The Manhattan Mercury from Manhattan, Kansas • 1

Hrmmv wim mihh i lihw th nt m.i jiw jh hiliim.ii wiiji II VI A fJ II A A BPT rev iWUUAU. 50 cents June 12,2008 MANHATTAN, KANSAS 20 pages 2 sections away President Bush asks for Europe's help on global issues. Slorm cuts a late-night swath through the city and campus A fast rundown of the topics of Briefing interest today -f I I "Pakistan Our last report U.S. -Jed coalition forces along the volatile Afghan border launched an airstnke that killed 11 Pakistani paramilitary troops, Pakistan's army said. Todas new The -led coalition in Afghanistan released Thursday of the skirmish with militants that Pakistan claims resulted in the airstnke on one of its border posts that killed 1 1 of its troops.

Pakistan has lodged a strong diplomatic protest, saying the bombing of the Gorparai post in the Mohmand frontier region on Tuesday was a "completely unprovoked and cowardly act." Pakistani and U.S. officials have given widely differing accounts. A7 Next: The event threatens to further sour relations between key allies in Washington's war on terror a partnership already unpopular among Pakistanis, I A 4 i A 41 Coming Friday Storm coverage continues, with more stories and pictures of Manhattan area tornado damage. 7 Staff photo by Lukt Towreend Michael Hodges collects remnants of his storm-damaged residence in the Dartmouth area of the city this morning. He had taken shelter in the laundry room, the only part of the structure that did not collapse in the storm.

"China earthquake Our last report Evacuees hauled mattresses and carts down from temporary camps in the hills after Chinese authorities declared that an earthquake-formed lake drained the day before was no longer a flood threat. Today's news: Police cordoned off quake-hit schools and towns Thursday in an apparent attempt to quell protests by parents angry that probes of shoddy school construction have not begun a month after the disaster. Despite an official promise of unfettered media coverage, police barred entry to at least two towns where schools collapsed in the May 12 quake. A6 Next Some parents said they were holding off on any commemorations or protests until the release of investigation results promised on or around June 20. The results may pave the way for lawsuits or trials against officials and private contractors involved.

Dozens of homes in ruins; Selh Child's businesses struck Mark Scott rnK0tttthemercury.com 4 'Economy At least 30 westside homes and two major businesses were destroyed when a fast moving tornado sweptthrough Manhattan late Wednesday night. The tornado also dealt severe damage to four major buildings on the State campus and hit other residential areas just west of the university. Despite the severity of the damage, Manhattan and Riley County emergency officials reported there were no serious injuries related to the tornado. During a mid-morning press conference, Riley County Emergency Management Director Pat Collins said emergency operations center personnel started tracking tornado sightings in Clay and Ottawa counties early Wednesday evening, and then monitored a tornadic storm that had moved through Saline, Dickinson and Geary counties. It is believed to be the same storm that leveled a large portion of Chapman, with one reported death.

"We had about 45 minutes notice before issuing the tornado warning," Collins said. Collins said once the tornado entered Riley County, it basically cut a path from the K-State printing Our last report The trade deficit jumped to the highest level in 1 3 months in April as America's bill for foreign crude oil soared to an all-time high. today's news: Retail sales jumped by the largest amount in six months in May as 57 million economic stimulus payments helped offset the headwinds buffeting consumer. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that retail sales soared 1 percent fast month, the biggest increase since November. A wide variety, "of retailers enjoyed a good month, including the biggest increase at department stores and other general merchandise stores in a year, Next The May increase was double what economists had been expecting and indicated that the economy is getting a major boost from the $50 million in economic stimulus payments the government sent out in May, just under half of the total stimulus aimed at consumers.

The Bush administration is hoping the stimulus payments will help offset the gloom from a prolonged slump in housing, a severe credit crisis, soaring energy bills and rising layoff notices and help the country avert a deep recession. Staff photos by Rod Mikinski What remained this morning of Waters True Value Hardware, which was leveled by Wednesday night's storm. SEE NO. 1, BACK PAGE $20 million impact to KSU buildings BillFelber bfelberthemercury com Today's news: The number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to the highest level since late March. The Labor Department reported Thursday that new applications for jobless benefits rose to 384,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week.

Next That was a much bigger gain than analysts had been expecting and indicated that the labor market stitt remains underpressure. Round 2 might occur as soon as tonight Kathryn Waller kwallergthemercury com Despite this morning's respite from last night's wild weather, forecasters are predicting more thunderstorms to hit the area this evening, possibly complicating local clean-up efforts. According to weather.com, the Manhattan and surrounding areas will see a 30-percent chance of isolated thunderstorms this evening, with an increased 50-percent chance of storms again tomorrow morning. Clouds will begin clearing late Friday afternoon for a high in the upper 80s. So far this year, 1,191 tornados have hit the continental United States and have left at least 113 people dead, Times Online reported this morning.

Yesterday's storm system spanned from Kansas to southern Minnesota, accounted for more than 50 confirmed tornado strikes and killed four members of a Boy Scout camp in Iowa and at least two people in Kansas one in Chapman, 30 miles southwest of Manhattan and one 50 miles north of Tope ka in Soldier. By the way, the odds of severe weather last night? According to emergency services director Pat Collins, they were 30 percent Kansas State University took an estimated $20 million hit from Wednesday night's storm. Hard-hit buildings included Durland, Fiedler and Ward Halls essentially the engineering complex as well as Moore, Cardwell and Weber Halls. Most of the damage was to roofs, although KSU President Jon Wefald reported this morning that Weber had sustained additional structural damage. "We're in an emergency situation, but we will have the campus ready to roll by the time school starts in August," Wefald pledged.

Ward Hall, which houses the university's nuclear engineering program, was a particular point of sensitivity. A representative of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was on campus early this morning to examine the facility. Wefald said the building sustained damage to theskin" that is, the area around the reactor, and he termed On the radar Topics of current Interest without major new developments as of press time. North Korea. NBAF If.

it 1 Inside Comics TV B9 B10 80586llOQ0'QO' Weather An aerial view of part of th Miller Ranch area of the city this morning. ja SEE NO. 2, SACK PACE fir-:.