Latest News
June 11, 2019

‘Invisible Hand’ showing set

By Mon Valley Independent

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

A documentary about the “community rights” movement will be screened in Elizabeth at 7 p.m. Friday at the Grand Theater. There will be people on hand to answer questions about establishing a home rule government in Elizabeth.

Director Joshua Pribanic of Public Herald Studios, Judy Wanchisn of East Run Hellbenders Society, Grant Township Supervisor Stacy Long, and Chad Nicholson of the Community Environmental Rights Legal Defense Fund will attend the show to answer questions.

The documentary, “INVISIBLE HAND,” is the latest from Pribanic and Melissa Troutman, award-winning directors who’ve followed the Pennsylvania community of Grant Township on a journey to protect itself against an oil and gas waste facility that allegedly threatens their water supplies. The community passed a home rule charter and granted rights of nature to its environment with help from the defense fund. The community has since been sued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the oil and gas industry. 

“This isn’t a game. We’re being threatened by a corporation with a history of permit violations, and that corporation wants to dump toxic frack wastewater into our township,” Long said during an interview for the film.

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Wednesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.

McKeesport firefighters rescue cat stuck in tree
Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
December 17, 2025
It’s not known if the animal has an owner. Rescuing cats out of trees is something usually seen on TV shows, but it became a real-life scenario Tuesday when McKeesport firefighters had to do just that...
Elizabeth Borough wastewater system sale official
Latest News, Main
December 17, 2025
Pennsylvania American Water has finalized the purchase, completing the process that began nearly three years ago. For the MVI Pennsylvania American Water announced Tuesday it has completed the acquisi...
Monessen firefighters collect toys for kids
Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
December 17, 2025
A fire truck was filled with donations that will be distributed by the Monessen Family Center. Monessen’s volunteer fire departments held their annual toy drive Tuesday night to provide Christmas gift...
North Belle Vernon approves budget with no tax increase
Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
December 17, 2025
There’s a slight surplus in the 2026 spending plan. North Belle Vernon council adopted its 2026 budget Tuesday, holding the borough’s tax rate steady at 29 mills and continuing a 3-mill fire tax for N...
Commissioners plan to strip hotel tax revenue from county tourism to build convention center
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
WASHINGTON COUNTY
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
December 17, 2025
Jeff Kotula of the county’s Tourism Promotion Agency warns that the move would be a violation of state law. Washington County commissioners are weighing changes to the county’s hotel tax ordinance tha...
Rep. Davanzo honors lifesavers
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
December 17, 2025
State Rep. Eric Davanzo, R-Smithton, recently presented citations to Turkeytown Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Jamie Pergola and Smithton Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Marty Pon...