Pennsylvania
Scarlet tanagers could earn official status in Pennsylvania
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New Jersey flaunts the bright yellow goldfinch as its state bird. Delaware has its Blue Hen.
The red cardinal, the overachiever of all state birds, is claimed by Virginia and six other states.
And Pennsylvania? Well, it’s the only U.S. state without a designated state bird. But that could soon change.
About 100 years after the General Federation of Women’s Clubs petitioned states to designate state birds — and flowers — the Keystone state could finally get its own designated bird — or, sort of.
State lawmakers have introduced legislation to assign the scarlet tanager as the state’s official “migratory bird.”
The colorful songbird makes its way from South America to Pennsylvania to breed in the state’s forests.
“Does that mean we’re in a situation where we still don’t have a state bird?” said David Toews, a biology professor at Pennsylvania State University who has researched song birds.
Pennsylvanians claimed the ruffed grouse as the state’s official “game bird.” Bird enthusiasts say they are happy about adding a “migratory bird.”
“There’s a lot of love for the grouse. There’s a long history of conservation and hunting culture in Pennsylvania. It’s the sort of logo of the Game Commission,” Toews said. “I don’t think anyone wants to knock the grouse off its pedestal, but if there’s room for two, I would say the scarlet tanager is an absolutely wonderful bird, deserving to be a pair for Pennsylvania.”
What is a scarlet tanager?
Each spring, scarlet tanagers travel from South America to the eastern United States and parts of Canada to breed, before migrating back in early fall.
An estimated 13% of the breeding population of scarlet tanagers is found in Pennsylvania, mostly in the state’s large forests. In the Philadelphia region, they can be found in Wissahickon Valley Park and Pennypack Park.
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Crews are battling a massive blaze that has spread to multiple buildings in Columbia Borough on Saturday afternoon.
The fire was reported around 3:23 p.m. on South 4th Street, according to Lancaster County’s online incident list.
According to the incident list, the fire has been upgraded to a third alarm, meaning additional personnel has been dispatched to the area.
Photos and videos obtained by CBS 21 shows smoke and flames coming out of the roofs of multiple row homes.
Video of the fire on South Fourth Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania. (Credit: Juanita Hammond)
Dispatch was unable to confirm any additional information about the fire at this time. Injury and displacement information is currently unavailable.
This is a developing story. CBS 21 is working to learn more.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General approved a settlement agreement that will pay the contractor who worked on the security upgrades at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s private residence.
At the request of Pennsylvania State Police, Shapiro’s home in Montgomery County received over $1 million in security upgrades. The official governor’s residence in Harrisburg also received $32 million in upgrades.
These upgrades were made after the Harrisburg residence was fire-bombed in April 2025 while Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro were in the residence.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | PA governor defends $1 million in security upgrades to private home after subpoenas
Attorney General Dave Sunday said his office approved the settlement agreement to “shield the Commonwealth from further litigation” that could’ve further increased costs for taxpayers.
“Our decision on this settlement agreement is not an assessment of the need for the security upgrades or the wisdom behind them, and it did not impede the upgrades being made — the work was performed some time ago,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement. “Rather, a settlement agreement focuses on the settlement of a past due contract between a contractor, who performed the work for the agency in good faith, and the Commonwealth.”
Sunday added that he believes “a legislative appropriation would have been the quickest and cleanest solution.” He also suggested legislators look to change the law to address similar issues for future elected officials.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican who is running against Shapiro in the 2026 gubernatorial race, has pledged to protect taxpayers from having to front the bill.
“We have not yet received the request to pay or the settlement agreement. After I receive those documents, I’ll carefully review each one and pay the requisition if it is lawful and correct,” Garrity said in a statement. “Safety and security matter to everyone, but good intentions can never excuse ignoring the law.”
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — Pennsylvania State Police said they issued over 6,000 traffic citations during its “Operation Hands Off,” which targeted distracted driving.
From June 8-10, troopers across the state issued 6,013 traffic citations, 4,090 warnings and made 98 DUI arrests, according to a release.
This included 694 traffic citations and 308 warnings relating to Paul Miller’s Law, which prohibits the use of handheld mobile devices while driving.
READ MORE | Paul Miller’s Law takes effect in Pennsylvania, prohibiting phone use while driving
The law is named after Paul Miller, a Pennsylvania man who was killed by a distracted driver. It was signed into law in 2024, followed by a one-year warning period, with full enforcement beginning June 5, 2026.
The 308 Paul Miller’s Law warnings issued from June 8-10 makes up about 20% of total warnings (1,616) issued by state police last year.
Eileen Miller, Paul Miller’s mother, told CBS 21 the numbers “bring mixed emotions.”
“I didn’t fight for more than over 12 years to punish people – I fought to save lives,” she said. “Every citation is an opportunity for someone to change their behavior before a family experiences the tragedy that mine did.”
No mother wants her child or loved one attached to a law. But if Paul’s legacy is making drivers put their phones down and change their behavior and preventing even one family from receiving the heartbreaking knock on the door that I received, then then his life is continuing to make a difference. That is what Paul Miller’s law is about.
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