[sushna]

looks like usatoday pulled a fast one & now has an abbreviated mini-crossword in the place of their traditional crossword.  Along with the Chicago Tribune crossword disappearing about a month ago & being replaced with the LA Times crossword (imagine that!  A Chicago newspaper using a LA newspaper's puzzle instead of its own!!  What's the world coming to?) the standard crosswords seem to be rapidly disappearing!!!!!

Is it yet another sign of the world entering a new Dark Age?

Zeb

[Eric Maddy]

Not sure what you're talking about -- I stopped solving USAT after they had "BABYMONITER" as an entry (!), but the print edition appears to have the same Parker 15x15 that is has had for years.