Among those canned by the Trib was Statehouse reporter Jeffery Meitrodt, who moved to Illinois from Louisiana less than two years ago. His farewell comment at Capitol Fax says it all:

“We moved to Illinois after Hurricane Katrina because we didn’t want our lives disrupted again by huge forces beyond our control. But I guess we underestimated the destructive potential of Cyclone Sam.”

To trim costs, Tribune has made hundreds of layoffs at its papers and decreased the page count of print editions.

Zell said the company is still trying to figure out “what a newspaper of the 21st century should look like.” While redesigns should produce “more exciting and cheaper” versions of its papers, he said the company would have to readdress the matter if the revamped papers don’t get a positive response.

Fitch Ratings cut Tribune Co.’s credit rating further into “junk” status Friday — to “CCC” from “B-” — and said more reductions may come within a year if newspaper advertising revenue declines keep accelerating.

Does anyone have any doubts that no matter what happens to GateHouse, that there will be a Journal Star on your doorstep the next morning?

Can we talk about something else? Like… LaHood and Lyons?