Sluggish economy forces Tracy Press, a California daily, to cut back print publication to twice a week

While smaller newspapers have been able to avoid some of the financial troubles of their larger counterparts, none are immune. The Tracy Press, an 8,000- circulation daily in rural Tracy, Calif., is another sign of troubling times. The paper has decided to cut back its print publication to Wednesdays and Saturdays. (Encarta map) "Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of waiting out this slow period," publisher Robert Matthews told the paper. "The Press has been in business for almost 110 years, as a weekly and as a daily, and our family doesn’t plan to go away anytime soon. But to keep going, we have to make cuts at the same time that we strive for solutions."

The paper will continue to update its Web site offer breaking news and other content throughout the week. Users filled comments section below this staff report on the newspaper's decision with comments such as, "It is sad when a town this size cannot publish a daily paper," and "This is bad news." (Read more)