Local firefighters tested their new attire and equipment in simulated emergencies and the report on the results was gratifying to city officials.

The Town Center Venture Corp. was to remain the city’s downtown developer of record for at least two more years, the city commission decided by a 4-1 vote. The commission also asked the city staff to draft an agreement with another developer for a smaller commercial project along the Kansas River that would be just east of the TCVC project, planned for the 600 block of downtown. Commissioner Mike Amyx opposed the TCVC action, asking, “Are we building a mall out of want or out of need.” He argued that the mall would “saturate” the market and hurt established businesses. Others noted that a downtown “mall” was far preferable to a business-draining “cornfield mall.”

U.S. consumer prices, driven by more expensive gasoline and food, rose a moderate 0.4 percent in October. The 1.8 percent gasoline price hike was the steepest since May of 1983.

It was Thanksgiving and local firms were bracing for the traditional shopping weekend that followed Turkey Day.