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.

With gas prices still on the rise and many Philadelphia residents choosing to leave their cars at home, SEPTA is stepping up to the challenge of satisfying an increasing number of customers. In response to this higher demand, SEPTA has implemented a series of new initiatives to accommodate the heavy increase in ridership.

Former Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya pleaded no contest today to manslaughter charges in the death of Iriana Zlotnikov, her ex-boyfriend's then-girlfriend, according to the Associated Press. By pleading no contest, Malinovskaya is not admitting guilt but is conceding that there is enough evidence for a conviction.

When it was conceived in 2004, Wireless Philadelphia was considered a ground-breaking way to put Philadelphia a step ahead of other U.S. cities in the field of technology. Now, however, the organization is - at best - on shaky footing. A press release from Wireless Philadelphia announced that Earthlink, the company operating Wireless Philadelphia, is breaking their contract and discontinuing its operation of the municipal wi-fi network in Philadelphia.

In the largest capital gift to the "Making History" fund-raising campaign, Anne and Jerome Fisher announced a $50 million donation to the University Tuesday for the establishment of the Anne and Jerome Fisher Translational Research Center. "Anne and I love Penn and we have long felt that investing in this world-class university is investing in the future of humankind itself," said Jerome Fisher to Penn Communications.

By elizabeth rubin The Summer Pennsylvanian elizr@dailypennsylvanian.com "One, two, three, four, five, six. Step back, side, together. Let the leader's body decide the next step," said Penn alum - and dance instructor - Christy Kam. This summer, get ready to take off your flip-flops, strap on some dancing shoes and salsa, waltz and swing the balmy nights away as the Penn Latin and Ballroom Dance club continues its social lessons throughout the summer.

Before her graduation from high school, Tariro Mupombwa had never owned a passport. With a retired mother and a father who passed away in 2000, Mupombwa spent all of her youth in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. And by her senior year, Mupombwa had given little serious thought to studying abroad.

The University announced Tuesday that Marjorie Jeffcoat, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, will step down from her position on July 1. She will be replaced by Interim Dean Thomas Sollecito until a permanent replacement is found. Jeffcoat has served as the dean since 2003 and is credited with strengthening the school's academic and financial standing.

After five months of campaigning in every state and territory in the nation, the race for the Democratic nomination is finally over and Illinois Senator Barack Obama has won the nomination over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. Clinton will concede the nomination and endorse Obama on Saturday.

Philadelphia's Legendary Blue Horizon boxing arena has hosted the stars of "Rocky" and some of the greatest middle-weight fighters of all-time - but its most recent competitors were amateur boxers from Penn's graduate school community. The latter visitors were not due to an out-of-control rivalry between the various graduate schools.

With temperatures on the rise, the public has begun to swarm local movie theaters - but for some, the onset of the summer movie season means the hard work has just started as filming crews get to work on next summer's blockbusters. This June, Penn is slated to become one of the filming locations for the highly anticipated DreamWorks feature film, "Transformers 2.

This Saturday, the Department of Dermatology and the University's Abramson Cancer Center will conduct free skin screenings to determine the chance of developing skin cancer. From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., dermatology specialists will see patients by appointment only at the Department of Dermatology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.