Paul Burton

A thumbs-up from Standard & Poor's validates the Lehigh County Authority's concession agreement with Allentown, Pa., said executive director Aurel Arndt.

Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman hired Marvin Venay as deputy director of governmental affairs.

Lincoln Chafee, who said he would not seek re-election as Rhode Island governor, urged state officials to keep working with the Ocean State's cities and towns.

Lincoln Chafee's stunning announcement that he would not run for re-election as Rhode Island governor throws the 2014 gubernatorial race into a tizzy.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed legislation creating a $200 million bioscience innovation fund, which will invest through grants, equity investments, loans and loan guarantees.

State Rep. Joseph Shekarchi wants half of any Rhode Island budget surplus to go to cities and towns, which he says would help upgrade bond ratings.

Connecticut received a $10 million federal TIGER grant to build a second platform at New Haven's State Street Station, which state officials say will minimize delays.

Ample cash reserves enabled Boston to offset sluggish growth in revenue relative to expenditures in recent years, according to Morningstar.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded West Warwick, R.I.'s general obligation bond rating to Baa2 from Baa1, citing pension underfunding and a school-fund deficit.

Standard & Poor's placed its A rating for Chester, Pa.'s general obligation debt on credit watch with negative implications.

Fitch Ratings is evaluating Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale's findings of "significant noncompliance" by Chester Community Charter School.

Revenue bondholders would emerge unscathed under the proposed Harrisburg, Pa., financial recovery plan, Moody's Investors Service said Friday.

Lancaster County expects to pay $131 million for the Harrisburg, Pa., incinerator under a key component of the city's recovery plan, according to documents.

Distressed Harrisburg, Pa., reached an agreement in principle to transfer operations of the water and sewer system to the Harrisburg Authority public works agency.

Rising bond interest rates further complicated an intricate Harrisburg, Pa., debt-reduction accord, said Mark Kaufman, receiver William Lynch's lead attorney.

Rhode Island can pursue some but not all of money it says it lost in the 38 Studios bond fiasco, Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein ruled.

The Harrisburg, Pa., City Council begins poring through receiver William Lynch's far-reaching recovery plan for Pennsylvania's capital.

Boston would receive $32 million to $52 million annually under an agreement with Caesars Entertainment for a $1 billion casino complex at Suffolk Downs racetrack, Mayor Thomas Menino said.

Receiver William Lynch positioned Harrisburg, Pa. into the home stretch of its financial recovery effort by revealing a plan to rid the city of crippling debt.

Former Harrisburg, Pa., City Council attorney Mark Schwartz asked the IRS to halt the incinerator sale to Lancaster County, calling the deal "anti-competitive."