From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for July 21, 1990:

• Heavy infestations of walnut caterpillars were devouring the foliage on walnut, pecan, and hickory trees in Douglas County and much of northeast Kansas. Karen Booker, horticulture assistant with the Douglas County Extension Service, said the caterpillars had been spotted in all parts of the county. “They’re all over,” she said. “They’re in town. They’re in the country. They’re everywhere…. This year has been particularly bad,” she added. “We always have walnut caterpillars, but not usually in these numbers. We are seeing complete groves that are completely defoliated. We have people with 100 walnut trees and none of them have leaves.”
• Lawrence received a good soaking this morning as 1.5 inches of rain fell during a storm that also caused about 40 rural residents to lose electrical power for about four hours. The morning’s rain brought the unofficial total rainfall amount for the city in July to 1.85 inches. The normal rainfall for the month was 4.45 inches.