The union-backed project employing eight former reporters at the Santa Barbara News-Press to cover local news didn't make it. The staff posted a note saying that after three months, they are switching focus to an upcoming trial with the News-Press and pushing for the Teamsters to organize the paper's newsroom.

It’s been great running our own show, free of interference from an abusive publisher. We hope we have been of service to you since we launched the site on April 2.

We simply don’t have the funds to continue online indefinitely. But we are not going away! It’s time to step up our campaign for reinstatement to the News-Press and a Teamster contract in the newsroom. Beginning Aug. 14, we will be on the witness stand as the News-Press goes on trial in Santa Barbara on charges of 15 violations of federal labor law, including our firings.

More quotes and future plans in the Santa Barbara Independent story.