Call off the state takeover. The School Board passed a $1.5 billion budget for 1998-99 with a $55 million deficit. But letters of credit from First Union Corp. and PNC Bank will help the School District borrow enough money to keep schools open next year. State legislators voted to take over the city's schools if the district's shortfall led to a shutdown of schools.

Can vouchers save schools?
Bevilacqua pitches plan to mayor

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua offered Mayor Rendell a tuition voucher plan. The proposal would allow public school students to attend Archdiocese schools with public money. It would cut expenditures since it costs the district $6,860 per student, while tuition at Archdiocese high schools is about $2,950. The mayor has not accepted the cardinal's offer.

Policy shift on car theft
Cops to respond in person

Beginning June 8, Philadelphia police will respond in person to each report of a stolen car. The policy change is designed to give people confidence in the police and reduce phoney insurance claims. Police have been taking car theft reports over the phone.

Locking out minor smokers
Store owners can be fined.

City Council has altered a bill that would have banned cigarette machines. The bill now allows businesses to use the machines, but only if they have lockout devices that require a clerk to open the machine for each sale. That way store workers can prevent minors from purchasing the cigarettes. If they don't, Licenses and Inspections can pull the machines and fine business owners if minors are caught purchasing cigarettes three times from a machine.

Street targets panhandlers
Limits panhandling outside banks

Beggars beware! City Council president John Street will introduce a bill to ban your "aggressive" behavior. It will prohibit panhandling within 20 feet of a bank entrance or ATM machine, eight feet within a building entrance, and bar anyone from sitting on a public sidewalk for more than 30 minutes in any two-hour period. Homeless advocates have criticized the bill for making scapegoats of the homeless.

Suicide at golf club
Body discovered by two 12-year-olds

The body of an unidentified man was found hanging from a tree Saturday at the John F. Byrne Golf Club at Linden and Holme Ave. The man, about 40, was believed a suicide. He was discovered by two 12-year-old boys.

The Week Ahead
Please turn to our Community Calendar

What's ahead for your week? Find out what's happening in your neighborhood by reading the area's most comprehensive listing of Northeast Philadelphia community events: The Northeast News Gleaner's Community Calendar, which appears every week in the paper and online editions.