Free Dallas daily ceases publication

DALLAS — A.M. Journal Express, a free daily newspaper that launched last fall, published its final issue last month after losing the financial support of its investors, The Associated Press reported.

The newspaper expected a couple of new investors to come aboard, but they pulled out, said Jeremy Halbreich, chief executive of American Consolidated Media, a Dallas-based media company and an A.M. Journal Express investor.

The free daily debuted in November and in response The Dallas Morning News launched its free daily tabloid, Quick, a week later.

Waskom weekly changes owners, moves to Marshall

WASKOM — Signal Publishing L.L.C. purchased the Stateline Speaker and moved it to a new town and changed the name.

Rhea Haston founded the weekly in 2001.

The new owners moved the weekly to Marshall and on May 6 published the first issue under the new name Lone Star Eagle. Publishers are T.D. Howell and Vernon Lewis. Editor is Bill Keith and advertising manager is Cheryl Brown.

Webb County candidate adds own inserts in papers

LAREDO — A candidate for Webb County Commissioner Precinct 3 admitted placing unauthorized political inserts into copies of two daily newspapers on convenience store racks March 4, the Laredo Morning Times reported.

John Castro said he placed fliers into copies of the Times and San Antonio Express-News.

The unauthorized inserts included accusations about his opponent Roque Vela. Castro said he was unaware that the newspapers charge to place inserts in their publications.

Both Vela and the Times filed complaints with the Laredo Police Department and Webb County District Attorney’s Office.

“Our product was damaged and we filed a complaint,” Times Publisher Bill Green said.

Representatives of the Express-News told the Times they also intend to pursue the investigation.

The case could lead to theft of service charges or possible election code violations.

Houston daily partners with Spanish magazine

HOUSTON — The Houston Chronicle has formed a partnership with La OpiniÓn to publish a Houston edition of La Vibra (“The Vibe”), the weekly Spanish language entertainment magazine.

The first Houston edition was published on April 23 with information on the latest movie, music and cultural trends to readers of the Chronicle.  

The magazine was launched by La Opinion, the country’s largest Spanish language daily newspaper, in the summer of 2000 in what was then a barren market for entertainment publications catering to young Hispanics in Southern California.

With a distribution that has grown to 150,000 throughout Southern California, La Vibra will have 100,000 distribution in Houston via the partnership with the Chronicle.

The combined distribution will be 250,000 in two of the country’s largest Hispanic markets.

Spanish publisher launches daily newspapers in Texas

SAN ANTONIO — Meximerica Media, a U.S.-based Spanish-language newspaper publisher, is launching Rumbo, a new network of Spanish-language daily newspapers.

The first four publications will be distributed beginning at the end of the second quarter 2004 in select Texas cities, including Houston, San Antonio, Austin and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen.

The tabloid newspapers will feature local news and common content aimed at Hispanic men and women between ages 21 and 45. Versions outside Texas are expected in 24 to 36 months.

Texas Lawyer plans statewide business pub

DALLAS — The publisher of Texas Lawyer announced the launch of a statewide business publication in Texas, Executive Legal Adviser, a new quarterly magazine exploring legal issues affecting Lone Star business executives.

Written and edited by the staff of Texas Lawyer with contributions from Texas business attorneys, Executive Legal Adviser analyzes key legal issues in layman’s terms.

The new magazine will host a launch event on June 10 at the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Houston.

Texas Lawyer joined TPA last year as a participating member.