Shelly Sigo

Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday downgraded Spelman College’s debt rating to A1 from Aa3.

The Atlanta Development Authority Tuesday said it closed a $25 million single-family housing bond issue funded through the new-issue bond program using authority granted under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Moody’s Investors Service last week upgraded $84.5 million of outstanding water and sewer revenue bonds sold by the city of Hollywood to A1 from A2.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The ­Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is seeking more than $10 million in damages in a federal suit against JPMorgan and Bear, Stearns & Co. over failed auction-rate securities that the state-run, nonprofit insurer was forced to refinance.

BRADENTON, Fla. — After more than a year of negotiations, New Orleans has filed an amended complaint in its federal suit against Ambac Assurance Corp., Ambac Financial Services LLC, PaineWebber Capital Services Inc., and UBS Securities LLC.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Facing a budget shortfall of $1.5 billion over the next two years, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear told lawmakers late Wednesday that efforts so far to restructure debt and cut expenses won’t be enough for the state to avoid more “painful decisions about where we spend money.”

BRADENTON, Fla. — Miami-Dade County next week plans to offer $600 million of aviation revenue bonds to continue financing for a major capital improvement program at Miami International Airport that is nearing completion.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida today expects to complete negotiated pricing of $263.4 million of Florida Forever revenue bonds, representing the last debt authorized for the state’s long-running environmental and conservation land-protection program.

Former Georgia state senator Kasim Reed on Monday took the oath of office and became Atlanta’s 59th mayor, succeeding Shirley Franklin, who could not run again after serving two terms.

A federal judge in Birmingham Monday delayed the sentencing of Montgomery bond dealer William Blount and Alabama lobbyist Albert LaPierre. Both men pleaded guilty last year to pay-to-play charges related to Jefferson County’s troubled sewer debt and were scheduled to be sentenced today.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Standard & Poor’s yesterday affirmed its A-minus rating, with a stable outlook, on the Prichard Waterworks and Sewer Board in Alabama.

Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson has extended the deadline until Jan. 8 for his office to receive public comments on a proposed model debt-management policy for local governments.

Moody’s Investors Service last week downgraded Collier County’s capital improvement revenue bonds to A2 from A1.

The Jefferson County Commission has enacted a new occupational tax, as required by the Alabama Legislature, but a local dentist has filed a lawsuit challenging it.

Florida school districts face rising negative fiscal and credit pressures stemming from the weak economy, funding uncertainties, and property tax reform, Moody's Investors Service said in a special report last week.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Monday reinstated former Jefferson County, Ala., commissioner Gary White's 2008 conspiracy and bribery convictions and returned the case to Birmingham for sentencing.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced late last week the sale of $100 million of grant anticipation revenue vehicle bonds for the Ohio River Bridge Project.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist Wednesday visited four cities to conduct the ceremonial signing of the state's first comprehensive passenger rail bill, which has the potential to jump-start the long-delayed central Florida commuter rail project known as SunRail.

The consolidated Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County is reviewing a finance plan to build a new $585 million convention center. But the idea is controversial because most of the debt for the project would be backed by a general fund pledge of non-ad valorem revenue.

Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday downgraded DeKalb County's $471 million of outstanding general obligation unlimited-tax backed and parity debt, issued through various public authorities, to Aa1 from Aaa.