Nexstar’s $3.5 Billion Tegna Deal Cleared by Justice Department

The US Justice Department unconditionally cleared the $3.5 billion deal for Nexstar Media Group Inc. to acquire rival Tegna Inc., which would create the largest operator of local TV stations in the country, according to people familiar with the matter.

The DOJ granted what’s known as early termination to the companies, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential matter. That means the department has wrapped up its review of the deal. The DOJ opened an in-depth probe of the merger last year. The decision comes less than a day after a group of state attorneys general sued to block the acquisition.