Several major U.S. banks raised their prime lending rates to 18.5 percent, the highest level since the past May, in a continuing surge of spiraling interest. Local banks, however, continued to lag considerably behind the national figure.

Four Lawrence city commissioners were in Atlanta to attend the annual National Cities Conference. They were Mayor Ed Carter, Marci Francisco, Bob Schumm and Don Binns. Also attending were City Manager Buford Watson and Assistant City Manager Mike Wildgen.