The publisher of the Star Tribune on Sunday denied a New York Post report that the paper is on the brink of bankruptcy. In addition to declining advertising revenue, the Star Tribune reported last week that its weekday circulation fell 6.74 percent to 321,984 in the six-month period that ended March 31. The Pioneer Press reports that Avista Capital Partners, owner of the Star Tribune, has hired Blackstone Group to analyze the company's finances. "But that hardly merits a conclusion that we are near bankruptcy," Publisher Chris Harte reportedly said.

Is there something wrong with this teaser to a Star Tribune story?

"Scott and Carver counties don't seem eager to use their power recently passed at the Legislature to levy a quarter-cent sales tax."

Imagine that, a government not eager to take more money from people who are already seeing increases in prices for virtually everything they need to function on a daily basis.

Navigating through changing times

The Minnesota Newspaper Association 141st convention was last week from Wednesday, Jan. 23, through Friday, Jan. 25.

At it a bunch of newspaper people gathered to look at each other's products, pick up new ideas and network. It was also an opportunity to listen to "the experts" conduct sessions and talk about how they do what they do.

Now working for my third newspaper, I finally took the time to partake in my first convention on Friday morning at the Sheraton Hotel in Bloomington.