The attorney for Donald E. Alexander, convicted of first-degree murder, rape and aggravated battery, filed motions asking his client be acquitted or granted a new trial. Attorney Wes Norwood cited alleged irregularities in the conviction for the beating death of 80-year-old Marguerite Vinyard of Lawrence.

Surveys indicated that the population of DeSoto might double from the current 2,000 by the year 2000. Officials were anticipating a housing boom. A number of new developments were coming around in a town that, according to census statistics, grew by nly one person from 1975 to 1983. Enthusiasm was high for the bustling town about 13 miles east of Lawrence.

The Kansas House had passed a measure that would allow anyone over 21 to drink in privae clubs in the state if they had a valid driver license. It was tied to a bill that would raise the drinking age from 18 to 21.

Ken Mackenzie, KU’s Edmund P. Learned Distinguished Professor of Business, founded Mackenzie and Co., a management consulting firm, located at 700 Mass. The goal was to help college-level work get converted to commercial purposes. He would work with a number of faculty people who also did consulting.