25 years ago: News of Challenger disaster stuns Lawrence residents

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Jan. 28, 1986:

People in Lawrence and across the nation were shocked and heavy-hearted after hearing the news that the space shuttle Challenger had exploded in a ball of fire shortly after takeoff. It was the first in-flight disaster in 56 U.S. manned space missions. There had been no formal announcement on the fate of the crew, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, but “it appeared there was no way they could survive,” according to the Associated Press. President Reagan had halted an Oval Office meeting with top aides and stood “in stunned silence” as he watched a television replay. He later decided to postpone the State of the Union address planned for tonight and instead prepared to address the nation on the tragedy. In Lawrence, schoolchildren were in tears after having watched the lift-off and witnessing the explosion of the spacecraft.