Iowa - Several small town Iowa newspapers southeast of Des Moines are merging because of financial struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Centerville Iowegain is merging with the Ottumwa Courier, while sister papers in Pella and Knoxville are being folded into the Oskaloosa Herald.
All five newspapers published identical messages from publisher Becky Maxwell that said the mergers are the result of rising costs and falling subscriptions and revenue.
The message said the papers have been dealt a "gut punch" during the pandemic, and that advertising has nearly dried up.
Subscribers are receiving sample copies of the Ottumwa and Oskaloosa newspapers along with a special offer to subscribe.
All five papers are published two or three times a week, and are owned by publishing company CNHI, which operates smaller newspaper across the country.