Byron

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) plans to close its regional printing plant here this month and contract the printing of its newspaper, along with the weekly Barron’s, to The Des Moines Register, that paper reported. The current WSJ plant, which employs 25 people, produced editions for a four-state area.

CHICAGO—RR Donnelley will close the former Spencer Press in Wells, ME, and its Hillside, IL, facility as the company continues to deal with the dismal economy. A total of 488 jobs will be lost, including 370 at Spencer Press, a catalog and direct marketing printer. The Spencer plant will close by mid-June, with staggered layoffs. Employees at both facilities will receive severance packages.

Schmidt Printing in Byron cut 35 jobs this week as the recession sank part of its business. Despite growth in direct mail advertising packets that spurred a $5 million equipment investment and the hiring of 30 new people in the fall, that growth did not make up for the losses in other areas, according to company officials.