Features
January 23, 2026

Valley Garden Club

Valley Garden Club held its first meeting of 2026 on Jan. 8 at the Lynnwood Lutheran Church in Belle Vernon. Seventeen members were in attendance. President Roxanne Huss presided, led the flag pledge and acknowledged January birthdays for Dolores Coulson, Jan. 2, and Grace Martin, Jan. 9.

Valley begins digging out from major storm
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Valley begins digging out from major storm
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
January 27, 2026
School districts have shifted to remote learning, but government offices are starting to reopen. After a weekend snowstorm turned neighborhoods into sledding hills and backyards into igloo constructio...
Local officials react to violence in Minnesota
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Local officials react to violence in Minnesota
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
January 27, 2026
Tensions are higher than ever after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. After a second deadly shooting in Minneapolis, some Mon Valley and state officials are reacting to the intense immigration enforc...
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Updates provided on construction projects at EFHS
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 27, 2026
Much of the Phase 1 work is nearing completion. With a lot of the Elizabeth Forward High School construction underway, many local leaders over the last month have provided updates on the status of the...
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WEDNESDAY
January 27, 2026
Don’t miss the latest from Elizabeth Borough in Wednesday’s Mon Valley Independent.
News
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Courthouse has first full snow day since 1999
By By RICH CHOLODOFSKY TribLive 
January 27, 2026
As snow continued to pummel the region Sunday, Westmoreland County commissioners agreed to do something that had not been done in more than three decades: They shut down the courthouse. Citing public ...