In another attempt to clarify his stand on a tax increase, President Reagan said he would “never say never” regarding a hike. Many said this would leave him vulnerable to the presidential campaign of Walter Mondale, Reagan’s Democratic opponent. Mondale charged that Reagan had a “secret plan” to boost taxes after the November election, should he win.

The Downtown Improvement Committee was to decide whether to throw its support behind saving the Lawrence Opera House. DIC members planned a policy statement regarding a Bowersock Ltd. plea for $1.75 millin in industrial revenue bonds to renovate the 71-year-old building.

Countywide voter registration stood at 32,026 for the fall, with 12,182 unaffiliated voters, 11,787 registered Reppublicans, 8,043 Democrats, 13 Libertarians and one registered for the American Party. County clerk Patty Jaimes said she expected the registration figure to rise before the voting.

Police still sought viable leads in their investigation of the brutal Aug. 5 murder of 80-year-old Marguerite Vinyard in her home at 2100 Tenn. No arrests had been made and residents of the area were uneasy.