Tim Metz, who joined Hill & Knowlton in 1989 after a 23-year career at The Wall Street Journal died Aug. 15. He was 86 odwpr.us/4mfL5zC

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services wants proposals for a campaign to raise awareness of the impact of problem gambling odwpr.us/PR-RFP-announc…

Matthew Di Taranto, who most recently was sr. dir. of PR & comms at Out & Equal, has joined the New York office of Washington-based Avoq odwpr.us/3V61uux

CEO pay at top US companies accelerates at fastest pace in 4 years ft.com/content/d8da98… via @ft

JCIR handles Nexstar Media Group, Inc. as it plans a $6.2B merger with TEGNA to create a local TV broadcast powerhouse with 265 stations in 44 states reaching 80 percent of US households odwpr.us/45HCOxk

Thailand’s DC embassy has signed Continental Strategy to a three-month contract for government advocacy services. The partners will then decide whether to extend for a full year odwpr.us/4mN0KpQ

Vision Americas has inked a $1.4M contract to promote the government relations goals of the Dominican Republic in the US odwpr.us/3HG6e76

On the move: DGA Group brings on Kevin Cook, who was most recently pres. of Edelman's Chicago office, as a sr. advisor... MAD Global Strategy adds Matt Gould to its gov't relations team as SVP... Solutions by Text, which develops next-gen compliance-first conversational commerce

The ranks of the players in the pay-to-play game have been increasing, and PR people have at times had no choice to use it more frequently as part of their PR playbook -- Andrew Blum AJB Communications odwpr.us/3Jp7ZpK

Ulster County is looking for an agency to develop an advertising and marketing campaign to promote its strength as a premier outdoor destination rooted in sustainable tourism practices odwpr.us/PR-RFP-announc…

PR firm news: Modern Currency PR opens offices in San Diego & Denver, with plans underway to establish a New York location in early '26... Worldcom PR Group votes UK-based Prohibition PR LTD into its partnership... Sharon Merrill Advisors unveils an offering to support public companies

Accounts in transit: Brands2Life signs on to drive corp. comm & PA activity for UK supermarket chain @LidlGB... Brookline PR, Inc. renews its AOR partnership with Banff Sunshine Village, a ski resort located in Canada’s Banff National Park, Parks Canada... The MilesPartnership, which focuses on travel and tourism,

Leigh Whitaker will return to the University of Pennsylvania on Oct. 1 as VP for government and community affairs odwpr.us/3JHghcz

The Knoxville suburb of Farragut is looking for an agency that can develop a comprehensive media tourism plan odwpr.us/PR-RFP-announc…

On the move: FGS Global brings on Conan D’Arcy as partner... ICR names Edward Ruff as head of equity capital markets at its broker-dealer affiliate, ICR Capital... Avenue Z hires former Ditto PR VP Sandy Shakoor as dir. of PR... Proof Strategies promotes Mike Barco to VP of

India has signed Mercury Public Affairs to a $75K monthly retainer contract as Donald Trump’s threat to double the 25 percent tariff on it for the purchase of Russian oil looms odwpr.us/3HHyfLp

The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization has budgeted $5M for outreach to enhance public involvement and engagement regarding its initiatives, policies, services and overall awareness odwpr.us/PR-RFP-announc…

PR firm news: Accenture US acquires social & influencer agency Superdigital which will now be part of Accenture Song ... PRSA-LA recognizes “PR visionaries who are shaping a better, inclusive tomorrow for the industry and beyond."... ASC Advisors, a strategic comms firm that

.Hippo, based in San Jose, has hired Ambac Financial's Charles Sebaski as head of investor relations odwpr.us/3HEvZET

Commentary: Why does Donald Trump get starry-eyed and weak in the knees at the mere mention of his master's name?... Trump's net approval rating sinks to -15 points (The Economist)... Exiting WPP CEO Mark Read finally gets some good news as Mastercard shifts its $180M global