Obituaries
April 1, 2025

Edward ‘Red’ Laatu – North Charleroi

Edward “Red” Laatu, 85, of North Charleroi, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was born June 12, 1939, in Bellevue, son of the late Leonard Laatu and the late Ella Sivic DeMarco. He was a member of the St. Andrew the Apostle Parish and was a veteran serving with the National Guard. Red was an avid sports fan. He participated in many recreational sports leagues. Surviving to cherish his memory are his sister, Rose Mary DeMarco; two brothers, Frank (...

Spring is blooming at California Area
Latest News, Main
April 16, 2026
Isabella Ehrin (left) and Eli Medve work in the greenhouse at California Area Elementary School on Wednesday morning, preparing plants for the school’s upcoming Mother’s Day hanging basket sale on May...
EF board approves new English arts program despite teacher concerns
Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
April 16, 2026
The school board did not unanimously approve the new English language arts program for middle school students. Several Elizabeth Forward teachers abruptly left Wednesday’s school board meeting after d...
Fundraiser set up after car crashes into Fallowfield Township garage
Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
April 16, 2026
Frank Rauchfuss’s Garage sustained extensive damage from the March 26 crash. The hole in the back wall of Frank Rauchfuss’s Garage is still covered by tarps, but the longtime Fallowfield Township busi...
Pa. House advances Shapiro’s $53.3B budget
Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
April 16, 2026
Last year’s budget impasse dragged on for 135 days, stopping billions of dollars in state funding from flowing to schools, counties and nonprofits across Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania House passed it...
Fire damages McKeesport apartment building
Around The Valley, Latest News
April 16, 2026
Smoke billowed from an apartment building in McKeesport Wednesday evening as firefighters worked to contain flames that broke out inside. Massive flames and large amounts of white smoke were seen comi...
Local students featured in PennWest California’s production ‘Into the Woods’
Around The Valley, Entertainment, Latest News
April 16, 2026
The production debuts 7 p.m. Friday in Steele Hall’s Blaney Theatre. For the MVI Audiences at PennWest California will soon have the opportunity to experience a magical and thought-provoking theatrica...