The Cowles family voting trust has been extended.

The decision to extend the voting trust that protects Cowles Media Co., owner of majority stakes in Minneapolis and Des Moines daily newspapers, through the year 2000 “is a message that the Cowles family intends to stay in business . . . for many years,” said Chairman David Kruidenier. He said he hopes that the decision to extend the trust will dispel talk of a hostile takeover of Cowles Media.