Business
February 3, 2026

BUSINESS NOTEBOOK

NEW YORK (AP) — Wild swings that swept through financial markets overnight are calming as Wall Street opens for trading. U.S. stocks are holding relatively steady on Monday following gains in Europe and sharp drops in Asia, while gold and silver prices rallied back from severe earlier losses. The S&P 500 edged down 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 111 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.3%. Silver erased a 9% loss from the overnight hours to rise, while gold pulled nearly back to even after briefly dropping below $4,500 per ounce. Oil prices fell, while Treasury yields held relatively steady.

Dollar Tree coming to former Rite Aid location in Charleroi
Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
July 30, 2026
Discount retailer Dollar Tree is set to move into the former downtown space in Charleroi, which has been sitting empty since the pharmacy chain’s widespread closures. As former Rite Aid stores continu...
EF approves new teacher’s contract
Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
July 30, 2026
While details were not released Wednesday, both EF officials and union members applauded the new pact. With just a month before students head back to the classroom, it appears Elizabeth Forward School...
Lawmakers, workers plan to keep pushing for Pa. to raise the minimum wage
Main
By By EMILY SCOLNICK Pennsylvania 
July 30, 2026
Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since a federally mandated increase in 2009. Capital-Star State Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) rises at the end of every legislative ses...
Around The Valley
July 30, 2026
A Monongahela man awaiting trial for a series of sex crimes against three minors spanning several years faces a new batch of charges for allegedly inappropriately touching a girl a decade ago. James B...
PennDOT, state police highlight stop sign vandalism
Around The Valley
By MICHAEL VINSICK mvinsick@yourmvi.com 
July 30, 2026
Over the past two weeks, eight stop signs have been damaged or knocked down in Jefferson and Franklin townships. PennDOT is partnering with the Pennsylvania State Police to raise awareness about a rec...