The two contenders in the 2nd Congressional District race — Republican Jim Van Slyke and Democrat incumbent Jim Slattery — made their first joint appearance of the 1984 campaign here and come out fighting. Van Slyke jabbed aggressively at what he called Slattery’s “inconsistent” voting record on a nuclear freeze. Slattery countered with blows at Van Slyke’s proposal for a new Social Security program, calling it “double taxation” that would cause a revolt. About 100 were in the local library audience.

State revenue through the first two months of the current fiscal year fell between $17 million and $18 milion below projections, but one of the state’s chief fiscal analysts said it was too early to say if the shortfall was significant. State income during August had been nearly $7 millin below estimates.

More than 75 Kansas University custodians voiced opposition to a proposal to change how their paychecks were calculated. There was talk of shifting the pay slate from hourly to monthly and employees were opposed.