From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Jan. 4, 1986:

• The Kansas Turnpike Authority reported that only nine lives had been lost on the 236-mile highway in 1985 – the lowest fatality rate ever recorded in its 30-year history. Douglas County roads also had seen a decrease in auto fatalities during the year.
• Fire Chief Jim McSwain had given information about sprinkler systems to Lawrence city commissioners a few weeks earlier, along with a request that the commission form a study session on the issue of requiring the systems in new residential construction. Several homebuilders had opposed the idea when McSwain had first raised it in May 1984, saying that it would increase construction costs and subsequently home prices. In early 1986, the cost of installing a sprinkler system during new-home construction was estimated at $2,000.
• American Motors Corp. had just launched a new Jeep, to be called the Wrangler. It was to replace the CJ, or Civilian Jeep, which had been in production for 40 years.