Shelly Sigo

With Kentucky's unfunded public pension liability at more than $30 billion, a task force is examining how to close the unfunded gap and may consider pension bonds.

Backed by four ratings, among them Kroll Bond Rating Agency's first in Florida, Orange County hopes to reap extra savings during Thursday's $101.6 million refunding sale.

Memphis-based, fixed-income broker-deal Carty & Co. has expanded its new public finance division into Alabama, with an eye toward other states in the Southeast.

The 131-year-old Morris Brown College in Atlanta was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after an investor holding $13 million of bonds demanded payment, or face foreclosure.

Moody's Investors Service has expanded its review for potentially downgrading Miami to include pension obligations and health care costs in addition to pending SEC charges.

Jefferson County, Ala.'s proposed rejection of a courthouse lease could lead other municipalities in bankruptcy to reject debt-secured leases.

The North Carolina state pension fund's investment in Facebook Inc.'s IPO is raising questions. The fund joined a class-action suit alleging it was misled.

Talks are afoot to finalize a nearly $1 billion deal for a new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons by year's end.

The Birmingham City Council Tuesday approved calling for a special election Oct. 9 to ask voters for approval to issue $150 million of bonds.

The judge overseeing Jefferson County, Ala.'s bankruptcy is being asked to stop a lawsuit filed by the city of Birmingham.

The Southern Environmental Law Center Tuesday filed a federal suit on behalf of conservation groups challenging North Carolina's $1 billion Garden Parkway toll road.

The North Carolina Retirement Systems' pension fund benefitted from investments in bonds to return 2.21% for the year, State Treasurer Janet Cowell said Friday.

GLC Advisors, representing investors owning $700 million of Jefferson County's defaulted sewer warrants, says low interest rates could make a refinancing possible.

Mississippi's higher education officials last week said they have $683.9 million in capital needs, and they hope the Legislature will address some of that with bonding capacity next year.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla., City Commissioners Tuesday selected the finance team for the proposed issuance of $340 million of taxable pension bonds.

Tampa Bay Water on Monday voted to issue bonds to finance some of the repairs to its cracked reservoir.

Bankrupt Jefferson County has rejected the lease securing $82.5 million of warrants. A payment default could occur on Oct. 1, though the debt is insured by Ambac.

A Florida law allowing local governments to declare a "financial urgency" can be an effective strategy for budget relief, says Fitch. Miami has used it several times.

Lloyds TSB sold its defaulted Jefferson County, Ala., sewer warrants, and is the second creditor to drop an appeal in the nation's largest municipal bankruptcy.

Georgia asked four firms to bid on the Northwest Corridor project Thursday. The metro Atlanta congestion-reliever is estimated to cost up to $850 million.