Shelly Sigo

North Carolina’s $38 billion of unfunded pension and retiree healthcare costs led a key committee to advise raising the state’s debt capacity and increasing annual funding to address the liabilities.

A federal court should dismiss two lawsuits challenging bond financing for the All Aboard Florida train project because the new administration will review future private-activity bond applications, court filings said.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott unveiled a record $83.5 billion budget for fiscal 2018 that could set the stage for a confrontation with lawmakers over borrowing plans.

The bonds of 16 affordable housing properties affiliated with Global Ministries Fellowship were downgraded by S&P Global Ratings, sending 14 more of the credits to junk.

Facing a second $300 million deficit this year, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said lawmakers must meet in a special session and “use a scalpel, not a sledge hammer” to make strategic cuts.

With Florida facing a structural budget imbalance, lawmakers advanced a comprehensive gaming bill that would bring millions in new revenue and establish “predictability for our state budget,” its sponsor said.

In oral arguments on Jefferson County, Ala.’s bankruptcy plan last month, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals expressed concern that ratepayers challenging the plan did not request a stay before bonds were sold.

After R.J. Reynolds sold four cigarette brands to ITG Brands, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi sued the companies saying they have refused to comply with terms of the state’s 1997 tobacco settlement deal.

Louisiana now pegs its official mid-year deficit at $304 million, a number that is complicating the state’s ability to issue new debt.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam rolled out legislation Wednesday that would cut taxes and increase transportation funding for the first time in 28 years.

With a privately owned passenger train service just months away from starting up in south Florida, opponents told a federal judge it would be inequitable to dismiss their lawsuits because of a “backroom” deal involving public financing for the project.

A significant increase in Birmingham, Ala.’s pension liabilities led Fitch Ratings to cut the city’s issuer default and bond ratings by one notch to AA-minus, and to revise the rating outlook to negative.

Louisiana’s economists projected Friday the state’s budget shortfall will be as high as $313 million, prompting Gov. John Bel Edwards to say the deficit clearly indicates the need for special legislative session.

A nearly $50 billion budget for Georgia in fiscal 2018 has been recommended by Gov. Nathan Deal, who is also requesting $1 billion of borrowing for state projects, education and transportation.

Kentucky’s credit outlook was revised to negative ahead of an upcoming bond deal, a change S&P Global Ratings said was triggered by the state’s unfunded pension obligations.

An eventful year lies ahead for Louisiana with a special legislative session potentially necessary to address yet another budget shortfall and continued recovery efforts from last year’s disastrous floods.

Ben Watkins, director of Florida’s Division of Bond Finance, will receive the third annual Jim Lebenthal Infrastructure Champion award at The Bond Buyer's National Outlook Conference in New York Jan. 31.

A federal judge denied a request by two Florida counties for additional documents about public financing for the All Aboard Florida private passenger train project, moving their lawsuits closer to a ruling on dismissal.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper took office Jan. 1 amid political turmoil that prompted him to file a lawsuit challenging a recently passed law restricting his election board appointments.

Financial problems at Toshiba Corp. are credit negative for new nuclear power plants under construction at Plant Vogtle in Georgia and VC Summer in South Carolina, Moody's Investors Service said.