Democratic challenger Walter Mondale won the presidential debate with President Ronald Reagan, according to Kansas University debate coach Donn Parson. But Karlyn Kohrs Campbell, another KU analyst, said she didn’t believe the audience was left with any idea of a clear winner. Nationally, analysts said neither candidate had managed to land a knockout punch of any kind. An early Gallup Poll, however, gave the nod to Mondale.

With winter approaching, fire chief Jim McSwain issued his annual warning about home inspections to prevent tragedies such as fireplace eruptions. He said chimney fires had great potential for disaster.

Buddy Rogers, the noted Kansas University alumnus in the entertainment field, received a locally presented award for lifetime achievement from the Kansas Film Institute. It was the first time the award had been presented and many felt Rogers should have received an Oscar for his early movie work.