The Kansas House approved by a 78-46 vote a bill which would reinstitute the death penalty in Kansas for those convicted of premeditated murder and certain other “cruel and heinous” killings. There had been two hours of debate before the vote.

A new bill in the Kansas Senate was designed to give federally financed Haskell Indian Junior College here some state funding for the first time in the school’s 100-year history. The bill would provide state aid on the basis of Haskell enrollment and also had a provision that would help provide vocational training at Haskell for the Douglas County area.

A Dodge City company that owned 30 discount stores was purchasing the local Gibson’s Discount Center at 2525 Iowa. In addition to the Lawrence store, Chaffin Inc. was purchasing Gibson stores in Olathe and Junction City with ownership to take effect Feb. 25. The local store had opened just over 15 years earlier. Manager Art Cromer had recently resigned for other retail pursuits here.

The local Warm Hearts Drive had to be extended with only about 70 percent of its $25,000 goal gained by the initial deadline. The program helped the needy meet heating bills.