The KXLY Broadcast Group canceled five of its eight weekend TV newscasts and laid off 18 employees on Tuesday.

The canceled KXLY-4 newscasts include the Saturday and Sunday versions of “Good Morning Northwest,” the 5 p.m. newscasts on Saturdays, the 11 p.m. newscasts on Saturdays, and the 5 p.m. newscasts on Sundays, according to general manager Steve Herling.

Newscasts will continue on Saturdays and Sundays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 11 p.m.

The layoffs included on-air reporter John Langeler and weekend weather anchor Leslie Lowe.

The cutbacks also had an effect on KXLY’s radio operations. Two local sports talk shows on KXLX-AM (ESPN The Ticket, 700), will be consolidated into one show featuring Bud Nameck and Dennis Patchin.

In a memo to staff, Herling cited the “current and potential economic slowdown” as the reason for the cuts. The “sudden economic crisis” could not have come at a worse time, he told employees – on top of the cost of converting to digital and high-definition broadcasting.