From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 29, 1973:

• An act of heroism to save his little brother had resulted in the tragic death of 14-year-old William M. Kent in a house fire this week at the family dwelling at 709 Elm in North Lawrence. The young man had collapsed in the house from smoke inhalation after having helped one four-year-old brother through a window and onto a roof and then having returned into the fire to find the little boy’s twin brother. William had lived with his parents and seven other children in the family home and had attended South Junior High School.
• In accordance with a law taking effect on the first of the year, Kansas automobile owners were to be required to provide proof of liability auto insurance when applying for 1974 license plates. The director of the state Division of Vehicles said this week there was a place on the back of the license application forms where car owners had to list the name of their insurance company and their policy number.