Myanmar's military government is thanking the international community for it's cyclone relief assistance. But it's refusing to let foreign workers in to deliver it. One plane carrying relief aid was turned away because it had a search-and-rescue team and reporters on board.

Manchester aldermen and the school board are more than six million dollars apart on next year's budget, but one thing that won't be cut is teachers. By contract, layoff notices must be issued by tomorrow; yesterday the board voted for the third time not to give out pink slips. That means widespread program cuts are likely in the fall. Right now it looks like the board might get $147 million in funding; it requested $153 million.

The latest state report on schools isn't particularly good news for Manchester or Concord, though one Nashua school did come off the School in Need of Improvement list. Amherst Street elementary was one of only three schools statewide to shake the dreaded label. On the flip side, Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in Nashua is one of six that may be forced to restructure because reading and math skills aren't improving fast enough. For the fifth year Manchester schools were cited for not making adequate progress.

Governor Lynch applauded this week's vote endorsing a proposed constitutional amendment for school funding, but communities that have been trying to force a change in the system are unimpressed. The Claremont Coalition of towns that sued the state 18 years ago said the amendment will just mire the state in years of additional court cases and uncertainty, and work against the interests of schoolchildren.

Merrimack firefighters rescued a woman from her burning Victoria Lane condominium last night. They removed the woman from the second floor even as flames climbed to the third level. There was substantial heat, smoke and fire damage.

About a dozen homes in a Lawrence neighborhood were evacuated as a precaution after a freight car derailed and spilled a chemical. Sodium chlorate is not considered dangerous unless it comes in contact with water. The spill disrupted commuter rail service through Lawrence and Andover.

A Manchester landlord wants to convert a sprawling apartment house into a boarding house. The structure at Lake Avenue and Union Street currently has 13 units which the owner has difficulty filling. Neighbors complained there wouldn't be enough parking, and were none too happy with the type of tenants that might be attracted. The planning board made no decision.

A Manchester woman died late Wednesday night in a crash on I-93 in Canterbury. Meghan Casella, age 20, was apparently speeding when her vehicle left the highway and rolled over several times. The Memorial High School graduate was ejected from the car. State Police say speed and alcohol appear to be factors.

A Massachusetts woman was killed near Franconia when a boulder fell on her while hiking with her family. New Hampshire Fish and Game says 28-year-old Shu Qin, of Wellesley, was on the Falling Waters Trail when the 5-foot-by-3-foot, 20-inch thick boulder broke off a ledge and fell 40 feet, striking her.

Four more jurors have been chosen for the insanity trial of Sheila LaBarre, putting the number at 14. Eighteen are needed. Jury hearings will continue this morning and possibly into next week. LaBarre has admitted killing Kenneth Countie and Michael Deloge. She has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

A man accused of helping murder-for-hire suspect John Brooks in the killing of a Derry man three years ago is expected to enter a guilty plea today. Court files say Joseph Vrooman plans to plead guilty in Rockingham County Superior Court -- but the records don't say to what charges.

Two men were arrested for trying to steal a large spool of copper and steel cable from FairPoint Communications. Dustin Fleming, of Hudson, and Michael Noel, of Nashua, are charged with felony attempted theft. Merrimack Police say the two were spotted trying to load the spool into their van, but gave up because the spool was too big. A FairPoint employee approached them and they drove off.

A special Red Cross blood drive will be held tomorrow from 9 till 3 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. It is sponsored by Compassionate Friends, a self-support group for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. The group hopes to honor the memories of their dead children by boosting the blood supply.

The widening and rehab of Candia Road is almost complete, but there's going to be one final round of torture. On Monday the Manchester road will be paved from 7 a.m. till 7 p.m. (Lakeshore Drive to Proctor Road). Delays of up to 10 minutes are likely. The almost $9-million project should be finished by late spring.

Veteran government workers, living on the smallest pensions, would get $1,000 checks and 2.5% cost-of-living increases under proposed changes to the New Hampshire retirement system. The Senate voted unanimously to make those and other changes to a House-passed bill. The House isn't happy with the changes and is certain to seek a compromise.

Governor Lynch still has a high job approval rating according to the latest Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. The Democrat, who faces re-election in November, has a 74% approval rating. Thirteen percent disapprove and 13% are neutral.

New Hampshire's Senate gave preliminary approval to entering a 10-state regional effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions to preserve the state's climate and way of life. The Senate voted 16-8 to ask its Finance Committee to review a bill that implements the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative known as R-G-G-I.

Some New Hampshire lawmakers want to repeal a little-noticed state law that legalizes a procedure called alkaline hydrolysis, in which bodies are dissolved in lye and heated. The process has some enivornmental advantages, and a Manchester funeral home director wants to offer it. Some in the funeral industry say it could someday rival burial and cremation.

U.S. Senator Judd Gregg co-sponsored an amendment to address rising gas prices and reduce the country's dependence on foreign sources of oil. Gregg says the American Energy Production Act of 2008, on which the amendment is based, will produce up to 24 billion barrels of oil domestically and expand the nation's commitment to renewable sources and advanced energy technologies.

President Bush and the rest of the first family are at their ranch in Crawford, Texas, gearing up for Jenna's wedding tomorrow evening. The White House says the president is "excited like any proud father is to see one of his daughters get married." Bush will walk the 26-year-old down the aisle before about 200 guests in an outdoor ceremony at the secluded ranch.