Local police warned against assisting any telephone callers who were offering an all-expense-paid trip if the call recipient would only “verify” his or her MasterCard number. Several citizens reported they already had been duped and were changing their card numbers to prevent fraud and loss.

It appeared a newly formed Urban Renewal Authority would try to take over guidance of two pending downtown mall projects. But several city commissioners questioned the extent of power given a five-member board. At stake were the Town Center Venture Corp. plan and a Riverfront Mall Inc. plan. The jurisdiction power of the URA was being challenged.

Because of recent crime waves in various sectors of town, four neighborhood watch organizations had been formed to help citizens stamp out the burglaries, thefts and vandalism. Other towns with similar units were being contacted to see the legal ramifications of such activity.

There was growing support in the legislature for the reinstatement of the death penalty in Kansas for certain types of crimes.