The future of the Lawrence Opera House again was being dumped into the lap of the city commission. A group hoping to renovate the 71-year-old structure was asking the commission to set a public hearing on its request for $1.75 million in industrial revenue bonds to help finance renovation. Bowersock Ltd. was the requesting entity.

After meeting twice in one week with a federal mediator, negotiators for the city and Lawrence police still were unable to settle on a work agreement. The deadline on the mediator role was fast approaching. Meanwhile, a mediator had been chosen to help the Lawrence Education Assn. and the school board reach accord.

A common political question was whether Democratic presidential frontrunner Walter Mondale might select a woman as a running mate in November. Diane Feinstein, Rep. Geraldine Ferraro and Kentucky Gov. Martha Layne Collins were being studied as prospects.

Uncertainty continued about improvements at the Lawrence Municipal Airport even though some paving had been started to serve a new termial building. Costs, of course, were being studied more carefully and it was uncertain when completion on the job might be achieved.