Shelly Sigo

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.

Ballard Spahr has promoted public finance attorney Han Choi to be managing partner of the firm's Atlanta office.

Florida does not have capacity to issue a significant amount of new debt within policy guidelines in fiscal 2014, though financial metrics show the state's revenues have recovered better than anticipated.

The South Carolina Alliance to Fix Our Roads has begun to lobby for an increase in the state's motor fuel tax to fund more than $50 billion in needed transportation improvements.

Standard & Poor's last week revised its outlook to negative from stable on bonds issued by Louisiana's Jefferson Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 issued on behalf of East Jefferson General Hospital.

Wells Fargo Bank NA said in a market notice that it would not distribute Jan. 1 interest payments due on $18.93 million of uninsured, defaulted bonds sold for three popular Georgia charter schools.

Qualifications from 10 firms interested in providing architectural services for the Atlanta Falcons' new stadium have been submitted to the team and the Georgia World Congress Center, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Miami-Dade County is looking for partners to develop a multi-attraction entertainment destination adjoining Zoo Miami to compete with central Florida's mega-theme parks.

Aviation in North Carolina contributes about $26 billion to the state's economy, or 6% of the state's gross domestic product, according to a study.

North Carolina Treasurer Janet Cowell hired Kevin SigRist as the new chief investment officer for the $77 billion North Carolina Retirement Systems.

Port St. Lucie, Fla. is seeking companies interested in leasing the bond-financed building that housed the failed Digital Domain company.