Free breakfasts will soon be a thing of the past according to an article in Smena titled "Free Breakfast. Forget It!"
According to the article, early last year the mayor signed a decree stating that free breakfasts in the city's schools would be discontinued except for the first through third grades and for children from families with many children.
In fact, most schools continued providing free breakfast. As a result, many schools are now in debt to catering services to the tune of about 1 billion roubles ($204,000).
Beginning in January of this year, the Ministry of Education began an audit of the schools and a new policy has been announced which ends free breakfasts for all but low income students, those from families with many children and those suffering from tuberculosis.
The piece added that the maximum cost of breakfast in school cafeterias is 2,200 roubles (less than 50 cents).
DIRTY TRICKS, DIRTY STREETS
Chas Pik reported on Deputy Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Vladimir Yakovlev's press conference where he announced a letter he sent to Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.
In the letter, Mr Yakovlev stated that he was certain that the mayor would lose the election.
Mr Yakovlev also alleged that Mr Sobchak has been disturbing his campaign and pressuring the press. Mr Yakovlev asserted that he has gathered 100,000 signatures for his campaign and stated that he would like to speak to Mr Sobchak "man to man" to see who was the most masculine.
The piece also reported that Mr Yakovlev was offended by a reader survey the newspaper was conducting to determine the dirtiest street in St Petersburg.
Mr Yakovlev, whose department handles city services, apparently believed that the survey was directed at him. The piece assured that they were not reacting to Mr Sobchak's alleged pressure, but were genuinely concerned with the city's cleanliness.
They also printed Mr Yakovlev's office telephone number so readers can also inform him about the state of the city's streets.
JOURNEY FROM LENINGRAD TO ST PETERSBURG
Sankt Peterburgskiye Vedomosti reported on an upcoming nine part documentary series called "From Leningrad to St Petersburg in the Common Wagon," that will look at recent changes in our city and speculate on where it is headed.
Commentators in the historical documentary will include St Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak, Leningrad Oblast Communist leader Yuri Belov, Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Alexander Nevzorov.
DRAFT DODGERS
Nevskoye Vremya ran an interview with Major General Anatoly Obukhov who is in charge of conscription in St Petersburg.
Maj Gen Obukhov announced changes in the medical classification system of draftees.
He also stated that in last Fall's draft, 30% were deemed not qualified to serve and of the remaining 70%, eight out of 10 had some medical problems.
Maj Gen Obukhov also stated that last year there were 250 criminal cases opened for draft evasion and that 9 people were serving prison sentences. The general also announced a new policy which would create a commission from the militia, the procurator's office, the military and the city administration which would deal with problems of draft dodging.