From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Sept. 20, 1973:

• In spite of large obstacles standing in the way, Douglas County officials said today that they were still determined to try for federal funding for the proposed judicial and law enforcement building in Lawrence. The federal government was willing to provide 50 percent of construction costs if the state and local government matched the other 50 percent. However, according to an article today, the Kansas Legislature was possibly going to be unwilling to put up half the matching funds for building projects, and the Governor’s Committee on Criminal Administration was reported to have a policy of not funding building projects. The GCCA had adopted this policy in March 1972 after granting $322,000 to Franklin County for a jail facility; the reason given was a reluctance to concentrate too much money in one area.
• Local lenders and real estate experts were of the opinion that government attempts to “cool the economy” had resulted in higher interest rates and a slowing of home purchases. Interest rates, which had been at 7.5 percent earlier this year, were now about 9.5 percent, with larger down payments required. Home construction in Lawrence was also down slightly compared with the previous year.