Preliminary census figures for 1970 were finally released, and local citizens were surprised at finding the Lawrence population to be only 45,143. Many were expecting the figure to be closer to 50,000 or even 52,000. However, their disappointment was tempered by the fact that the new figure indicated an increase of over 12,000 from the 1960 federal census. The Douglas County total was 57,144, up from 32,858 ten years earlier.

The county commissioners cleared the way for Shank Hill to be developed as a residential area, with the condition that the top four lots on the hill were to be reserved for one year, and any governmental agency would be given the right to pick up a one-year option to buy the land for $14,000.

A new telephone dial tone was scheduled to go into effect during the coming weekend. The new tone was the result of new equipment in the Southwestern Bell central office.

Violent weather in south-central Kansas brought hail the size of chicken eggs in Willowdale, in the Wichita area.