From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Feb. 11, 1986:

• A highlight of William Allen White Day at Kansas University was the awarding of the William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit to Helen Thomas. Thomas, who at the time was the White House bureau chief for United Press International, spoke on the need for the press to have more consistent access to the President. “I think access right now is very bad,” said Thomas before her speech. “We can go for days without seeing the president. The hiatus between the last two press conferences was four months.” She went on to say that the current (Reagan) administration was oriented toward television.
• A group called Douglas County Citizens for Responsible Development was considering a petition drive to emphasize their objections to the Lawrence highway bypass project. During their last meeting, which had drawn over 60 people, the group had also agreed to start writing to politicians.