During the week of July 9, 2020, the Santa Clarita Gazette released its final edition, ending a 22-year run as one of Santa Clarita’s most distinctive and outspoken local publications.

Founded in 1998 by Doug Sutton, the Gazette combined community news, free classified ads, and a boldly satirical editorial voice. Known for its unfiltered commentary and loyal readership, the paper launched an online edition in 2012 and weathered legal disputes with competing outlets.

Sutton’s weekly “Doug’s Rants” didn’t shy away from tough topics. In his final column (July 2, 2020), he reflected on heated debates over Obama-era economic policies. 

By June 2020, pandemic-induced financial strain crippled ad revenue. On June 26, Sutton announced the July 3 issue would pause publication indefinitely, though a hopeful “return in September” was mentioned. 

Despite months of community support and donations, the Gazette could not sustain itself and officially shuttered after that July 3–9 issue. KHTS Newsroom has preserved a copy of the final print edition for posterity. 

Though the Gazette is no longer in print, Sutton continues to share his weekly column online at dougsrant.com.

To read yesterday’s Today in SCV History, click HERE.

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