The Times has owned some of the Regional newspapers since 1971, when it bought the Lakeland, FL Ledger, Wilmington NC Star-Banner, and Gainesville Sun. Its most recent purchase was the News Chief, in 2008. Halifax is also picking up some prestige with The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, which won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting.

News of this move first leaked out last week, when Halifax accidentally published the news on its website. Media critic Jim Romenesko, who caught the screengrab that spilled the beans, also snagged a memo sent to employees of the Regional Media Group from the Times brass. Main takeaway from the memo? Regional employees should know within 48 hours whether or not Halifax will continue to offer them employment.