Newspaper news
Hearst is building a newspaper empire in Texas.
The Austin American-Statesman is changing hands again. Hearst, which owns the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle, has agreed to buy the Statesman from media company Gannett. The sale price wasn’t disclosed.
In addition to the Statesman, the deal would include the Bastrop Advertiser, Lake Travis View, Pflugerville Pflag, and Round Rock Leader, according to the Statesman. Websites such as Austin360 and Hookem.com are also part of the sale.
“This acquisition complements Hearst's set of newspapers and reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality journalism,” Jeff Johnson, president of Hearst’s newspaper division, says in a news release. “It aligns with our strategy to invest in thriving communities with strong potential. We look forward to welcoming the Austin American-Statesman team to Hearst, joining 2,300 committed Hearst [newspaper] professionals across the country.”
The deal, which is expected to be completed by March 31, comes seven years after longtime owner Cox Enterprises sold the Statesman to Gatehouse Media for $47.5 million. Gannett acquired the Statesman when it merged with Gatehouse in a 2019 deal valued at $1.4 billion.
The purchase of the Statesman and other Austin-area publications boosts Hearst’s holdings in Texas. Aside from the Express-News and Chronicle, Hearst owns the Beaumont Enterprise, Laredo Morning Times, Midland Reporter-Telegram, and Plainview Herald. The company also owns Austin Monthly and Austin Home magazines, the Austin Daily digital newsletter, and San Antonio Magazine.
“Hearst has a stellar reputation in the publishing industry and their values are uniquely aligned with ours,” says Gannett Chairman and CEO Mike Reed. “The sale of the Austin American-Statesman is a strategic decision that will complement their brand while positioning Gannett and the USA Today [network] of more than 200 local publications for future growth. We are confident Hearst will be a great home for our Statesman colleagues.”
Hearst publishes 26 daily and 52 weekly newspapers in the U.S., and more than 200 magazines around the world.
As with many newspapers, the Statesman’s circulation has dwindled in recent years. The combined print and digital circulation fell from 79,545 in 2022 to 70,733 in 2023, according to the Express-News.
It’s unclear how Hearst’s ownership would affect the Statesman workforce. Newsroom employees at the Statesman unionized in 2021, according to the Express-News. The newspaper’s editorial staff dropped from 200 employees in 2013 to 41 in 2023, the NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America says.
Supermarket News
Walmart is in renovation mode: The supermarket giant is remodeling 67 stores across Texas — part of a bigger plan to remodel more than 650 stores across the U.S.
Texas gets 10 percent of those remodels. Go Texas.
A release says that the remodels will re-imagine the in-store shopping experience with updates that include:
"Our stores often serve as the heartbeat of the communities we operate in, and these remodels are a testament to our dedication to enhancing that role," says Southwest Business Unit Operations senior VP Paul Lewellen in a statement. “By investing in our stores and associates, we are not only improving the shopping experience but also reinforcing our commitment to being a vital part of the community’s fabric, helping to build a brighter future for all."
Well that's a bit optimistic, but sure, dream big.
Prior to 2025, Walmart invested over $2.6 billion to upgrade stores throughout Texas in the past five years.
One store in Austin at the intersection of Slaughter Lane and I-35 (9300 S. I-35 #B) will be remodeled.
Big-city stores across Texas set for a remodel include:
Other cities with Walmart re-dos include: Alamo, Atlanta, Baytown, Beaumont, Borger, Brady, Breckenridge, Brownsville, Carthage, Childress, Corpus Christi, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Edinburg, El Paso, Elsa, Ennis, Fort Stockton, Gatesville, Gilmer, Harlingen, Hereford, Hillsboro, Hondo, Humble (Atascocita), La Marque, La Porte, Laredo, Longview, McAllen, New Braunfels, New Boston, Richmond, Rio Grande City, Rockport, San Angelo, Schertz, Spring, Stamford, Sweetwater, Texarkana, Tomball, and Waco.
Walmart currently has 596 retail units and 25 supply chain facilities across Texas, and was recently named as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. In Texas, more than 93,900 hourly, frontline associates received a bonus in March, and many promotions were bestowed: 11,500 associates were promoted to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay in 2024, and more than 17,300 part-time associates were promoted to full-time positions.
The company plays an active role in the community through local giving, company-paid associate volunteering, emergency relief efforts, and donations that include more than 91 million pounds of food to local food banks in Texas in fiscal year 2025.
