Knight Ridder profit declines sharply Spike in interest expense, fees to explore sale weigh on results By David B. Wilkerson, MarketWatch Last Update: 5:02 PM ET Apr 17, 2006 CHICAGO (MarketWatch) - Newspaper publisher Knight Ridder on Monday reported a sharp drop in first-quarter earnings from those of a year ago on higher interest expense, fees related to its exploration of strategic options, the expensing of stock-based compensation and the absence of certain publications that were sold during 2005. San Jose, Calif.-based Knight Ridder (KRIKnight-Ridder, Inc. KRI agreed in March to be sold to McClatchy Co. (MNI McClatchy Newspapers, Inc....