The Casper Star-Tribune is a newspaper published in Casper, Wyoming , with statewide influence and readership.
30-518: It is Wyoming's largest print newspaper, with a daily circulation of 23,760 and a Sunday circulation of 21,041. The Star-Tribune covers local and state news. Its website, Trib.com, includes articles from the print paper, online updates, video and other multimedia content. In 2002, the newspaper was acquired by Lee Enterprises . The origins of the Casper Star-Tribune date to 1891, when the weekly Natrona Tribune began publishing under
60-502: A variable rate of 11.3% to a fixed rate of 9%, and an extension of the debt maturity date of the debt from December 2015 to April 2017. At the time of the announcement Lee Enterprises noted there was $ 893 million left to pay off. Lee paid off and retired its New Pulitzer notes in June 2015, six months before the original maturity date and 22 months before the new maturity date. Lee also refinanced its remaining debt in 2014 in order to extend
90-497: A "poison pill" , in order to ward off the purchase attempt. Then, in early December, the board of Lee unanimously rejected the Alden bid, saying that the Alden proposal "grossly undervalues Lee and fails to recognize the strength of our business today." In November 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged two Iranian nationals had accessed the company's content management system in the fall of 2020, aiming to post false news about
120-611: A 5.9-percent stake in Lee Enterprises in January 2020. In November 2021, Alden made an offer to Lee to purchase the company in its entirety for roughly $ 141 million. In response, the board of Lee Enterprises enacted a shareholder rights plan, colloquially known as a "poison pill" , in order to ward off the purchase attempt. The specific shareholder rights plan adopted by the Lee board forbids Alden from purchasing more than 10% of
150-649: A single daily and Sunday paper, the Casper Star-Tribune. Howard Publications bought the paper in 1972 and operated the Star-Tribune until its acquisition by Lee Enterprises in 2002. Lee Enterprises purchased the Star-Tribune , along with family-owned Howard Publications' 15 other daily newspapers for $ 694 million. In 1985, the Casper Star-Tribune was the runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize in excellence in public service journalism for its investigation of Northern Utilities Inc. The investigation found that
180-404: A stake in Lee Enterprises (through Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ), buying $ 85 million of the company's debt from Goldman Sachs Group . In June 2012, Berkshire Hathaway filed an amended Form 13F (13F-HR/A) for the period ending March 31, 2012. This document disclosed that Berkshire accumulated $ 2,119,000 or 1,655,125 common shares of Lee Enterprises, or a 3.2 percent stake. The document noted that
210-815: Is a digital media and online publishing company based in Moline, Illinois . The company's products include the BLOX Content Management System , which is commonly used by American newspaper websites. In February 2023, TownNews rebranded as BLOX Digital. The company was founded by Marc Wilson, Virginia R. Wilson, and Robert P. Dalton as the International Newspaper Network (INN) in 1989 to help newspapers deal with developing technology. As of 2017, over 1,600 newspapers, magazines, radio stations , and TV stations use TownNews.com's products. The company's lead product
240-738: Is a publicly traded American media company. It publishes 77 daily newspapers in 26 states, and more than 350 weekly, classified , and specialty publications. Lee Enterprises was founded in 1890 by Alfred Wilson Lee and is based in Davenport, Iowa . The company also provides online services, including websites supporting its daily newspapers and other publications. Lee had more than 25 million unique web and mobile visitors monthly, with 209.1 million pages viewed. Lee became majority partner of TownNews.com in 1996; Town News creates software for newspaper publication purposes. The company offers commercial printing services to its customers. Lee Enterprises
270-619: Is currently the fourth largest newspaper group in the United States of America. The company acquired Howard Publications (16 daily newspapers) for $ 694 million in 2002 and Pulitzer, Inc. (14 daily, over 100 non-daily), for $ 1.5 billion in 2005. From January 2012 to April 2017, the company's executive chairman, Mary Junck, was chairman of the Associated Press . In December 2018, Lee Enterprises announced that Mary Junck would transition from Executive Chairman to Chairman of
300-841: Is the BLOX CMS (content management system), which is widely used to produce online and print products. Customers include Lee Enterprises , Berkshire-Hathaway Media , Digital First Media , Adams Publishing Group , Pioneer Newspaper Group , the Evening Post Publishing , and many other groups and independent publications. BLOX Digital is headquartered in Moline, Illinois . Executives added since 2000 include CEO Brad Ward, head programmer Patrick O'lone, systems chief Chris Murley, controller Darcy Heist, and national sales VP Rick Rogers. Marc Wilson became executive chairman in October 2016 after serving as chief executive since
330-588: The Arizona Daily Sun to Wick Communications . In October 2023, Lee sold The Southern Illinoisan to Paxton Media Group . Other publications Lee has formerly owned include the North County Times , The Garden Island , The Provo Daily Herald , Daily Chronicle , Rhinelander Daily News , Shawano Leader , and The Ledger Independent of Maysville, KY Source: TownNews.com BLOX Digital (formerly TownNews.com )
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#1732802569371360-586: The Omaha World-Herald , Richmond Times-Dispatch , Tulsa World , and Winston-Salem Journal . Lee entered into a 10-year lease for BH Media's real estate as part of the agreement. To finance the acquisition, Berkshire Hathaway provided $ 576 million in long-term financing to Lee at 9% per annum. Lee Enterprises used the funds to pay for the Berkshire properties and to refinance its roughly $ 400 million in existing debt. Much of this remains from
390-480: The 1920s, when it merged with other publications and eventually shut down. In 1920, Hanway commissioned a standalone building for the newspapers, the "Tribune Building" in downtown Casper, which was used by the company until 1963. The renamed Tribune Company purchased the morning Casper Herald in 1925 and merged it with Daily Tribune , creating the Casper Tribune-Herald . The Casper Morning Star
420-690: The United States Postal Service. In 2004, the Casper Star-Tribune acquired The Casper Journal , a weekly news publication . In 2017 the Casper Journal's website was transferred to the Casper Star-Tribune's website. The Casper Journal printed its last edition in August 2022. The Casper Star-Tribune regularly wins the Wyoming Press Association's "Deming Cup for General Excellence", awarded to
450-474: The acquisition of BH Media Group's publications in early 2020, including the Omaha World-Herald , Richmond (Virginia) Times-Dispatch and Tulsa World . In January 2020, Lee Enterprises sold its newspaper and digital media operations in southern Oregon to Country Media, Inc. The sale included The World (Coos Bay) , the Bandon Western World and The Umpqua Post . Lee had purchased
480-431: The best large newspaper in the state, as well as other regional awards. The Casper Star-Tribune's editorial board has endorsed both Republicans and Democrats for public office. In 2008, the newspaper endorsed Democratic nominee Barack Obama. In 2012, the editorial board endorsed Republican nominee Mitt Romney. The newspaper did not endorse a presidential candidate in 2016. Lee Enterprises Lee Enterprises, Inc.
510-477: The company was significantly overcharging natural gas customers in Wyoming due to an unfavorable agreement that Northern Utilities had entered into years earlier with its corporate parent. The Casper Star-Tribune began charging for access to its website in 2011 by using a metered paywall . In 2018, the newsroom staff of the Casper Star-Tribune voted to unionize under the umbrella of The News Guild , becoming
540-463: The company, and will be in force for one year. The rationale offered by the board was, "Consistent with its fiduciary duties, Lee's Board has taken this action to ensure our shareholders receive fair treatment, full transparency and protection in connection with Alden's unsolicited proposal to acquire Lee." In early December, the board of Lee unanimously rejected the Alden bid, saying that the Alden proposal "grossly undervalues Lee and fails to recognize
570-436: The company. In January 2020, Lee Enterprises announced an agreement with Berkshire Hathaway to acquire BH Media Group's publications and The Buffalo News for $ 140 million in cash. In November 2021, global hedge fund Alden Global Capital made an offer to acquire Lee Enterprises for $ 24 per share, or about $ 141 million. In response, the board of Lee Enterprises enacted a shareholder rights plan, colloquially known as
600-630: The company." In mid-February 2022, the Delaware court found in favor of Lee Enterprises. In the face of that setback, Alden said it would turn to the tactic of filing a proxy statement asking the company's shareholders to vote no on board members Mary Junck and Herbert Moloney during the March 2022 board elections. This attempt also failed, as shareholders returned both directors to the Lee board despite Alden's opposition. In May 2022 Lee Enterprises reportedly laid off roughly 400 staffers, roughly 10% of
630-588: The confidentiality of this transaction was requested but denied by the SEC on May 25, 2012. In April 2013, Lee Enterprises announced that Berkshire Hathaway refinanced the remaining Pulitzer acquisition debt equating to $ 94 million, at no cost. The collateral involved was the TNI Partner stake including the Arizona Daily Star and azstarnet.com . The result of this was a reduction in interest from
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#1732802569371660-418: The first newspaper staff in Wyoming to do so. The Casper Star-Tribune is the first newspaper owned by Lee Enterprises to have unionized while owned by the company. Starting June 13, 2023, the print edition of the newspaper will be reduced to three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Also, the newspaper will transition from being delivered by a traditional newspaper delivery carrier to mail delivery by
690-738: The maturities from 2015 and 2017 to 2019 and 2022. Lee retired its 1st Lien Term Loan in November 2018, four months before its scheduled March 2019 maturity. On June 27, 2018, Lee Enterprises and Berkshire Hathaway reached a five-year agreement to allow Lee Enterprises to manage Berkshire Hathaway's newspaper and digital operations. On January 29, 2020, Lee Enterprises announced an agreement to buy Berkshire Hathaway's BH Media Group publications and The Buffalo News for $ 140 million cash. The acquisition comprised 30 daily newspapers in 10 states plus 49 paid weekly publications with digital sites, as well as 32 other additional print products. Daily papers include
720-731: The ownership of 20 men organized as the Republican Publishing Co. In 1897, A.J. Mokler acquired the newspaper and changed its name to the Natrona County Tribune . Mokler sold the Tribune in 1914 to J.E. Hanway and Associates and two years later Hanway produced the first edition of the Casper Daily Tribune , which quickly grew to become the largest newspaper in Wyoming by circulation. The weekly Natrona County Tribune continued to publish through
750-722: The papers as part of its acquisition of Pulitzer, Inc. in 2005. In March 2020, Lee sold the Santa Maria Times , The Lompoc Record , The Hanford Sentinel and the Santa Ynez Valley News , all in California, to Santa Maria News Media Inc., a newly-formed company led by a group of Canadian newspaper executives. In June 2023, Lee Enterprises sold the Daily Journal and three other newspapers to Better Newspapers Inc. In September 2023, Lee sold
780-466: The presidential election. Lee operated a broadcasting division, which it sold in 2000 to pay off debt and in order to focus on newspaper publishing. Most of the TV stations were sold to Emmis Communications , and have all been sold, as of 2007, to other companies. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011. It emerged from bankruptcy less than two months later. In April 2012, Warren Buffett took
810-429: The purchase of Pulitzer Inc. for $ 1.5 billion in 2005. Berkshire became Lee's sole lender after the deal closed on March 16, 2020. "We had zero interest in selling the group to anyone else for one simple reason: We believe that Lee is best positioned to manage through the industry's challenges," Warren Buffett said in a statement. The acquisition was completed on March 16, 2020. Alden Global Capital purchased
840-424: The strength of our business today." Shortly thereafter, Alden Global, through its operating unit Strategic Investment Opportunities, filed a lawsuit in state court in Delaware against Lee Enterprises. The Alden lawsuit asserts that the members of the Lee board "have every reason to maintain the status quo and their lucrative corporate positions" and that they are "focused more on [their] own power than what's best for
870-577: The workforce. The reduction was spread across about 19 of the chain's 75 newspapers and included roles in corporate headquarters. Some of the layoffs included the editor of The Eagle in Bryan, Texas and the publisher of The Bismarck Tribune in Bismarck, North Dakota . Lee Enterprises owns 77 daily newspapers and approximately 350 specialty publications in 26 states. The company's portfolio grew substantially, nearly doubling its audience size, with
900-525: Was first published in 1949, with Allan Drey as the founding editor and publisher. The Tribune Company acquired the Morning Star in 1955. In 1961 both newspapers were sold to Wyoming Publishers Inc., which renamed the daily edition the Casper Tribune and created a new Sunday edition called the Casper Star-Tribune . Separate delivery of the Morning Star and Tribune ended in 1965, replaced by
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