Clark Park was one of six green spaces in Philadelphia to receive part of a $2 million grant, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced Saturday. The grant - half from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and half from the city of Philadelphia - was a result of requests from "very, very supportive neighborhood groups that are willing to make things happen," DCNR deputy press secretary Terry Brady said.

On the Philadelphia Police Department's Web site, a colored banner boasts the murder statistics for this calendar year: 145 murders in 2008 compared to 182 by the same time in 2007. Crime on Penn's campus reflected the same general trend. Violent crime decreased significantly - 41 percent - since last year, according to the Division of Public Safety.

Theft June 12 - A female unaffiliated with the University, 49, reported that an unknown suspect broke into her vehicle and removed a GPS device that was left in plain view in a parking lot located at 3900 Filbert St. at about 2 p.m. June 11 - A male unaffiliated with the University, 20, reported that an unknown suspect removed his temporary registration sticker from his vehicle on the 4200 block of Chestnut St.

It's a Monday afternoon in June, and the question at the Graduate Student Center is: "Are you ready for some football?" The answer is a resounding yes, given that here, "football" means soccer, and the match underway isn't a step towards the Super Bowl's Lombardi trophy - it's part of the quest for the title as champion of Euro Cup 2008.

Penn President Amy Gutmann received a 41-percent pay increase last year - a jump in compensation that makes her one of only a handful of college presidents who take in more than $1 million annually. Gutmann earned a total of $1,155,634 in the 2006-07 fiscal year, the latest year for which compensation figures are available.

Provost Ronald Daniels and Associate Provost Vincent Price announced on Monday that Charles Howard will take over the position of University Chaplain effective July 1. Howard has served as interim chaplain since February 2008 and Associate Chaplain since 2005.

This summer, a Penn research team will travel to China to determine whether a drug that relieves heroin withdrawal symptoms can also be the stepping stone in a new effort to cure HIV. Penn Director of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Division David Metzger said that this one-year program plans to test a new approach to treating heroin addiction.

Almost three years after the Hurricane Katrina disaster, New Orleans is still rebuilding and requires both resources and help - and members of the Penn community are providing them. Twenty-five Penn faculty and staff volunteers went to New Orleans last week to help with the reconstruction effort by working on a Habitat for Humanity construction site for five days.

The candidates are back and Pennsylvania is once again a battleground state in the fight for the presidency - one that presumptive Republican nominee John McCain doesn't plan to concede anytime soon. McCain held a town hall meeting at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia yesterday, marking the beginning of his effort to win Pennsylvania in the general election this fall.

Former Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya pleaded no contest last Thursday to manslaughter charges in the death of Temple student Irina Zlotnikov, her ex-boyfriend's then-girlfriend, according to The Associated Press. She was sentenced to five years in jail with credit for time served by Delaware Superior Court President Judge James Vaughn and will be released in 10 months, said the AP.

Theft June 5 - A male student, 21, reported that an unknown suspect removed his unattended bike from Pottruck Gym at about 9:30 a.m. June 5 - Henry Baczynski, 36, unaffiliated with the University, was arrested for attempting to leave Fresh Grocer, located at 4001 Walnut St.

The credit crunch hit a little closer to home for many Penn students this past month, as they opened letters from Student Financial Services informing them that their current lender had stopped issuing Stafford loans due to recent market instability. According to Student Financial Aid director Bill Schilling, about 6,600 Penn students had to switch lenders for the upcoming school year.

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center announced Tuesday that Kenric Michael Murayama will assume the role of chief of surgery, effective Sept. 15. Murayama - an expert in advanced laparoscopic surgery - now serves as professor of surgery and chief of General Surgery at the University of Hawaii John A.

The College Board, the same company that brings students the SAT and AP exams, has launched a pilot program that will offer universities lists of the names and contact information of low-income, high-achieving high-school students. Penn's admissions office will be one of the first universities to participate in the program.

Philadelphia's Gayborhood was splashed with more rainbows than usual this Sunday, as thousands flocked to Center City to celebrate the 20th annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pride Parade and Festival. The parade snaked from 13th and Locust Streets, the cusp of the Gayborhood, down to Penn's Landing, where attendees were treated to entertainment headlined by Bruce Vilanch and vendors gathered to display their wares.

Theft June 1 - Joseph Robinson, 36, unaffiliated with the University, was arrested for allegedly leaving the Penn Bookstore, located at 3601 Walnut St., without paying for merchandise valued at $150, at about 7:30 p.m. May 31 - A male unaffiliated with the University reported that an unknown suspect broke a window to his secured car and removed a laptop, camera and other personal items, valued at $3500, on the 4000 block of Pine St.

Philadelphians affected by the mortgage foreclosure crisis now have more options, thanks to a new public outreach program from Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Nutter unveiled the Philadelphia Mortgage Foreclosure Protection Program on Tuesday. The plan aims to help struggling Philadelphians hold onto their homes.