Briefly... CITY/REGION

Man charged in assault

Two patrol cops snared a would-be robber who they say

attacked a man from behind at Broad and Bainbridge streets in South Philadelphia about 11:15 p.m. Saturday. Police said officers spotted Troy West, 42, after he smashed a man over the head with a bottle and then tried to steal his backpack and rifle through his pockets. The cops chased West and arrested him. He was charged with aggravated assault, robbery, theft and related offenses. The victim had no serious injuries.

Another job for the mayor

Mayor Nutter was elected chairman of the Redevelopment Authority yesterday in the agency's first meeting since he named himself and two others to the board last Thursday. Terry Gillen, one of his most trusted aides, was approved by the board as executive director.

Robert Guerra, the Redevelopment Authority's longtime general counsel, lost his job in the agency shake-up. Nutter appointed to the RDA board his deputy chief of staff, Wendell Pritchett, and Jennifer Rodriguez, director of community and economic development at Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha.

Tax break for Cira Centre?

The Cira Centre South, a proposed office tower near the Cira Centre next to 30th Street Station along the western bank of the Schuylkill, took a step forward yesterday with support from City Council's Committee on Finance to extend tax benefits for developers by seven years. The committee voted to support legislation that would extend the Keystone Opportunity Zone benefits to 2025. The legislation needs approval in the state General Assembly.

Hearing on parks, rec plan

City Council's Committee on Law and Government will hold its first hearing today on legislation that would ask voters if they want to combine the functions of the Fairmount Park Commission and the city's Department of Recreation. Council members Darrell Clarke and Blondell Reynolds Brown have proposed a change to the city's charter to create the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Motorcyclist killed in crash

A man was killed yesterday when the Honda motorcycle he was driving and a Dodge minivan collided on Oakley and Levick streets, Northeast Philadelphia, shortly before 2 a.m., police said.

Kevin Adams Jr., of Brill Street near Godfrey Avenue, Crescentville, was thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene, police said. The driver of the van, which struck a house after the impact, was taken to Frankford Hospital-Torresdale with a head injury.

Fairhill principal honored

Edward Koch, principal of the Fairhill School, today will receive the 2008 MetLife Foundation Ambassadors In Education Award, a program of the National Civic League.

The national award program recognizes the most collaborative public-school principals in 25 cities, including Philadelphia.

The presentation will be at the Fairhill School, 6th and Somerset streets, North Philadelphia. *

- Staff and wire reports