The Shakopee Valley News, Prior Lake American, Jordan Independent, Chaska Herald, Chanhassen Villager and Savage Pacer will cease operations this week, and the Southwest News Media website will go dark. The publications are part of MediaNews Group, owned by Alden Global Capital.

The publications are part of Denver-based MediaNews Group, which is owned by Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund that purchased the group of papers in 2020. The company, one of the largest newspaper publishers in the country, is known for gutting and then closing local papers. It has published the St. Paul Pioneer Press since 2012.