65 employees out at GR Press

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - In what the newspaper called "streamlining," 65 employees of the Grand Rapids Press will lose their jobs, an employee of the paper told 24 Hour News 8.

Officials made the announcement at 9 a.m. Friday morning. That same newspaper employee said the entire advertising design staff and production personnel are affected.

A severance package for those employees is available until Feb. 5.

This is the latest move for the newspaper to cut costs and personnel. In March 2009, The Press cuts wages and benefits to employees, and in July, a number of people left the paper, including columnists Ruth Butler, Tom Rademacher and Charlie Honey.

24 Hour News 8 has not been able to reach Press officials for comment.