The latest unemployment figures for Lawrence and Douglas County proved not to be as bad as projected several days earlier, even though the figure had pushed to 5 percent after long holding under 4 percent. Lawrence and Kansas were faring far better than most.

Kansas University had received more than $1 million from the National Direct Student Loan, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and work-study programs.

Mayor David Longhurst said he was “inclined not to be in favor” of setting up a trust fund through Kansas Public Service to help pay natural gas bills for the needy, as recommended by a citizen task force. He saw the plan as a re-do of the once-proposed Lifeline project due to accomplish the same thing, and said the new plan did not appear practical.