In 1999, Saturday editions were added, but the bi-weekly publication ceased on August 31, 2011, and the paper reverted to Wednesday-only issues.
In January 2013, the paper was sold to the Pamplin Media Group along with five other papers owned by Eagle Newspapers.[6][7] The Independent sued the city of Salem when the city denied access to records of a 2017 arrest for child abuse. The newspaper lost the initial case, but won on appeal in September 2018.[8]