Dough! Rockford Paper Lays Off 13, Springfield Goes Dark

By: E&P Staff Rockford Register Star officials say the newspaper has laid off 13 full and part-time employees and closed its Springfield bureau because of the economy.

The layoffs announced Monday come after a round of voluntary buyouts from April to June that resulted in the departure of 17 employees. The newspaper now has 355 employees, including about 75 in the newsroom.

President and Publisher Scott Bowers says the layoffs aren't easy but are an unfortunate reality in today's economy. He says the cost of newsprint and petroleum products, combined with a decline in revenues, led to the changes.

Executive Editor Linda Grist Cunningham says closing the Springfield bureau came down to a choice between news in the capital and local news.