New ABJ owner just up north?

That's what radio station WAKR says in this report this afternoon:

It's not an official done deal yet but WAKR/WONE/WQMX sources say that the Akron Beacon Journal won't have to look far for it's new owner. Officially, the McClatchy Group says there's nothing to report but confirms hearing rumors that managers of the Plain Dealer were told the news this afternoon. All that's left is to put the ink on the contract, turning over the Beacon to Advanced Publications, owners of the PD. If so, it would signal a seismic consolidation for the newspaper industry in Northeast Ohio as the state's biggest newspaper buys it's biggest competitor to the south.

Stephanie Warsmith, Union Spokesperson for the Akron Beacon Journal, says that as of right now, they still have not heard any confirmation and that they are anxiously awaiting the announcement of who the new owner will be.

Eric Mansfield picked up the WAKR report in 609952 sound bytes on Channel 23