Shelly Sigo

Moody's Investors Service has warned that Louisiana's growing budget problems will pressure finances at the state's public universities.

As taxable fixed-income rates remain near all-time lows, Kentucky is one of several states eyeing pension obligation bonds to deal with unfunded retirement obligations.

Raymond James has hired banker Todd Barnes to join the firm's public finance group in Atlanta, and to focus on issuers in Georgia and South Carolina.

A long-running debate over how to cure Jacksonville's $1.62 billion police and fire pension liability has sparked a call for an audit and state investigation into the finances of Florida's largest city.

Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's both revised Louisiana's outlook to negative on Friday citing the state's growing structural budget imbalance. The changes come ahead of an upcoming $225 million general obligation refunding deal.

Legislation aimed at allowing Georgia to take over public schools failing to achieve passing grades has been filed. The measure would require a voter-approved constitutional amendment.

Miami-Dade County plans to use a public-private partnership to build and repair its court and jail facilities. Qualifications from firms will be sought soon.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott's lack of board appointments to the Florida Development Finance Corp. calls into question its authority to issue bonds, including billions in debt it has agreed to issue.

Standard & Poor's upgraded Miami's general obligation bond ratings to A-plus from BBB citing the city's improved financial management practices and budget flexibility.

The Kentucky Senate passed a bill Feb 6 that allows for the state’s first charter schools. The measure now goes to the House.

Declining oil prices prompt Louisiana to implement its second budget cut of fiscal 2015.

The Kentucky Legislature is considering a bill that would create a state-run retirement plan for private-sector workers. SIFMA opposes the measure.

New construction delays on nuclear units in South Carolina and Georgia are prompting reviews of potential credit impacts on public power utilities involved in the projects.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory plans to ask legislators for $2.6 billion in separate bond programs to fix neglected buildings and fund strategic road.

The effort to resuscitate spring training on Florida's east coast advanced this week with the approval of a land swap for a bond-financed MLB ballpark.

Ex-JPMorgan bankers have asked a federal judge to dismiss federal pay-to-play charges related to the sewer deals that helped push Jefferson County, Ala., into bankruptcy.

Plummeting oil and gas revenue collections in Louisiana that have added to a growing deficit in fiscal 2015 and 2016 are a credit negative for the state, according to Moody's Investors Service.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a motion for summary judgment in its securities fraud case against two former JPMorgan bankers involved in Jefferson County's sewer deals and swaps.

Alabama State University's long-term ratings were dropped far into junk territory, to B from BBB-plus, by Standard & Poor's Jan. 30 due to the “significant” erosion of reserves.

Public power utilities in five southern states most likely face fiscal challenges in complying with the EPA's Clean Power Plan, a new index by Fitch Ratings shows.