Shelly Sigo

Fitch Ratings and Moody's Investors Service said the decision by the Florida Supreme Court upholding legislation requiring that employees contribute to the Florida Retirement System is positive for state and local governments.

The United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday tentatively scheduled oral arguments in the appeal involving Jefferson County, Ala.'s sewer system receiver for the week of June 3. Creditors have appealed a ruling that stripped the receiver of the right to run the county's sewer system.

Moody's Investors Service placed tobacco settlement revenue bonds of issuers in 17 states and two territories under review with direction uncertain because of legal settlement announced in December. The action affects $20.5 billion of debt.

A ruling by the Florida Supreme Court last week upholding the state's pension reform measures is a positive credit factor, according to Standard & Poor's.

Public Financial Management Inc. has hired veteran Georgia banker Dick Layton as a director in the firm's financial advisory practice in Atlanta.

Faced with decreased state funding, Kentucky's eight public universities are asking the state for permission to issue their own bonds for pent-up capital needs.

Valarie Williams, director of the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority, has been appointed to an Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is seeking public input on 20-year plan that will create a strategy for improving the state’s transportation systems.

A win by the Atlanta Falcons against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday could go a long way toward advancing the team’s quest for a new stadium, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal hinted.

Florida's Miami Dolphins have renewed a proposal for public funding to help pay for upgrading their 25-year-old football stadium, which they hope will win the 50th Super Bowl game in 2016.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Regions Financial Corp. has hired two new employees to expand its corporate trust group in the mid-Atlantic region.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed plans to propose that the city issue about $300 million of bonds for infrastructure. He also thinks a deal will be reached to build a $1 billion stadium for the Atlanta Falcons.

The three popular suburban Atlanta charter schools that defaulted on $18.93 million of uninsured bonds have proposed a settlement with investors that is expected to result in a loss.

Mary-Margaret Collier, the long-time director of state and local bond finance in Tennessee, has announced plans to retire capping a 30-year career in public finance.

Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory became North Carolina's 74th governor on Saturday. He is the state's first Republican governor since 1988.

Atlanta closed fiscal 2012 with $126.7 million in its general fund reserves, an increase of more than $119 million since January 2010. The city now plans to tackle critical infrastructure needs.

The University System of Georgia has completed consolidating eight of the state's 35 public colleges and universities to address, in part, the decline in state funding.

Kentucky and Indiana settle the 2009 federal lawsuit by two nonprofit groups that could have derailed the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project. A second federal complaint is still pending.

Georgia is moving forward with the nearly $1 billion Northwest Corridor Project after changing direction on how to proceed with the project to relieve gridlock in the Atlanta region.

Bank of New York Mellon accelerated about $116 million of toll revenue bonds due to ongoing defaults by Florida's Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority. The trustee said payment on the bonds is due immediately.