Local news shuttered by Sinclair Broadcast Group in Ohio

WNWO-TV, known locally as NBC 24, is set to be supplanted by "The National Desk" beginning May 15.

According to the Toledo Blade, staff at NBC 24 were informed on Thursday of Sinclair's decision to axe the local coverage.

One station employee said via Facebook that the news "came out of the blue," explaining that he was told it was due to "money issues."

"Sad to see the little station that could go out like this," he lamented. "We tried our damnedest to stay up there with the big boys, and we did give them hell, but as they say ... it is what it is."

On Facebook, the outlet released a statement to viewers.

"NBC 24 is changing the way we produce news in Toledo to ensure our long-term success," it said. "The National Desk, which provides real-time national and regional news from Sinclair's television stations across the US will air during our regularly scheduled news time periods."

The outlet tried to hype the new programming, stating that it "offers an alternative choice for news and provides an opportunity for local news cut-ins," and "has grown exponentially over the last year, reaching nearly three million viewers per week."

As the Blade reports, Sinclair outsourced portions of NBC 24 to South Bend, Indiana in 2017, with Toledo residents receiving their nightly news from anchors who did not live in the area. Now, those who live in the Ohio city have one less choice for local content.

Sinclair, which controls hundreds of local affiliate stations across the nation, has been criticized over its practices, making headlines in 2017 after reporters across its network were caught repeating the exact same script regarding truth in media.