From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Sept. 1, 1971:

• Federal aid for cities was available under the Emergency Employment Act of 1971, and the Lawrence City Commission had voted to authorize City Manager Buford Watson to make application for the funds, which would be used to place workers on the city staff. At least one commissioner expressed hesitation about the program, saying that it was “fraught with problems” and that the fate of the employees would be in question after the federal money stopped coming in.
• Local residents were hoping for a good soaking rain. Lawrence area rainfall amounts were at .69 of an inch behind normal rainfall as of the end of August. In other weather data, the high for August had been recorded as 97 at the official Kansas University weather station, with the official low being 55.
• Property valuation figures had been set at roughly $71.5 million for Lawrence by the Douglas County Budget Director.