Several news outlets are reporting that the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who sold off The Washington Times less than a year ago, is close to buying it back.

AP reports today:

The executive editor of The Washington Times says the owner of the financially-troubled newspaper has reached a preliminary agreement to sell the paper to a company affiliated with the Unification Church.

Sam Dealey said late Tuesday that the deal is subject to a 30-day due diligence period. The sale to News World Media Development will be finalized after that if all parties still agree.

Dealey called the agreement a “welcome development,” and praised the newspaper's staff.

The sale would occur following the paper's major downsizing in both staff and circulation, changing publishers and editors within the last year.