Mon River search in Donora called ‘unfounded’
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 12, 2026
Firefighters responded to a person in distress call Sunday that prompted a river search. Donora firefighters conducted the rescue search of the Monongahela River that was later determined to be unfoun...
Ground broken for Layton Bridge replacement project
Latest News, Main
January 12, 2026
The project will also include improvements to Layton Road. By the MVI PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and local officials broke ground last week on the Layton Bridge (Route 4038) replacement project in...
Elizabeth Township discusses response to heavy snow
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 12, 2026
Township officials handled three significant snowfalls in December. Elizabeth Township’s Public Works Supervisor Tom Methven updated commissioners at a recent meeting about how the township handled a ...
Judges see suspected AI hallucinations in Pa. court cases
Latest News, Main
January 12, 2026
A Commonwealth Court judge raised questions about the use of AI when confronted with an error-filled brief. By SARAH BODEN For Spotlight PA Veteran attorneys with a track record of arguing high-profil...
Elizabeth Township’s R-Place celebrates 35 years
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 10, 2026
Operated by Rus and Kim Svec, the restaurant provides catering services and hosts parties. Why fuss … call Chef Rus. For the past 35 years , that’s been the slogan for R-Place Event Venue, Restaurant,...
Work underway on Coen Market project
Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
January 10, 2026
Carroll Township Chairman Ken Hillman confirmed that the company has authorization for site preparation and underground work. First proposed as a rezoning request in December 2021 and met with years o...
Pa. regulators assess handling of April storm
Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
January 10, 2026
High winds resulted in massive power outages across the region. In the wake of a powerful windstorm that left hundreds of thousands of residents without electricity across southwestern Pennsylvania la...
Rostraver Township’s new tax collector sworn in
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
January 10, 2026
Jody Spedaliere was elected in November. New Rostraver Township tax collector Jody Spedaliere was officially sworn into office this week after being elected in November. Spedaliere, who defeated incum...
Taking tickets in Monessen
Latest News, Main
January 10, 2026
Caroline Guerrieri, 7, and Patti Hallam teamed up at the ticket booth Friday night for Monessen High School’s boys basketball game against St. Joseph. Smiles were free, but tickets were not. Jeff Hels...
Monessen considers tax incentives through LERTA
Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
January 10, 2026
Solicitor Joseph Dalfonso said the school district will also have to be on board to make the plan effective. Monessen council has started discussions for a potential Local Economic Revitalization Tax ...
Shooting for the moon at California Area Elementary School
Latest News, Main
January 9, 2026
From left, first-grader Kennedy Kaminski and sixth-graders Amora Grillo and Brenley Farner work on individual projects Thursday afternoon in Susan Bitonti’s Moonshot Program class at California Elemen...
Jury finds Monessen parents not guilty of child endangerment
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 9, 2026
They were acquitted on two felony charges. By RICH CHOLODOFSKY TribLive Felicia Dugan embraced a friend and sobbed Thursday afternoon outside a Westmoreland County courtroom after a jury found her and...
Major sewage project likely ahead for Monessen
Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
January 9, 2026
Mayor Ron Mozer warns it will be a “huge logistics issue” once it begins. The Mon Valley Sewage Authority gave a presentation Thursday to Monessen City Council on what the city can expect from a poten...
North Belle Vernon officials sworn in for new year
Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
January 9, 2026
Mayor Craig Ambrose and four council members were sworn in. North Belle Vernon officials took care of routine reorganization business Monday night, swearing in the mayor and council members and opting...
Taxpayer Relief Act to be considered
Latest News, Main
MCKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL BOARD
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 9, 2026
The board will also vote on changes to the district’s website at a meeting next week. A short McKeesport Area school board meeting was held Thursday to go over some items that are set to be voted on J...
City man gets 2 life sentences for murders
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 9, 2026
Relatives mourn a mother and the “very kind and gentle soul” whose lives were cut short. By JUSTIN VELLUCCI TribLive Pennsylvania state law required an Allegheny County judge Wednesday to sentence a M...
Shapiro launches campaign for reelection
Latest News, Main
January 9, 2026
He made formal announcements Thursday at events in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is running for a second term in the pivotal battleground state aft...
‘Long overdue’: Tenaska power plant faces hearing on emissions, monitoring
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
January 9, 2026
A Feb. 4 session will address the Smithton-area facility’s air and water permits. By JOE NAPSHA TribLive From his Mendon Road horse farm, Eric Metz watches white clouds billow daily from the 940-megaw...
Hotel tax revenues doled out to help promote tourism
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
January 9, 2026
The $632,000 is the most ever awarded, and it’s 15% more than was handed out a year ago. By RICH CHOLODOFSKY TribLive Dwight Brown knows that word of mouth isn’t enough to sustain business growth. Bro...