According to the New York Post, which has had some of the most accurate reporting on the story, Gannett is still pursuing a buyout of tronc(formerly Tribune Publishing).
Unlike the very public takeover bid made and rejected earlier this year, this time Gannett executives have been meeting privately with the leadership of tronc in an effort to convince them that a Gannett merger is in the interest of both companies. The meetings have taken place in Chicago, according to the Post.
Tronc owns the Hartford Courant.