Business Week writer and blogger Jon Fine (pictured) says he’s talked to “insiders” who say that McClatchy (publisher of the Sacramento Bee and other Bee newspapers) and the New York Times (publisher of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat) considered teaming up to buy Knight Ridder (publisher of the San Jose Mercury News, Walnut Creek Contra Costa Times and Palo Alto Daily News Group). He doesn’t say whether the two companies will pursue the idea, although he says such a combination would result in a “happy ending” for KR.