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DEVELOPING: AUDIT LAWSUIT, CWS-NCAROLINA-ARIZONA ST
ADDS: MIDWEST STORMS, ECONOMY,
MIDWEST STORMS
MINNEAPOLIS—Powerful storms that rolled across the Midwest brought heavy rain, strong winds and spawned several apparent tornadoes, damaging homes and businesses, tossing railcars off their tracks and knocking out power to thousands. In southeastern Minnesota, daylight Thursday revealed a path of destruction left by an apparent tornado in the town of Austin, where vehicles were thrown about, homes were heavily damaged and power lines were knocked down. At least one man suffered minor injuries. By Jeff Baenen. Eds: Note Nebraska mentions. Also moving on national lines. Contains material found in NE–Midwest Storms-Nebraska writethrus that moved on state lines.
AP Photos NEBW101-103, MNAUS101, MNROC102, MNAUS104, MNAUS102, ILGAL501.
With:
— MIDWEST STORMS-NEBRASKA—Note several versions.
AUDIT LAWSUIT
OMAHA—The two co-founders of the Autism Center of Nebraska say state Auditor Mike Foley misled the public about problems at their agency last summer and cost them their jobs. Randy and Rhonda Bojanski filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Foley, the Department of Health and Human Services and other state officials. By Josh Funk.
BUSINESS:
ECONOMY
WASHINGTON—The total number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls dropped for the first time since early January, the government said Thursday, while new claims for benefits rose slightly. The Labor Department said the total unemployment insurance rolls fell by 148,000 to 6.69 million in the week ending June 6, the largest drop in more than seven years. The decline is a sign that layoffs are easing. By Economics Writer Christopher S. Rugaber. Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Also moving on national lines.
AP Photo WAET203.
SPORTS:
CWS-NCAROLINA-ARIZONA ST
OMAHA, Neb.—Arizona State plays North Carolina in a College World Series elimination game. The Sun Devils beat Carolina 5-2 in 10 innings in their CWS opener. The winner of this game advances to the Bracket 2 final against Texas on Friday. By Eric Olson. Eds: Game time 6 p.m. Also moving on national lines.
AP Photos.
With:
— BBC–CWS NOTEBOOK.
ALSO:
— HKC-NEBRASKA-OMAHA-WCHA—The commissioner of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association says the University of Nebraska-Omaha is talking about joining the league, and he says the association hopes to have a deal this summer.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— FRAUD ALLEGED—A pair of Omaha real estate investors have been indicted on 25 counts each, accused of fraudulently obtaining mortgages to buy several properties in a subdivision.
— BERRY PICKER KILLED—An 83-year-old Grand Island woman who was picking mulberries in her yard was struck and killed by a pickup that had run off a nearby road.
— EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGE—One of the founders of a Lincoln marketing company has been accused of embezzling nearly $155,000 from it.
— FUEL TAX—Nebraska drivers will not have to pay any more in state fuel taxes in the second half of 2009.
— RANCH MANAGEMENT—Low-stress cattle handling and rangeland monitoring will be the focus of the 2nd Annual Ranch Stewardship Live workshop that begins this week in Hebron.
— INNOVATION HONORS—The deadline is this week for nominations in Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith’s search for examples of excellence in economic development.
The AP, Omaha.
