Louisiana

Extreme weather could aggravate growing property insurance pressures on governments.

The state has tapped JP Morgan and Wells Fargo as managers of the deal.

Natural gas prepayment deals helped drive the utilities sector to top the Southeast in an overall down year for municipal bond sales across the region.

Robert Poole, a leading expert in the U.S. public-private partnership transportation sector, joins infrastructure reporter Caitlin Devitt to talk about upcoming deals including toll lanes and bridges in the Southeast and high speed rail in the West as well as states that are advancing P3s and action on the federal front. (37 minutes)

Financing for the $2.1 billion Calcasieu River bridge includes a mix of state funds, federal grants and bonds, which will hit the market in early April.

John Fleming, a four-term congressman and former Trump administration official, took office as state treasurer. Jeff Landry of the GOP was sworn in as governor.

A state congressional committee voted down a proposal to replace the aging Calcasieu Bridge with a toll-road through a public-private-partnership. Now limited options remain to carry out the work, say some state officials.

Endorsed by Donald Trump, Landry has fought against ESG precepts and has had several run-ins with the state Bond Commission over firearms and abortion issues.

The region's issuers sold $30.3 billion of municipal bonds in the first half of 2023, 29.9% less than they did during the same period last year

The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District is selling bonds to continue renovations on the Caesars Superdome, which will host the 2025 Super Bowl.

Bolstered by key political support, states across the southeast are building toll roads through public-private partnerships to manage congestion.

"What are our options? You either pick these banks or you don't. If you don't, business shuts down. We stop building infrastructure," said state Treasurer John Schroder, the bond commission chair.

The rating agency affirmed Louisiana at AA-minus. The state also received its first-ever rating from Kroll Bond Rating Agency: a AA rating and stable outlook.

Facing calls to disqualify six more underwriters from negotiated bond sales, the state Bond Commission opted to sell GOs competitively.

Spending on climate proofing infrastructure and other green capital developments increased 68% while overall volume tumbled 13% in the region.

The 150-acre facility is expected to create about 200 local full-time positions and between 500 and 1,000 indirect local jobs.

Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma will submit an application to the U.S. Department of Energy for their HALO Hub, which involves public-private partnerships.

The increasing number and frequency of cyber attacks against municipalities is a cause for credit concern, S&P Global Ratings says.

After four hurricanes and 11 insurer insolvencies, a $458 million deal for the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association supplies capital to pay claims.

The allocation for Strategic Biofuels LLC received final approval from the Louisiana Community Development Authority, conduit issuer for the tax-exempt bonds.