The Kansas City Star laid off “about a dozen employees” Tuesday and eliminated a similar number of unfilled positions (LINK). The cutbacks followed layoffs and other expense cuts in 2008 and 2009.

In an e-mail to employees, Publisher Mark Zieman said the company is beginning to see improvement in its revenue trends “and it seems clear that the worst days of this economic downturn are behind us.”

The Star, owned by The McClatchy Co., based in Sacramento, Calif., also plans to resume granting raises in March, a point that Zieman made to show that the company’s financial outlook is brightening.

“Nevertheless, we must and will continue to adjust expenses downward until we are safely through this historic recession,” Zieman said in the e-mail. “We all hope that day comes soon.”

Employees who lost work in the cutback will receive severance and subsidized continuation of benefits.