A 33-year-old Gardner man was formally charged in Douglas County District Court with aggravated robbery in connection with recent armed robberies of three local financial institutions. Also, a federal complaint was filed with the U.S. Magistrate in Topeka alleging that the same man, Larry L. Rice, robbed a Topeka savings institution on March 26. Authorities in two Missouri cities told the Journal-World they might soon also file charges against Rice in connection with other armed robberies in the region.

Of the 35 industrial revenue bond issues approved by the Lawrence City Commission since 1966, in only three cases were the companies involved required to pay local taxes on the full amount of the improvements financed by the IRBs, according to a city report. The figures were compiled and issued to city commissioners after the Lawrence Paper Co. withdrew its quest for $1 million in city-approved, low interest bonds because it was denied a property tax extension.

With increasingly tight state budgets much in the news, a group bent on starting a chapter of the National Education Association. at Kansas University had called faculty members to an organizational meeting.