2 dailies sue League City over street vendor policy

LEAGUE CITY — A federal judge Aug. 18 ordered a decree that would allow vendors to sell newspapers at city intersections, effectively setting aside a city law.

The Galveston County Daily News and Houston Chronicle filed a lawsuit Aug. 11 claiming that a 2004 city ordinance banning newspaper sales from street medians is unconstitutional.

The Daily News reported that both newspapers had requested a variance so that vendors could sell papers on medians at FM 518 and Interstate 45. The Chronicle sells 1,000 newspapers each weekend at that corner, but vendors have been ticketed and threatened with arrest, Chronicle attorney Joel White told the city council.

The council denied the variance, saying newspaper sales were unsafe and citizens had complained about litter left by vendors.

The Chronicle fought and won a 2003 attempt by the city to shut down newspaper vendors using a section of the state’s transportation code, according to the suit.

A year later, though, the council passed a new ordinance prohibiting the sales in the streets or on medians.

Eldorado publisher buys Big Lake weekly

BIG LAKE — Masked Rider Publications Inc. has purchased the Big Lake Wildcat from David and Ramona Werst.

The sale was effective Aug. 1 and included a commercial print shop.

The company is owned by Randy Mankin, who also owns and publishes the Eldorado Success.

Mankin promoted Marla Daugherty, an 11-year Wildcat employee, to editor. Mankin will serve as publisher. The Wildcat will stay in its Big Lake office.

The Werst family had owned the newspaper for 58 years. James Lee “Mike” Werst Jr., who died on March 19, had been publisher since 1947.

Ted Rickenbacker of Rickenbacher Media assisted in the sale.

Frankston changes hands

FRANKSTON — Joe W. Tindel sold the Frankston Citizen effective Sept. 1 to Blake and Kim Foster.

Tindel will remain as an active consultant for a period of time. He had owned the newspaper with wife Ruth for 32 years, after buying it June 1, 1973, from Quanah Price who had owned it for 42 years.

Blake and Kim Foster will serve as co-publishers and Kim will be editor and office manager while Blake will be advertising manager.

Rosenberg changes name

ROSENBERG — The Herald-Coaster on Aug. 28 changed its name to the Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster.

The newspaper reported that the change was made in an effort to meet its growing market. The daily newspaper also unveiled a redesign and updated graphics at the same time.

American group adds McKinney daily

PLANO — American Community Newspapers has purchased some McKinney newspaper assets from Hartman Newspapers. The transaction includes the McKinney Courier-Gazette and the shopper Penny Saver.

Minneapolis-based American Community owns Star Community Newspapers in the Dallas area, which includes another daily the Plano Star Courier.

Scott Wright, group publisher of Star Community Newspapers, will become publisher of the new additions along with his other duties.

ACM purchases Bonham competitor

DALLAS — American Consolidated Media Inc., purchased the publishing assets of the shopper The Fannin County Special from Tom Turner and Tommie Sue Turner of Bonham.

ACM currently owns and operates the free weekly The Bonham Journal. Under combined ownership, The Special and The Journal will remain separate and distinct weekly publications.

Fort Worth daily purchases weekly

FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has purchased The Courier, a free weekly that served Colleyville, Grapevine and Southlake.

The paper was founded in 2002 and bought the next year by a group of 14 area business people.

Wes Turner, president and publisher of the Star-Telegram, said The Courier’s circulation will be split among other free newspapers the Star-Telegram operates — The Colleyville Journal, The Southlake Courier and The Grapevine Courier.

Business journals sue Texas Monthly magazine

DALLAS — Four business newspapers in Texas have sued Texas Monthly magazine and another company, charging them with trademark infringement and other related claims.

The Houston Business Journal and Austin Business Journal, along with their counterparts in Dallas and San Antonio, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Dallas, accusing Texas Monthly and Best Companies Group of improperly and unfairly using the phrase “Best Places to Work in Texas” in the magazine.

The journals contend that the title is confusingly similar to the title “Best Places to Work,” used by the newspapers consistently for five years.

Houston daily cuts 7% of work force

HOUSTON — The Houston Chronicle is cutting about 7 percent of its work force as it restructures the operations and support areas of the newspaper.

In a letter to Chronicle employees, publisher and president Jack Sweeney outlined the changes, which include involuntary layoffs, open positions that will not be filled and changes in the use of contract labor and outside services.

The restructuring will not affect the newsroom and advertising sales staff, Sweeney wrote.

Employees affected by the changes will be offered severance packages and outplacement services.