After 56 years on air, KION-TV will shut down its local news operations beginning Tuesday, two sources familiar with the matter have confirmed to KSBW 8.KION-TV, which airs on channel 46 and is owned by News-Press & Gazette (NPG). NPG bought the station in December of 2013.Employees expressed their shock at the sudden announcement. “I did not see this coming. I was out heading out to do a story about affordable housing in Santa Cruz and got a call to come back, and it just hit me out of nowhere,” said one reporter. Sandy Santos, a Spanish language reporter and anchor for Telemundo 23, shared, “We’re coming into work just a regular day, you know. But eventually we had our meeting, morning meeting, and that’s when we find out about the transition.” Telemundo 23 also shares a newsroom with KION, and there is no plan for a Spanish newscast on the Central Coast.Hispanics make up 60% of the population in Monterey County, according to Data USA. Leaving the Central Coast without a Spanish newscast.Employees said corporate leaders came to town Tuesday with little explanation as to why they were ending news operations, effective immediately. “It was some corporate people from NPG that I hadn’t met before, and they said, you must be Ata, ‘We’re never doing live news again,'” said KION reporter Ata.Santos reflected on the impact of the decision, saying, “I know some of them didn’t take it well. I know some of them. You know, it’s a passion. It’s not just a job. It’s something that we do for the passion and for the area. We do want to be out there and communicate to everyone what’s going on.”KION news slots will now be filled by Bay Area station KPIX, a CBS affiliate. Mayor Dennis Donohue commented on the situation, saying, “It certainly speaks to a very changing media landscape, how people are going to get their information. And, you know, and from my perspective, I like folks to have as much local news as possible. And certainly that becomes a you know, they’ll they’ll be less of that in their near term.”Attempts to reach out to News-Press & Gazette for comment have been unsuccessful.

SALINAS, Calif. —

After 56 years on air, KION-TV will shut down its local news operations beginning Tuesday, two sources familiar with the matter have confirmed to KSBW 8.

KION-TV, which airs on channel 46 and is owned by News-Press & Gazette (NPG). NPG bought the station in December of 2013.

Employees expressed their shock at the sudden announcement.

“I did not see this coming. I was out heading out to do a story about affordable housing in Santa Cruz and got a call to come back, and it just hit me out of nowhere,” said one reporter.

Sandy Santos, a Spanish language reporter and anchor for Telemundo 23, shared, “We’re coming into work just a regular day, you know. But eventually we had our meeting, morning meeting, and that’s when we find out about the transition.”

Telemundo 23 also shares a newsroom with KION, and there is no plan for a Spanish newscast on the Central Coast.

Hispanics make up 60% of the population in Monterey County, according to Data USA. Leaving the Central Coast without a Spanish newscast.

Employees said corporate leaders came to town Tuesday with little explanation as to why they were ending news operations, effective immediately.

“It was some corporate people from NPG that I hadn’t met before, and they said, you must be Ata, ‘We’re never doing live news again,'” said KION reporter Ata.

Santos reflected on the impact of the decision, saying, “I know some of them didn’t take it well. I know some of them. You know, it’s a passion. It’s not just a job. It’s something that we do for the passion and for the area. We do want to be out there and communicate to everyone what’s going on.”

KION news slots will now be filled by Bay Area station KPIX, a CBS affiliate.

Mayor Dennis Donohue commented on the situation, saying, “It certainly speaks to a very changing media landscape, how people are going to get their information. And, you know, and from my perspective, I like folks to have as much local news as possible. And certainly that becomes a you know, they’ll they’ll be less of that in their near term.”

Attempts to reach out to News-Press & Gazette for comment have been unsuccessful.