Local bilingual newspaper closes
By JOHN COX, Californian staff writer
jcox@bakersfield.com | Friday, Dec 12 2008 1:08 PM

Last Updated: Monday, Dec 15 2008 8:19 AM

El Mexicalo, a weekly bilingual newspaper published in Bakersfield since 1980, has shut down due to concerns about the slowing economy.

Five employees had to be laid off as a result of the closure, said Esther H. Manzano, publisher and owner of the Spanish-English paper, which typically consisted of eight to 12 pages of local and national news geared to Hispanics.

Manzano said she chose to cease publication following the Nov. 13 issue because advertisers have cut back on spending.

“It took me a long time to make that decision because, you know, the economy’s so bad,â€