How you can help Pa. wildlife in need | Five for the Weekend

Happy Weekend, all.

As we head into the weekend, I wanted to share a story from last weekend with all of you.

Late last Sunday evening I was backing out of my driveway for a short grocery store run, when I saw an injured bird frantically flapping on the street ahead of my car, unable to get up.

Seeing the bird, which I later identified as a Sterling, I pulled over, grabbed a towel from my gym bag on the seat behind me and proceeded to move the bird from the busy road to a dark box in my garage.

Worried, and now knowing my evening plans were about to change, I immediately started making phone calls, trying to find someone who could help the bird, who appeared to have a broken wing and foot (I believe it was hit by a car).

I quickly realized that in suburban Lebanon County, I had no idea who to call. Thankfully, my first call was to a very helpful woman at a local emergency veterinary hospital who was able to give me the number for the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators (PAWR), a statewide network of certified volunteers and rescue centers equipped to help injured wildlife.

I quickly got through to a rescue in neighboring Schuylkill County that would take the injured bird, but watching his condition deteriorate I wasn’t sure he’d survive the trip.

Unfortunately, the evening ended around 10 p.m. with me tearfully trying to regroup at an I-81 truck stop after dropping the fading bird off with the rescue group.

I wanted to share this story because as spring approaches, I’m sure baby birds, rabbits and other wildlife will inadvertently find themselves in harm’s way and in need of human help.

Should you find yourself in the same or similar situation, please consult the experts about at PAWR or Wildlife in Need (WIN) for assistance.

As always, the Top 5 Most-Read Stories from this week are below.

Cheers to a leisurely weekend,
Cassie Miller, Associate Editor

The months after November’s presidential election have been filled with conspiracy theories, lies and myths about the security and integrity of U.S. elections, led by former President Donald Trump and many Republican leaders.

As a result, polls show that more than half of Republican voters wrongly believe that President Joe Biden and his supporters engaged in fraud to steal the election—a view backed by most congressional Republicans and scores of state and local GOP officials.

Pointing to their constituents’ doubts, GOP lawmakers in at least 28 states have introduced more than 100 bills to tighten voting rules, according to a recent report from the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law. The bills would, for example, add new voter registration requirements and scale back or eliminate voting by mail, which voters flocked to during the pandemic. Supporters say these measures would restore public confidence in elections.

For the second time, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, has introduced impeachment articles against Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

The five articles claim Wolf unconstitutionally overstepped his executive authority — a claim that’s yet to gain traction with state and federal high courts — and cite issues with unemployment compensation, nursing homes and transparency.

“While Governor Wolf had the legislative delegated authority to declare a disaster emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Wolf did not have the authority to issue subsequent orders … that deprived citizens of this commonwealth of their most basic rights,” the articles say.

Last time, 34 lawmakers sponsored the resolution, according to legislative records. His current resolution has 30, according to the state’s legislative tracking system.

Legendary radio station manager Cody Anderson has reportedly died.

Anderson, the long-time general manager of WDAS 105.3 and a radio pioneer in Philadelphia, was considered an icon.

Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke said on Twitter, “Cody was a pioneer and giant in broadcast journalism in the Black community in Philadelphia for decades. He was a consistent, constructive, confident voice on the air. He encouraged persons of color to enter politics, to serve people and make their communities better places to live. A symbol of positivity, class and achievement for our community is gone. It is on us now to carry on in his memory and in service to others. Rest in Power, my good friend.”

A Westmoreland County woman best known for decorating an abandoned home to celebrate former President Donald Trump has been tapped by Republican Party officials to run in a special election for the Pennsylvania House.

Leslie Baum Rossi, 50, was picked to replace former Rep. Mike Reese, R-Westmoreland, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Sunday.

A popular lawmaker in House GOP leadership, Reese, 42, died of an apparent brain aneurysm on Jan. 2.

Rossi defeated four other candidates for the nod, which was decided in private by appointed party officials. Among those she beat is Angela Reese, the widow of the deceased representative and a business manager at a local church.

A top Pennsylvania Republican repeated a narrative without expert backing about Texas’ power failures during a budget hearing with state environmental regulators on Monday.

While asking questions of Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor, R-York, pressed on Pennsylvania’s preparedness for extreme winter weather, such as the record lows that engulfed the Lone Star State last week.

“Texas just went green and look what we’ve got,” Saylor said about the Republican-controlled state that leads the U.S. in natural gas production and carbon dioxide emissions. “They have 25 percent of their power coming from green energy, and they don’t have water, they don’t have electricity.”

And that’s the week. Enjoy the weekend and we’ll see you back here next week.