Two Colorado Springs papers will merge into one.

Freedom Newspapers, owner of the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, will pay $30 million to buy certain assets of the Colorado Springs Sun and then close it down. Edward L. Gaylord, president of Oklahoma Publishing Co., said the decision to sell was made “after many years of failing to make a profit and several years of attempting to sell the Sun.” The Sun, weekday circulation 43,336 was established in 1947 by striking Gazette Telegraph employees. The Gazette Telegraph, established in 1872, has a morning circulation of 56,050 and an evening circulation of 36,692. Freedom Newspapers owns 28 newspapers besides the Gazette Telegraph, including the Orange County Register. The sale is subject to approval by the Justice Department.