CHESTER — One of Pennsylvania's poorest school districts said it'll be able to pay staff this week amid an entrenched state budget stalemate because the state is covering the district's regular debt payments.

A Chester Upland School District spokesman said Wednesday's payroll would be made, but she didn't know whether the suburban Philadelphia district will be able to make the next payroll. The Department of Education said it is covering a total of about $5.7 million in Chester Upland debt payments due Sept. 15 or earlier.

Chester Upland, which is under state oversight, serves about 3,800 students. Teachers and support staff have voted to keep working if they're not paid.

State aid to public schools is cut off because of a 2-month-old budget stalemate between Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers.

WILKES-BARRE — Donations from a GoFundMe account have relieved a 91-year-old man in eastern Pennsylvania of a debt of back taxes totaling more than $5,000.John Daily of Dallas said last week that $14,000 has been donated for WWII veteran Abram Belles.Daily said a woman from outside the county made an anonymous $2,300 donation, and 271 others donated a total of $11,707.Belles was on the verge of losing his Wilkes-Barre township home of 67 years to a tax sale. He said he publicly described his struggles so that elected officials can understand the impact of spending and tax hikes on the elderly.