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November 20, 2009

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More Layoffs in Peoria Area

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By WEEK Producer

Story Published: Jan 22, 2009 at 6:08 PM CST

Story Updated: Jan 22, 2009 at 7:22 PM CST

More job erosion for Peoria's economy.

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The head of the newspaper guild at the Peoria Journal Star tells News 25 that there were five layoffs in the newsroom Thursday and six others in the building in the past 24 hours.

The stock of the Journal Star's owner GateHouse Media has been in freefall and the company has been de–listed from the New York Stock Exchange.

And some people have been laid off from the Paradice Casino in East Peoria.

The Paradice's owner, Boyd Gaming, calls the layoffs minimal, but didn't give a number. Boyd blames the economic downturn as the primary reason for the layoffs and the state smoking ban playing a secondary part.

One analyst projects hotel–casino revenues nationwide will fall more than 8–percent this year.

View Oldest Comments First

Saturday, Jan 24 at 9:24 PM jerry wrote ...

please dont interpret my opinions as being mean, but simply an opinion based on facts: a generation of readers exiting as a new generation of non-readers entering, stock prices no longer low but completely gone, staff reductions, 401(k) contributions gone, rapidly-growing costs, and the owner already starting to liquidate assets. in the end i hope it all works out and everyone at the PJS can keep their jobs, but if the tech and the culture are changing, you will have to change with it.

Saturday, Jan 24 at 6:36 PM tom r wrote ...

i dont think jerry is losing faith at all. sounds like he is a realist to me. lets face the facts, PJS subscribers are steadily declining. as the story says, GateHouse Media has been in freefall and the company has been de–listed from the New York Stock Exchange. bad economy or not, more people will continue to lose their jobs until the doors eventually get locked for good.

Saturday, Jan 24 at 11:34 AM Another to Jerry wrote ...

Well then if your so smart with the times why don't you live in China...It's people like you that lose faith and forget what's really important...

Friday, Jan 23 at 9:51 PM Jerry wrote ...

it is absolutely true that newspapers have been around for hundreds of years. they were for a very long time, the main source of communication. but they were the main source of communication before televison and the internet. times change and if i were in the newspaper business, i would be making other plans.

Friday, Jan 23 at 8:21 AM To Jerry wrote ...

Newspapers have been around for hundreds of years. VHS tapes, typewriters and vinyl records are no comparison. The horrible economy has no mercy for anyone. Yes, the internet is a news source but some people like the good ole waste of paper in their hands!!

Friday, Jan 23 at 7:45 AM Never Forget... wrote ...

One flip of the switch and all internet can be gone...We have to stop putting all of our eggs in one basket...much like people media shall coexist....THe people need their news...the people need their newspaper....Long live the paper, the magazine, the instruction manual, I'll even take a lifetime of junk mail...PRINT MEDIA CAN'T DIE...IT WONT DIE....

Thursday, Jan 22 at 10:17 PM Jerry wrote ...

the PJS's days are numbered anyway. the new generation is getting their news from tv and the internet. the newspaper is a waste of paper and resources. very soon we will be adding newspapers to the "extinct technology list", along with VHS tapes, typewriters, and vinyl records.

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