Sports
January 29, 2026
Vulcan softball slated fifth in preseason poll The California (PA) softball team was picked to finish fifth in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West poll, the league announc...
Leps, Warriors ready for first-place showdown
Boys and Girls High School Basketball, High school, Sports
By JEREMY SELLEW 
January 28, 2026
The Leopards won the first meeting, 70-56, earlier this season at Elizabeth Forward. Since the Belle Vernon girls basketball team walked off Elizabeth Forward’s floor with a 70-56 win back on Dec. 22,...
Stakes high for Round 2 between Warriors, Leps
Boys and Girls High School Basketball, High school, Sports
By By LIAM BELAN lbelan@yourmvi.com 
January 28, 2026
The winner will remain tied atop the section standings with Derry. The loser falls to third place. After days of snow threw a wrench into most plans, Belle Vernon and Elizabeth Forward are more than r...
McCarthy’s staff could change the sentiment
NFL, Pittsburgh, Sports, ...
SPORTLIGHT
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
January 28, 2026
Mike McCarthy might be “one of us” as a Pittsburgh guy. But even with the press conference that introduced him as the new coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he is not exactly being greeted with open ar...
Horwitz glad to have more pop in Bucs’ lineup
MLB, Pittsburgh, Sports
By By JUSTIN GUERRIERO TribLive 
January 28, 2026
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ returning players have shared their excitement regarding how the club has navigated the offseason, acquiring a multitude of proven big-leaguers. First baseman Ryan O’Hearn, sec...
‘It just seemed like it was meant to be’
NFL, Pittsburgh, Sports
Mike McCarthy formally introduced as Steelers head coach
January 28, 2026
The former Green Bay and Dallas coach said he’d love for Aaron Rodgers to return next season. PITTSBURGH (AP) — The tears started early for Mike McCarthy. Really early. Considering the setting, it was...
Sabalenka, Svitolina to meet in semifinals
Sports
January 28, 2026
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A searing hot day turned into a sweltering night at the Australian Open and eventually Coco Gauff let off steam, shattering her racket after a lopsided loss to Elina Svitol...
McCarthy reveals plans for offensive, defensive schemes
NFL, Pittsburgh, Sports
By By CHRIS HARLAN TribLive 
January 28, 2026
The Steelers new head coach revealed he will call the offense on gamedays. Playcalling won’t be a job requirement for whomever Mike McCarthy hires as offensive coordinator. As the Pittsburgh Steelers’...
Australian Open: A look at the heat policy down under
Sports
January 28, 2026
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open put its Extreme Heat Protocol into play on Tuesday for the second time in this tournament. The policy uses a ‘Heat Stress Scale’ ranging from 1 to 5 and...
Payton’s gamble: The decision that derailed the Broncos
NFL, Sports
January 28, 2026
DENVER (AP) — With a blizzard bearing down on Empower Field at Mile High, coach Sean Payton went for the jugular instead of the points, short-circuiting the Denver Broncos’ drive to Super Bowl 60. “Th...
No. 4 Duke is suddenly blowing out opponents
NCAA, Sports
January 28, 2026
Blue Devils are dominating inside as they stay unbeaten in ACC play. DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Duke coach Jon Scheyer entered January seemingly grappling a bit with exactly how to bring out the best from hi...
Sports
January 28, 2026
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN) 6:30 p.m. - FS1 — Baylor at Cincinnati 7 p.m. - ACCN — California at Florida St. 7 p.m. - BTN — Southern Cal at Iowa 7 p.m. - CBSSN — Davidson at Georgia Tech 7 p.m. - ESPN2 —...
Rodgers, McCarthy share complex relationship
NFL, Pittsburgh, Sports
By By CHRIS HARLAN TribLive 
January 27, 2026
Fifteen years after Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy won a Super Bowl together, the quarterback and coach could reunite in Pittsburgh. Their reunion became an option once the Steelers decided Saturday ...
Pitt gets first schedule with nine ACC games
NCAA, Pittsburgh, Sports
By By JUSTIN GUERRIERO TribLive 
January 27, 2026
The ACC revealed its 2026 football schedule Monday evening, including Pitt’s full 12-game slate, which includes nine league contests. The Panthers begin the season Sept. 5 against Miami (Ohio) and hos...
Wade making instant impact at Slippery Rock
NCAA, Sports
By JEREMY SELLEW 
January 27, 2026
After helping her Slippery Rock team beat up on her dad’s alma mater, California (Pa.), former Mon Valley Independent-BeeGraphix Super 6 Player of the Year Iyanna Wade, continues to show that she’s go...
Darnold a win from elusive Super Bowl win for 2018 class
NFL, Sports
By By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer 
January 27, 2026
Sam Darnold will be starting in the Super Bowl before Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and the rest of the NFL’s Class of 2018 quarterbacks. It took Darnold five teams and eight seasons to get here. Darnold ...
BASKETBALL HONORS
High school, Sports
January 27, 2026
The Belle Vernon Area Middle School basketball teams capped off a perfect season after beating Greensburg Central Catholic Friday. Both the 8th-grade team and 7th-grade team finished 15-0 on the seaso...
NFL, Sports
January 27, 2026
McDaniel officially joins Chargers LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike McDaniel has agreed to become the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator. The Chargers announced the hiring Monday of Mc-Daniel, who spe...
QB-development skills led Steelers to McCarthy
NFL, Pittsburgh, Sports
By By CHRIS ADAMSKI TribLive 
January 27, 2026
As the Pittsburgh Steelers’ search for a worthy successor to Ben Roethlisberger approaches its second half-decade, Art Rooney II acknowledged that the team’s choice of its next head coach was highly i...
Pirates abuzz with top overall prospect Griffin
MLB, Pittsburgh, Sports
By By KEVIN GORMAN TribLive 
January 27, 2026
Some of the biggest buzz for the Pittsburgh Pirates surrounded a shortstop who was neither in attendance at PiratesFest nor has played a game yet in the major leagues but is being billed as a future s...