Azteca America on Friday canceled all newscasts and laid off more than 20 employees, according to several sources at the struggling network. As one outgoing employee put it, “they finished off what they started last year,” referring to the round of layoffs and the moving of most of its news operations to Mexico City back in May of 2008.

Employees of the Mexico-based network were told the cuts were a response to the economic crisis. Among the layoffs: reporters Nancy Agosto, Luis Treto, Claudia Mendoza and Carlos Ruben Zapata. Producers: Oswaldo Villazon, Leonel Morales, Jonathan Victoria. Writer Raul Rodriguez and editor Otto Leyva. Cameramen: Juan Carlos Chopin, Nestor Sanchez, Luis Quiroz and Salvador Rico.