Shelly Sigo

The city of Sunrise on Monday removed Bank of America Merrill Lynch from its underwriting syndicate because its parent company, Bank of America NA, has come under fire in Florida for its mortgage and loan restructuring ­practices.

Florida’s elected Cabinet on Tuesday authorized the sale of nearly $1.5 billion of debt.

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for Dec. 8 to consider a motion for relief sought by 50 retirees who are suing the city of Prichard, which filed for municipal bankruptcy in October.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Saying that Jefferson County, Ala.’s sewer debt crisis has gone on too long, a grassroots organization of business leaders is trying raise public support to press local politicians and the county’s creditors for a solution.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Cullman County, Ala., Health Care Authority tomorrow plans to issue $75 million of fixed-rate revenue refunding bonds and pay a swap termination fee to restructure its debt portfolio.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Jefferson County, Ala. on Friday filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan, Blount Parrish & Co., Charles LeCroy, Douglas MacFaddin, Larry Langford, William Blount, and Albert LaPierre for their roles in the county’s $3.2 billion of troubled sewer refinancings and swaps

BRADENTON, Fla. — Former Jefferson County, Ala., commissioner Mary Buckelew will serve no prison time for lying to a grand jury about expensive gifts and spa treatments she received to influence her vote in connection with $3.2 billion of debt and swaps sold for the county’s sewer system.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Stressed community development districts in Florida this month have told bondholders that they continue to rely on reserves to make debt ­payments. Some have filed notices of default and analysts expect their number to increase.

The Tennessee State School Bond Authority last Thursday finalized plans to sell up to $184 million of qualified school construction bonds.

Georgia insurance regulators are investigating the financial practices of Southeastern United Insurance Co., which sold workers’ compensation insurance coverage to 53 municipalities and hundreds of companies before being liquidated, according to a story by Georgia Public Broadcasting on Monday.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Milwaukee-based Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP announced last week that the minority-owned law firm opened a new office in Nashville in an effort to expand its nationwide footprint.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Former Birmingham, Ala., Mayor Larry Langford has filed a motion for new trial on pay-to-play charges and requested that the judge set aside his conviction because, among other reasons, the jury didn’t deliberate long enough.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Tennessee is proposing debt management policies that may be some of the strictest ever adopted by a state for use by local governments, according to the state’s financial adviser, who is a former Government Finance Officers Association board member.

Gov. Haley Barbour on Monday said Mississippi’s revenue collections continue to lag budget projections and year-to-year comparisons.

Kentucky’s appointees to a bi-state authority that will determine how to finance the $4.1 billion Ohio River Bridges Project have been announced by Gov. Steve Beshear and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley Friday announced the allocation of the first half of $236 million of qualified school construction bonds to help 46 school systems that applied to the program to finance the construction or repair of public school buildings.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Birmingham’s current budget is underfunded by $20 million, the new acting mayor announced yesterday in a disclosure that could lead to a review of the Alabama city’s double-A credit rating.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Birmingham, Ala., finance director Steve Sayler resigned late Monday, a city official confirmed.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Burdened by millions in unfunded pension obligations, Prichard, Ala., on Tuesday filed notice in federal court of its intention to enter Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy — for a second time.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Larry Langford, convicted on 60 bond-related corruption felony charges late Wednesday, was removed from office as Birmingham’s mayor.