Shelly Sigo

Alex Sink, Florida's elected chief financial officer who is running for governor in 2010, on Monday urged Federal Railroad Administration head Joseph Szabo to consider the state's request for $2.6 billion to develop a high-speed rail corridor between Tampa and Orlando.

Dr. Rafick-Pierre Sekaly and other scientists at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida are looking for "nothing short of cures" when it comes to diseases such as HIV, swine flu, and the West Nile virus, says the institute's chief operating officer, Mark Williams.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is urging U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to approve Florida’s application for high-speed rail funding now that lawmakers have passed a statewide rail policy and funding bill.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Atlanta elected a new mayor after a recount and took steps to make the city eligible to sell $34 million of Recovery Zone facility bonds allocated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to offer its first public-private partnership concession earlier than planned next year with two metro Atlanta interstate highway projects estimated to cost more than $2 billion.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Legislature late Tuesday finished work on a bill enacting a statewide comprehensive passenger rail policy and providing funds for existing and new rail projects.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has ordered another $54.3 million in budget cuts, as revenue projections have persistently outpaced actual collections.

Gilt-edged Georgia has refinanced approximately $658 million of its outstanding general obligation bonds at lower interest rates that will save the state more than $35 million of debt service, including $18.3 million in the state’s current fiscal year, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced.

Florida’s Senate president, Jeff Atwater, R-Palm Beach, has announced the creation of a new Senate Budget Office to provide greater oversight of legislative expenditures.

Voters in Birmingham went to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new mayor but a crowded field of more than a dozen candidates on the ballot resulted in a runoff to be held Jan. 19 between Patrick Cooper, an attorney who led with 40% of the ballots cast, and Jefferson County commissioner William Bell, who took 25% of votes.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida House yesterday passed a bill adopting a statewide passenger rail policy and creating a commission to oversee existing and new rail projects.

BRADENTON, Fla. — On the heels of a rating upgrade to triple-A, the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Water Works Board in Kentucky tomorrow plans to competitively sell $78.5 million of tax-exempt advance refunding bonds and $127.8 million of federally taxable Build America Bonds.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday approved Gov. Charlie Crist’s request to impanel a statewide grand jury to conduct a year-long investigation into government corruption.

Standard & Poor’s on Monday raised its underlying rating on Louisville and Jefferson County Metro Government’s Board of Water Works’ revenue bonds to AAA from AA-plus.

Provisional ballots to be counted today may determine Atlanta’s next mayor.

The Georgia Department of Transportation today hosts an industry workshop in Atlanta about its new public-private partnership program.

The Florida Legislature begins a special session today to consider creating a statewide passenger rail policy and to approve funding for existing and new rail projects.

Jefferson County commissioners last week decided they will no longer seek a $25 million line of credit from Regions Bank, according to local publications.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Against the backdrop of an annual internal audit critical of some of Miami’s budget practices, two agencies have assigned ratings to the city’s upcoming sale of $120 million of revenue bonds with the proceeds financing a parking garage for a Major League Baseball stadium.

The Atlanta City Council on Monday unanimously approved a new lease with Delta Air Lines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.