Paul Burton

Gov. Lincoln Chafee appointed John "J.R." Pagliarini chief of staff to the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp., the agency under fire over its $75 million loan guarantee to 38 Studios.

Highmark and West Penn Allegheny Health System poached a group of five obstetricians and gynecologists previously affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is considering an anticrash system for its streetcars, but would have to pay around $700 million and take nine years to implement it.

Huge challenges remain for New York City as uncertainty hovers over labor settlements and the lingering costs of Sandy, said the city's Independent Budget Office.

Gov. Dannel Malloy signed a deficit-mitigation bill that Connecticut's legislature passed in a special session last week to help plug a $365 million hole.

Standard & Poor's lowered its rating on $700 million of Queens Ballpark bonds, used to build the New York Mets' Citi Field, one notch to BB partly because of concerns the team will continue to lose.

Highmark, Inc. and state lawmakers are pushing the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to step up its review of the West Penn Allegheny Health System affiliation, but the agency wants more details.

New York City and two of its financing authorities have announced the selection of underwriting syndicates, following a request-for-proposals process.

Providence's agreement with police unions for pension benefit reductions is a credit positive for Rhode Island's struggling capital city, according to Moody's.

Joe Lhota's departure as New York MTA chairman creates uncertainty at one of the largest issuers in the municipal marketplace as it confronts problems that include high turnover in its top job.

Dauphin County, Pa., expects to make a $1.5 million bond debt payment for Harrisburg University for the second straight year.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the general obligation bond rating of East Pennsboro Township two notches to Baa2 from A3.

Moody's Investors Service revised its outlook for Doylestown Hospital, Pa. to stable from negative while affirming its Baa2 long-term rating.

A three-judge panel in Lackawanna County rejected Scranton, Pa.'s request to impose a 1% commuter tax, saying the distressed city wasn't persuasive enough.

New York City Comptroller John Liu called for an end to property-tax breaks and other concessions to large corporations, including Madison Square Garden.

Joseph Lhota announced his resignation as Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman and said he would consider running for New York City mayor.

The finance committee of New York's MTA approved the borrowing of up to $2.5 billion in long-term bonds to cover Hurricane Sandy-related repair costs.

Rhode Island General Treasurer Gina Raimondo announced the hiring of Anne-Marie Fink as the state's chief investment officer and deputy treasurer of finance.

New York City's budget is balanced for the current fiscal year, but dark shadows hover, according to an analysis by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority should increase its base fare to $2.50 from $2.25 among other changes, Chairman Joseph Lhota told the board.