The La Conner Weekly News is on the brink of closure, with the La Conner Community News group's attempt to purchase the publication falling short, leading to its final issue being published on December 18, 2024. Publisher Ken Stern, who has owned the newspaper for over seven years, openly sought a new owner in August, expressing a preference for a journalist to take over. Despite his outreach efforts, including advertising the sale nationally and meeting with interested community members, no viable offers emerged. Local residents, led by Andrew Ashmore, organized a community meeting to discuss potential ownership but ultimately lacked the time needed to develop a business plan and secure funding. Stern lamented the impending closure, noting the newspaper's success and the vital role it has played in the community.

Mayor Marna Hanneman echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the newspaper's importance in maintaining local discourse, especially amid the rise of social media. The La Conner Community News plans to regroup after the holidays to explore alternative ways to continue local news coverage. Meanwhile, Adams Publishing Group has shown interest in acquiring the Weekly News, but Stern has maintained that it is not his responsibility to keep the paper running.