From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for July 18, 1974:

• The Lawrence City Commission this week expressed interest in a federal official’s statement that minimum housing code inspections could be done on a spot basis to put an end to individual “blighting influences.” Commissioners were considering making a “windshield survey,” driving through selected areas of town to find houses appearing to have external deterioration such as rotting wood because of a lack of paint. In their discussions, commissioners emphasized that the housing code standards should be general, not “nit-picking.” The new program was being initiated largely in response to a federal requirement that cities must show progress toward bringing city houses up to the minimum standards in order to get federal urban renewal funds.
• In spite of hot weather, hoppers were swarming over downtown bargains at today’s Sidewalk Bazaar. Local temperatures were threatening to climb over 100 degrees today, and rain was nowhere in the forecast for a few days.
• A storefront agency to help people find jobs and housing opened this week at 710 Massachusetts Street. The center, directed by Gwen Brown, was sponsored by ECKAN (the federally-funded East Central Kansas Community Action Agency) and voluntary contributions. Brown said the center was an attempt to familiarize the public with ECKAN activities. “In six months I hope I can tell you of 10 people who have bought nice homes, and 30 people who have found full-time good-paying jobs,” she said.