DURHAM, N.C. — New owners took over the

Herald-Sun

in Durham Monday and did not waste any time making changes. Within minutes of the sale being finalized, some employees were fired.

The

Herald-Sun

has a history that dates back more than 100 years in the Bull City. In 1991, Durham's morning and afternoon papers merged, forming the

Herald-Sun

. In December 2004, the locally owned paper was sold to the Kentucky-based Paxton Media Group.

On Monday, the deal became official, and changes swiftly followed. All four of the paper's senior officers were fired, including president and publisher David Hughey. Vice president William Hawkins is also gone. He told WRAL he expected changes, but not like this.

All day, employees could be seen leaving the building with belongings in boxes. At the beginning of the day, there were more than 350 workers. WRAL has been told as many as 20 percent lost their jobs.

WRAL has also learned the exiting employees are getting a severence package based on their years of service. The Paxton Media Group refused comment about the firings and any changes readers will see in their daily paper.