Bismarck, ND

Lee Enterprises’ efforts to increase efficiency and reduce costs received a big boost with the installation of Kodak’s Ink Optimizing Service at 12 of its daily newspapers. Since adding the capability over the last several months, the newspapers report reductions in ink expenses between 20 percent and 25 percent.

DES MOINES, IA—The Wall Street Journal plans to close its regional printing plant here in April 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, produced publications for a four-state area. The Register's plant will add six additional and several part-time staffers to handle the added work. WSJ has closed three other regional plants in the past six months, the Register reported.