academic year faculty can explore opportunities to be reassigned within Penn State and students will be provided a pathway so they can complete their degrees at Penn State Bendapudi said that Penn State’s commonwealth campus structure “cannot continue with business as usual,” and the university cannot sustain a viable branch campus system without closing some campuses “The challenges we face — declining enrollments demographic shifts and financial pressures — are not unique to Penn State but they require us to make difficult choices,” she said institutions are grappling with similar headwinds and we have reached a moment where doing nothing is no longer an option.” A team of Penn State administrators will co-lead a group that will bring a final recommendation on the future composition of the Commonwealth Campus system The seven largest branch campuses — Abington Harrisburg and Lehigh Valley — along with a graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley Those campuses make up nearly three-fourths of total commonwealth campus enrollment and two-thirds of campus faculty and staff the College of Medicine and the Pennsylvania College of Technology also will remain open But 12 other branch campuses are under consideration to be closed — including all four in Southwestern Pennsylvania: unidentified branch campuses will close in two years Penn State will continue extending offers and admitting new students for this fall at all commonwealth campuses “It’s a slap in the face,” said Penelope Morrison biobehavioral health program coordinator at Penn State New Kensington “Many of the students here come from under-resourced communities and a lot have chosen to come here because they want a Penn State education without going bankrupt They come from communities that are not privileged in any way and they are trying to better themselves.” Penn State New Kensington offers 12 bachelor degree programs and five associate degree programs as well as four men’s and four women’s sports Morrison said she had heard rumblings of campus closings so the news didn’t come as a complete surprise She understands there are other factors at play but is frustrated with the process She said there has been a lack of staff input “The faculty are here because we care about these students,” she said “Some of our kids need to be in a smaller environment If it had not been for my own experience with a small campus said cost and convenience were among the reasons she chose Penn State New Ken over other campuses She already is plotting next moves in the wake of Tuesday’s news “The lack of information is what’s really bothering most of the students,” Garland said “They say they’ll remain open through 2026-27 but that still doesn’t change what’s going to happen.” Garland and others will have to find an alternate college that offers the same major and accepts transfer credits they’ll be forced to pay more — and live away from home “Part of the reason I chose New Kensington is the fact I don’t have to live in a dorm,” she said I’d have to basically rearrange my entire life for one final year of college unless they made the decision to tell us sooner It’s very distressing to be left in the dark and I think some clarity about the situation would ease a lot of students’ minds.” The PSNK campus in Upper Burrell was founded in 1958 to serve students across the Alle-Kiski Valley Operations moved to the current address along Seventh Street Road in 1966 after Alcoa donated 35 acres of land the school bought 30 additional acres of farmland to expand Upper Burrell Township Supervisor Ross Walker said the impact on the township would be devastating if the campus shuttered Aside from being a “wonderful friend to the community,” Walker said It would negate the local services tax paid by employees as well as dollars spent in the community by the more than 500 students “I would hate to see them go,” Walker said “We have made enhancements in enrollment management fought for parity in state funding and sought new ways to expand access,” Bendapudi said enrollment at many of our Commonwealth Campuses continues to decline and many of the counties that host these campuses are expected to decrease in population for the next 30 years we must make hard decisions now to ensure Penn State’s future remains strong.” enrollment in the nine bachelor’s degree programs and five associate degree programs has been on a steady decline The fall 2024 enrollment of 407 students reflected a nearly 30% drop since 2020 (577 enrollment) Fayette County Commissioner Dave Lohr said he’s praying Penn State Fayette won’t close “It would be very devastating,” Lohr said The campus provides benefits to the county on multiple levels not least being the educational opportunities it offers He said the four-year Fayette nursing program has been a boon to the area never more so than during the shortage of nurses that has been a challenge since the covid-19 pandemic began in 2020 “There are a lot of people there now for nursing,” he said “There’s such a need in the medical world.” “could really hurt our local hospitals and health care providers.” Closure of the campus also would take a toll on the local economy “People spend their money when they’re here,” he said “People may move here just to go to the school.” it employs about 40 faculty and 60 support staff members executive director of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce wasn’t happy when she learned Penn State is looking to shutter some of its sites, “I can’t imagine Fayette County without Penn State,” she said “It’s an incredible partner here in the county just so many things that go on over there.” Nuttall said the campus plays host to programs that benefit people from outside the university including community walks and a STEM competition in hydraulics and pneumatics for area middle school students The chamber has held its legislative luncheons at the campus and a local workforce partnership program also meets there Nuttall also discussed the Penn State campus’ role in regional postsecondary education “There are so many people who come through their nursing and business administration programs,” she said “We’ll hope for the best and hope (Penn State) understands the importance of that campus to a rural community.” New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said he plans to meet with Bendapudi to reinforce the impact of Penn State New Kensington on the city manufacturing and economic growth have come through collaborations such as the Digital Foundry and The Corner Launchbox we would be considered first and foremost for the kids of our area and also for the people who are employed there but also for the impact they’ve had on our revitalization,” Guzzo said “We’ll do everything we can to impress on Dr Bendapudi the opportunities that have been provided that are life-changing.” But Bendapudi said in her statement: “We have exhausted reasonable alternatives to maintain the current number of campuses ”We now must move forward with a structure that is sustainable one that allows our strongest campuses — where we can provide our students with the best opportunities for success and engagement — to thrive while we make difficult but necessary decisions about others.” “We know that change of this magnitude is deeply personal for students and we are fully committed to providing support to minimize personal impacts,” wrote Wyatt DuBois director of University Public Relations for Penn State “Campus leaders are working to schedule listening sessions with their communities and every student has the opportunity to connect with staff on their campus to discuss their personal situation.” A man involved in a standoff with police last month in New Kensington was handling two loaded guns and might have tried to blow up a house with a natural gas explosion according to new charges filed against him New Kensington police withdrew their initial charges against Burnell Johnson of Pittsburgh stemming from the standoff on Taylor Avenue Police at first charged Johnson with misdemeanor counts of simple assault He now is charged with two counts of prohibited possession of a firearm and risking a catastrophe Johnson was arrested after a SWAT unit was called to a home in the 1100 block of Taylor Avenue on Dec A woman told police Johnson punched her as she was driving him to Taylor Avenue after he had gotten into a fight at Valley’s Bar on Seventh Street where a babysitter and children were inside After the babysitter and children were known to be out Johnson eventually came out and surrendered police obtained a search warrant and found two guns in the residence A 9mm semiautomatic pistol found on a living room mantle had a round in the chamber and fresh blood on the grip and frame was found in an upstairs bedroom and also appeared to have fresh blood on its frame It contained a loaded magazine and a round in the chamber The woman told police both guns had been hidden in a secure location in a bedroom and unloaded Johnson was the only person who had been bleeding He is a convicted felon who is not allowed to possess a gun after being convicted in May 2019 in Louisiana of burglary and illegal possession of a stolen gun SWAT officers found smoke inside the house and had the electricity and natural gas shut off Firefighters could not find any active fire but asked about the oven being open While being taken to the county jail by two officers “That fire was for y’all when you came in with that gas,” according to the complaint A Westmoreland County public defender was representing Johnson on the initial charges but could not say Tuesday if he would be representing him on the new charges Johnson continues to be held in Westmoreland County jail in lieu of $75,000 bond His preliminary hearing on the new charges is scheduled for Jan 30 before New Kensington District Judge Frank J Westmoreland County authorities recovered two stolen guns while serving protection from abuse and eviction orders in New Kensington on Wednesday morning The Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office charged Ralph Earl Scott Jr. of New Kensington with two counts of prohibited possession of a firearm and two counts of receiving stolen property along with a loaded extended magazine and additional ammunition were found in Scott’s bedroom at a house in the 1100 block of Ross Avenue The Glock’s owner said he reported to New Kensington police Dec The owner of the Taurus said it was taken from his vehicle about two years ago and that the theft was reported to Harrison police A Westmoreland County judge issued a protection from abuse order against Scott on Tuesday required that he be evicted from the residence and give up any guns he owned or possessed While no guns were found under Scott’s name the woman told a sheriff’s deputy Scott had taken over her house and routinely carries a handgun that he has pointed at her The Westmoreland County sheriff’s fugitive apprehension unit served the protection order because of the elevated threat level Scott’s record includes juvenile convictions for aggravated assault in March 2022 and June 2023 Scott was arraigned by District Judge Henry Lee Moore and sent to the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond His preliminary hearing before New Kensington District Judge Frank J An oasis in downtown New Kensington’s food desert formed on Saturday About a dozen vendors participated in the first of the New Ken Downtown Partnership’s new series of farmers markets They’re scheduled to be held weekly from 9 a.m There has not been a grocery store in Downtown New Kensington since Shop ‘n Save closed in 2020 including Blackberry Meadows Farm in Fawn and Conoco View Dairy in Blain with Conoco View Dairy were offering raw cows’ milk Blackberry Meadows owner Greg Boulos was grilling eggs and sausage for breakfast sandwiches The first-time market was going “surprising well,” Boulos said “We’re glad to be a part of it.” The cause of a house fire in New Kensington on Thursday afternoon that took the life of a bartender at the Lower Burrell American Legion remains unclear Seguiti died in her home in the 1100 block of Strawn Avenue when fire tore through the upper floor She was inside the home as crews were fighting the fire The cause and manner of death remain under investigation Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson said “We’re doing an autopsy now,” he said Friday Autopsy results likely won’t return for about six to eight weeks He said a possible cause of death could be from smoke inhalation The State Police Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire Messages left with that office were not returned Friday Two New Kensington firefighters were taken to the hospital for burns “They’re going to make a full recovery,” New Kensington Fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr “They went to the hospital for precautionary measures.” Fire officials and neighbors reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the home Crews from across the upper Allegheny Valley responded and it took just under 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze Wind conditions made the fire more difficult to fight “I was the first firefighter on scene I went inside and when I got to the top of the steps the smoke was already down past the steps and the fire was already overhead and the heat was unbearable,” Saliba said New Kensington police and the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office were also on scene investigating said it is typical for a forensics detective to be called to such a scene “Our general assignment detectives are not involved,” she said “Forensics was called out to take pictures … It’s typical they would respond.” Seguiti worked at the American Legion Post 868 in Lower Burrell The organization said in a statement they were devastated and at a loss for words “We lost a member of our Legion family a friend and bartender who has been with us for years,” it said “Please keep Amy and her family in your prayers.” Neighbors recalled Seguiti and her family as welcoming and good-hearted people said Seguiti would often bring over food and soup for him “They were nice people,” he said Kim Louis told the kids gathered at United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington to pretend they were on a tropical island Then imagine an impending snowstorm threatened to wreak havoc on that island But the imagined tropical paradise doesn’t have any So the kids were tasked with creating their own miniature snowplows powered by balloons and cobbled together with a hodge-podge of provided materials About 20 kids in grades three through eight teamed up with volunteer mentors to construct the snowplows during Saturday’s Elevate Lunch and Learn program a New Kensington-based youth enrichment program said the Elevate program aims to help kids learn about STEM — science engineering and math — while also honing communication skills and having a good time “We use challenging STEM projects to teach communications skills,” she explained as the kids articulated ideas to one another asked questions and talked through issues with each other The children were divided into small groups led by volunteer mentors None of them — not even the mentors — knew what the day’s project would entail so everyone had to figure out solutions together “Have you ever built a snowplow before?” Mentor Neil Walker as the kids gathered around his table “We’ve got to figure this out.” gluing narrow wooden rods to plastic bottle caps “I’m not going to get a job building a snowplow,” she quipped pitched ideas for crafting the plow itself by cutting apart a cardboard cylinder to form a plow that could be attached to the front of a water bottle sitting atop the axles Johnson made with many using plastic bottles as the truck plastic bottle caps as tires and pieces of cardboard and Styrofoam to create plows Cotton balls were scattered over the tables covering tablecloths designed to look like little roads The groups blew up balloons attached to their snowplows and tried to propel them through the cotton balls to clear the roads At the table where Johnson and Matthews worked with Brooke Rutherford the first attempt pushed aside about an inch of cotton ball snow “It got some in it,” Matthews said pointing to a couple cotton balls wedged in the plow A second attempt at clearing the pretend snow from their make-believe tropical island — which they named Chill Gal Town — cleared away even more cotton balls Louis said Saturday’s event is one of several youth engagement activities Sonward offers for local kids who has previously worked at Western Psychiatric Hospital and various churches and afterschool programs said she realized when she moved into New Kensington that the community could benefit from more youth programming She intended to be only a stay-at-home mom which has grown to include a variety of initiatives over the last 14 years youth employment programs and reading help It has a community garden and hopes to soon splurge on a 3D printer “I realized there was a need for kids in the community I could fill,” Louis said The program was hit hard by the covid-19 pandemic is about more than figuring out how to complete a task like building and propelling a miniature snowplow Kids honed problem-solving techniques and communications skills while crafting their snowplows They also get a chance to socialize with peers and mentors over lunch The kids were rewarded not just by seeing their plows achieve their aims but also with small rewards at the end of the event there’s some sort of reward,” Louis said The concept I’m trying to give them is you do work and it can be enjoyable — and then you get rewarded.” attached a mini headlight to the snowplow her group was finishing she blew up the balloon she’d helped construct with tape and hot glue “It moves a little bit,” she said excitedly as the plow forced a few cotton balls out of its way