Michelle Kaske

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs acting commissioner Lori Grifa last week announced that BettyLou DeCroce will serve as the agency’s deputy commissioner.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Wednesday will issue $750 million of taxable school construction Build America Bonds, in what could be the BAB market’s largest floating-rate note sale.

Pennsylvania officials yesterday weighed in on an initiative to prohibit local governments from using derivatives, with most participants in the public hearing urging greater state regulation and guidelines for such instruments rather than ending swaps at the local level.

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell yesterday announced proposals to address a transportation funding shortfall, including a short-term plan in which the state would sell $1 billion of debt during the next two years.

NEW YORK - The New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Monday approved up to $1.8 billion, in par value, of borrowing for fiscal 2011 to support road, bridge, and public transportation projects.

Pennsylvania faces a projected $1 billion fiscal 2010 shortfall as sluggish revenue collections will require further spending reductions and potential layoffs.

NEW YORK - The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to hear Delaware’s sports betting case, ending the state’s push to expand sports wagering at its three racetracks.

Gilt-edged Delaware Tuesday will sell $124 million of tax-exempt general obligation bonds that will refinance existing debt to generate present-value savings for the state.

Puerto Rico Ports Authority board members last week called for the resignation of executive director Alvaro Pilar.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar last week announced his approval of a proposed $1 billion wind-energy project located in Nantucket Sound, Mass., that would be the nation’s first offshore wind farm.

The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday evening passed a bill that would allow Puerto Rico citizens to vote on the island's political status, including the option to become the 51st state.

While local governments face cuts in state aid, declining revenue, and sometimes hefty retirement-benefit obligations, the market should not anticipate a boost in municipal bankruptcy filings, several muni-market professionals said Thursday during a SIFMA conference.

Pennsylvania officials will conduct a public hearing next week on an initiative to ban local governments from using derivatives.

NEW YORK - Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell Wednesday called a special session of the Legislature, to begin Tuesday, to address a $472.5 million transportation funding gap for fiscal 2011 that resulted from the federal government rejecting the state’s request to begin tolling Interstate 80.

Harrisburg, Pa., plans to release in the next few weeks a request for qualifications for financial advisers to help it tackle $282 million of outstanding incinerator bonds it guarantees, as officials continue to work on a forbearance agreement for the debt.

Harrisburg’s City Council Monday evening was set to hear from outside professionals and government officials regarding Pennsylvania’s municipal financial distress program in addition to information on bankruptcy filings.

In his first year in office last year, Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño reduced government spending and cut the island’s payroll while at the same time raising taxes and implementing property taxes.

The U.S. House this week is set to weigh in on a measure that would allow the residents of Puerto Rico to vote on the island’s political status.

Atlantic County officials last week approved an initiative to process a portion of its solid waste within the county rather than sending it to the Cumberland County Improvement Authority’s solid-waste facilities.

Moody’s Investors Service last week revised to negative from stable its outlook on $4.5 billion of outstanding Massachusetts Water Resources Authority debt.