25 years ago: A homicide probe was launched after the discovery of a badly decomposed body in a wooded area on Kansas University’s West Campus. The victim was not immediately identified but appeared to be a white female in her 20s or 30s. Examinations had begun to determine her identity, the cause of death and whether foul play had factored into the death.

Although the Action 80 report, made by local leaders, said the city should pursue plans for a downtown-integrated shopping mall, some city officials said that was not the only option and that other avenues for retailing enhancement and expansion should be pursued. “The general consensus of the report is that there probably is going to be a mall in Lawrence and so the decision for Lawrence is where that mall is going to be,” said Glenn West, executive vice president of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and Action 80 secretary. But others, including some city commissioners, said other options should be studied.

The Lawrence school board was to take another look at whether to accept the Lawrence Open school into the district. Some board members said they were favorable to the move. Michael Bryant, the open school coordinator, had asked for inclusion in District 497.

40 years ago: The Douglas County attorney’s office opened 461 new cases during the past year (1980). That was a rise of 5 percent over 1964 but double the number for 1963. The data was included in the annual report by Ralph King on the year’s operation of the county attorney’s office.

100 years ago: From the Lawrence Daily World for Jan. 14, 1906: “Before one of the largest crowds ever assembled in the opera house, Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis of the Plymouth Congregational Church preached an eloquent and masterly sermon, “Shall It all be In Vain?” The emphasis was on the return of Christ and whether we would be able to accept such. : Mrs. Stitem was accosted by a big man at the corner of Warren and Ohio streets last night but she screamed and his attempts to get her pocket book were thwarted. Police have nothing to work on except that the screams brought help. Those people, however, saw nothing to help find the guilty party. : The state railroad board has granted the new egg carton business in Lawrence special rates to help their business and provide even more than the 60 new jobs that are planned. : Chicago seems to be finding new ways to commit crime and there is a shortage of police. Some say as many as 1,000 more are needed to cut down on the robberies and murders.”