Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 8, 2026
A Donora woman is accused of allegedly blocking a Ringgold school bus and yelling obscenities at the bus driver. Samantha Tatia Mitchell, 32, was charged with unauthorized bus entry, disorderly conduc...
Police search for Westmoreland Co. man linked to kidnapping
Around The Valley, Latest News
By By RENATTA SIGNORINI TribLive 
January 8, 2026
A man accused of kidnapping his wife to Kentucky fled from police Tuesday night as they attempted to serve an arrest warrant in a new case filed by Rostraver police. Latrobe police Lt. Michael Wigand ...
Monessen firefighters respond to gas leak
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 7, 2026
Monessen Fire Dept. No.1 responded Tuesday morning to a report of a gas leak in a residence along McKee Avenue. Firefighters confirmed a gas leak, placed a cross lay as a precaution, shut the gas off ...
No changes in Fallowfield Township leadership
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
January 7, 2026
Bruce Smith and Joe Sopcak will continue to serve as chairman and vice chairman. Leadership in Fallowfield Township will remain the same following the township’s annual reorganization meeting Monday, ...
Prosecutors: Monessen parents left 2-year-old twins in squalor
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 7, 2026
Their trial in Westmoreland County will continue today. By RICH CHOLODOFSKY TribLive Two Monessen parents broke the law when they left their 2-year-old twins trapped in a bedroom strewn with feces and...
Glassport swears in officials, promotes Pettis to sergeant
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 6, 2026
Council President Anthony Colecchi and Vice President Mark Stecak were reelected to their positions. By THOMAS LETURGEY For the MVI Several Glassport officials took the oath of office at Monday’s annu...
Payne-Harrison becomes first Black woman ever to serve on West Mifflin council
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 6, 2026
Mayor Chris Kelly and other officials were also sworn in Monday night. By THOMAS LETURGEY For the MVI History was made during Monday’s reorganization meeting in West Mifflin. Carla Payne-Harrison beca...
Monessen mayor, other officials sworn into office
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 6, 2026
The city will honor a longtime public servant by holding Rosalie Nicksich Day Jan. 9. Several Monessen council members and city employees were sworn in to office during Monday’s reorganization meeting...
Westmoreland slashes benefits for retired workers
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 6, 2026
Nonunion workers who are on the payroll before Jan. 1 will still be eligible. By RICH CHOLODOFSKY TribLive Westmoreland County’s salary board on Monday rescinded a policy that allowed nonunion employe...
McKeesport HBCU Vision awards scholarships
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 6, 2026
McKeesport HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Vision recently hosted its second awards and fourth annual scholarship ceremony at the Monroeville Public Library. Miracle Kelley, a seni...
Work continues on Expressway
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 5, 2026
The PA Turnpike Commission has no further plans to close Coal Valley Road, which reopened in December. Coal Valley Road is open again as construction is moving forward with the Mon/Fayette Expressway,...
LIHEAP funds available to help with heating bills
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
January 5, 2026
Pennsylvania residents can apply for assistance through April 10. As winter takes hold in the Mon Valley, some families may wonder how resources like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program can ...
Pa. offers new online tools to help those applying for SNAP benefits
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
January 5, 2026
They’re designed to reduce errors and delays and make sure state residents get the benefits they need. Residents of Allegheny, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties who rely on SNAP or other p...
For some, Dry January leads to full-time sobriety
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 3, 2026
For a variety of reasons, they have decided to cut alcohol out of their lives. By JOANNE KLIMOVICH HARROP TribLive For Scott Page, Dry January goes year-round. At the beginning of his sobriety journey...
Firefighters respond to accident on Webster Hollow Road
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 3, 2026
Firefighters were called to the scene of an accident Friday afternoon in the 600 block of Webster Hollow Road. No injuries were reported. Fire crews assisted with traffic control. Rostraver Township F...
‘Voices of the Valley’ attracting attention
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 3, 2026
It’s operated by Chad Licht, a 2024 EFHS graduate and a former school board candidate. Elizabeth Forward area resident and former school board candidate Chad Licht is hoping he can provide another ave...
Around The Valley, Latest News, Politics
January 3, 2026
Meetings in local government next week Here’s a look at the upcoming government meetings around the Mid-Mon Valley. If there’s an item or other event of public interest, we’ll include that below the l...
Washington County officials list 2025 highlights
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 2, 2026
A new 911 Dispatch Center will accompany a major $30 million replacement of the first responder radio system. For the MVI Throughout 2025, Washington County advanced key initiatives designed to shape ...
MMVTA issues guidelines to aid riders during severe weather
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
January 2, 2026
Both PRT and MMVTA provide ridership updates on their Facebook pages and on X (formerly Twitter). As winter reaches its peak in the Mon Valley, severe weather conditions have started affecting the Mid...