The online version of the Mercer Island Reporter has joined a new extensive Internet network of local community news operated by the paper’s parent company, Sound Publishing.

As a subsidiary of Sound Publishing, the Reporter’s Web site became a part of a network of online news published through PNWlocalnews.com, which currently features the stories and photos of 27 newspapers. The Reporter joined its local partners in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish in the East King County region of PNWlocalnews.com. The Reporter’s old URL, www.mi-reporter.com, automatically redirects readers to the Web site effective today.

The new site will feature breaking news and eventually it will broadcast digital video content. Readers will continue to be able to comment on current stories online and in the future will be able to submit obituaries online. New features on the Web site that were not provided on the old site include the weather, horoscopes and comics. Classifieds, home and auto sales, and jobs links are also available.