Better Newspapers Inc. has sold its eight Illinois newspapers to Paxton Media Group in Kentucky.

A new Illinois law requires media companies to provide 120 days’ notice to several groups before the company is sold to allow time for a local buyer to make a competing offer.

County clerks and an employee of the paper — two of the groups the seller is required to notify under law — said they only learned about the company’s sale when it was announced.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

SPRINGFIELD – A newspaper publisher in central and southern Illinois has sold its papers to a Kentucky-based company, testing a new state law designed to keep newspaper ownership local.

The Strengthening Community Media Act took effect on Jan. 1 as part of a pack

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