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LOS ANGELES (AP) The Washington Post will close its remaining U.S. bureaus in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago at the end of the year to save money and will focus news efforts on covering the nation's capital.

Six correspondents are being offered jobs in Washington, while three news aides will be let go Dec. 31.

In a staff memo Tuesday, Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli told workers that the paper needed to concentrate its "journalistic firepower" on its central mission of covering Washington, D.C.

In the last decade, the paper has closed bureaus in Miami, Denver and Austin, Texas.

The Washington Post Co.'s earnings increased 69 percent in the third quarter partly due to cost-cutting measures. The company also owns Newsweek magazine, Kaplan education services and television properties.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-24-09 1746CST | save this article / add to your favorites list