Cash-Poor Newspapers Decamp From Washington

US newspapers are shuttering their Washington bureaus—though hardly for lack of news, the New York Times reports. Consolidation and a steep fall-off in ad dollars have forced many to reevaluate their coverage in recent years, leading to a focus on local news and a reliance on agencies for coverage abroad and out-of-state.

“The cop is leaving the beat here, and I think it’s a terrible loss for citizens,” said one veteran whose bureau closes in April. Even lawmakers are appalled. “They’re letting go those with the most institutional knowledge,” one congressman said. While big news will still be covered, DC stories that affect only far-flung readers may be a thing of the past. (More Washington, DC stories.)