The U.S. Justice Department said yesterday that its “;review”; of the sale of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin was “;ongoing.”;

Gina Talamona, a spokeswoman, declined to comment on the sale's timetable.

Hawaii Reporter Editor Malia Zimmerman and state Sen. Sam Slom (R, Hawaii Kai-Kahala) have expressed interest in buying the paper, as have Texas-based Brian Ferguson and Big Island-based Derick Harris.

Owner Black Press put the ailing paper on the market March 15 to satisfy antitrust requirements concerning his purchase of the rival Honolulu Advertiser from Gannett Co. Advertiser workers have been told that the sale of their newspaper could close on Sunday.

If the Star-Bulletin is not sold, Black would merge the two papers into the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.