Index: src/industry_cmd.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/industry_cmd.cpp	(revision 9068)
+++ src/industry_cmd.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -1668,11 +1668,19 @@
 	if (closeit) {
 		i->prod_level = 0;
 		SetDParam(0, i->index);
-		AddNewsItem(
-			indspec->closure_text,
-			NEWS_FLAGS(NM_THIN, NF_VIEWPORT|NF_TILE, NT_ECONOMY, 0),
-			i->xy + TileDiffXY(1, 1), 0
-		);
+		if (_patches.news_new_industry)	{ // evaluate which news category closing industry should be displayed as, according to patch news_new_industry
+			AddNewsItem(
+				indspec->closure_text,
+				NEWS_FLAGS(NM_THIN, NF_VIEWPORT|NF_TILE, NT_GENERAL, 0), // display as General news
+				i->xy + TileDiffXY(1, 1), 0
+			);
+		} else {
+			AddNewsItem(
+				indspec->closure_text,
+				NEWS_FLAGS(NM_THIN, NF_VIEWPORT|NF_TILE, NT_ECONOMY, 0), // display as Economy news (default)
+				i->xy + TileDiffXY(1, 1), 0
+			);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1749,11 +1757,19 @@
 
 	SetDParam(0, GetIndustrySpec(type)->name);
 	SetDParam(1, i->town->index);
-	AddNewsItem(
-		(type != IT_FOREST && type != IT_FRUIT_PLANTATION && type != IT_RUBBER_PLANTATION && type != IT_COTTON_CANDY) ?
-			STR_482D_NEW_UNDER_CONSTRUCTION : STR_482E_NEW_BEING_PLANTED_NEAR,
-		NEWS_FLAGS(NM_THIN, NF_VIEWPORT|NF_TILE, NT_ECONOMY,0), i->xy, 0
-	);
+	if (_patches.news_new_industry)	{ // evaluate which news category opening industry should be displayed as, according to patch news_new_industry
+		AddNewsItem(
+			(type != IT_FOREST && type != IT_FRUIT_PLANTATION && type != IT_RUBBER_PLANTATION && type != IT_COTTON_CANDY) ?
+				STR_482D_NEW_UNDER_CONSTRUCTION : STR_482E_NEW_BEING_PLANTED_NEAR,
+			NEWS_FLAGS(NM_THIN, NF_VIEWPORT|NF_TILE, NT_GENERAL,0), i->xy, 0 // display as General news
+		);
+	} else {
+		AddNewsItem(
+			(type != IT_FOREST && type != IT_FRUIT_PLANTATION && type != IT_RUBBER_PLANTATION && type != IT_COTTON_CANDY) ?
+				STR_482D_NEW_UNDER_CONSTRUCTION : STR_482E_NEW_BEING_PLANTED_NEAR,
+			NEWS_FLAGS(NM_THIN, NF_VIEWPORT|NF_TILE, NT_ECONOMY,0), i->xy, 0 // display as Economy news (default)
+		);
+	}
 }
 
 static void ChangeIndustryProduction(Industry *i)
Index: src/lang/english.txt
===================================================================
--- src/lang/english.txt	(revision 9068)
+++ src/lang/english.txt	(working copy)
@@ -1045,6 +1045,7 @@
 STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_STOP_ON_TOWN_ROAD                            :{LTBLUE}Allow drive-through road stops on town owned roads: {ORANGE}{STRING}
 
 STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_SMALL_AIRPORTS                               :{LTBLUE}Always allow small airports: {ORANGE}{STRING1}
+STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_NEWS_NEW_INDUSTRY                            :{LTBLUE}Show opening/closing industries as General news: {ORANGE}{STRING1}
 
 STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_WARN_LOST_TRAIN                              :{LTBLUE}Warn if train is lost: {ORANGE}{STRING1}
 STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_ORDER_REVIEW                                 :{LTBLUE}Review vehicles' orders: {ORANGE}{STRING1}
Index: src/settings.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/settings.cpp	(revision 9068)
+++ src/settings.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -1283,6 +1283,7 @@
 	SDT_BOOL(Patches, link_terraform_toolbar,        S, 0, false,        STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_LINK_TERRAFORM_TOOLBAR,NULL),
 	 SDT_VAR(Patches, liveries,           SLE_UINT8, S,MS,  2, 0,  2, 0, STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_LIVERIES,              RedrawScreen),
 	SDT_BOOL(Patches, prefer_teamchat,               S, 0, false,        STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_PREFER_TEAMCHAT,       NULL),
+	SDT_BOOL(Patches, news_new_industry,             S, 0, false,        STR_CONFIG_PATCHES_NEWS_NEW_INDUSTRY,     NULL),
 
 	/***************************************************************************/
 	/* Construction section of the GUI-configure patches window */
Index: src/settings_gui.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/settings_gui.cpp	(revision 9068)
+++ src/settings_gui.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -575,6 +575,7 @@
 	"link_terraform_toolbar",
 	"liveries",
 	"prefer_teamchat",
+	"news_new_industry",
 };
 
 static const char *_patches_construction[] = {
Index: src/variables.h
===================================================================
--- src/variables.h	(revision 9068)
+++ src/variables.h	(working copy)
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@
 	bool measure_tooltip;               // Show a permanent tooltip when dragging tools
 	byte liveries;                      // Options for displaying company liveries, 0=none, 1=self, 2=all
 	bool prefer_teamchat;               // Choose the chat message target with <ENTER>, true=all players, false=your team
+	bool news_new_industry;				// Show opening/closing industries as General news instead of Economy news
 
 	uint8 toolbar_pos;                  // position of toolbars, 0=left, 1=center, 2=right
 	uint8 window_snap_radius;           // Windows snap at each other if closer than this