A federal judge in California slammed the brakes on Nexstar Media Group’s freshly closed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc. U.S. District Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley issued a preliminary injunction late Friday, April 17, 2026, barring the two largest local TV station owners from integrating operations. The order demands Nexstar keep Tegna running as a “separate and distinct, independently managed business unit.” Effective Tuesday, it builds on a prior temporary restraining order from DirecTV’s challenge. Nexstar, already the nation’s top local broadcaster, swallowed Tegna on March 19 after nods from the FCC and DOJ. States cried foul. California AG Rob Bonta led eight attorneys general—Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Virginia—in suing under the Clayton Act. They argue the combo would dominate local markets, spike cable bills via higher retransmission fees, gut jobs, and weaken news diversity. “This merger is illegal, plain and simple,” Bonta declared .…