Isaac Jones still remembers the walk-in closet of his Austin home doubling as a darkroom.

It was back when he and fellow West Sider Brad Cummings were just launching what would become their life’s work: their very own hyperlocalized, Austin-centered community newspaper.

Jones’ closet is where they’d develop photos for the two-man venture. Then they’d sprawl out on the living room floor of Cummings’ apartment a few minutes down the road and — using scissors and glue — cut and paste their neighborhood paper together by hand.

That same scrappy, community-driven pursuit has persisted for 40 years.

It may not for much longer.

The publication, today known as the Voice Newspapers, faces an uncertain future after Cummings — who was its acting editor — died in an apartment fire in Austin, wh

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