From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Feb. 28, 1974:

• New projections by a planning consultant predicted that Lawrence’s population would not increase as rapidly as it had in the past. A projected drop in Kansas University enrollment was to affect the city population, according to Ron Jones, the consultant who was updating the city comprehensive plan. The report anticipated a “probable” population of 61,400 by the year 2000, as opposed to the estimate of 82,650 previously used by city planners. (Twenty-six years later, the 2000 census showed a total of 80,098 people living in Lawrence.)
• The Downtown Lawrence Association this week announced it would donate $300 to the city parks and recreation department to pay for spring and summer flowers in the newly-installed downtown planters. George Osborn, parks superintendent, said about $450 would be spent in total on the planting project, with the remainder coming from city funds.
• In Topeka, Governor Robert B. Docking was rumored to have decided against being a candidate for political office this year. Docking, 48, the only person ever elected to more than two terms as Kansas governor, was completing his fourth two-year term, which was due to run until January 1975. Docking had confirmed earlier that he was seriously considering seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. senator to oppose incumbent Republican Bob Dole this year. However, he was reportedly discouraged by recent allegations of wrongdoing in his administration and was also reported to have been under pressure from his family to retire from politics. The governor could not be reached for comment today and his aides would neither confirm or deny the rumors.