Mississippi

In Tuesday's election, Mississippi voters returned incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Bryant to office while Kentucky voters chose a member of the GOP to succeed their term-limited Democratic governor.

Voters in Louisiana Saturday select a new governor and decide on a constitutional amendment to fund new transportation projects that opponents say could hurt the state’s credit ratings.

Issuers in the Southeast sold $41.56 billion of bonds in the first half of 2015, an 85% increase in year-over-year volume fueled by refundings and a slight uptick in new-money sales.

This month's $18.7 billion agreement with BP p.l.c. positions struggling Gulf coast states to receive financial relief, though the years-long payout won't provide immediate respite for some.

Madison County, Miss., disputes its obligation to backstop some public improvement district bonds in a lawsuit with Radian Asset Assurance Inc.

Southeast municipal bond issuers sold $21.78 billion of debt in the first six months of the year, a 31.4% decline driven by fewer taxable and refunding deals.

The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rule to cut carbon dioxide emissions as much as 30% by 2030 will drive up costs for coal-dependent states, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam said.

Southwest Airlines' newfound freedom to begin serving long-haul destinations from Dallas Love Field Airport in October poses risks for smaller airports left behind, Fitch Ratings warns.

Moody's downgraded the Jackson International Airport to Baa1 from A3 just three weeks before Southwest Airlines pulls out of the Mississippi capital.

The loss of Southwest Airlines at Jackson-Evers International Airport in Mississippi prompted Fitch Ratings to downgrade the airport to BBB-plus from A-minus.

As Mississippi legislative session winds down, the state's first debt study will guide lawmaker on bond financing decisions, said State Treasurer Lynn Fitch.

Southeast bond issuance last year dropped 11% to $56.7 billion as rising interest rates took refundings out of the running and new-money volume was nearly flat.

A Mississippi Senate highway committee is considering a half-cent sales tax hike to increase revenues for road and bridge maintenance in the state.

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to stop what he called "draconian" federal flood insurance rate increases.

Municipal bond issuance in the Southeast dropped nearly 12% to $30.7 billion in the first half of 2013. Sales were down in eight of the 11 states comprising the region.

The Mississippi Legislature is nearing agreement on a $5.7 billion general fund budget for 2014, though questions remain over Medicaid expansion.

Moody's Investors Service Tuesday downgraded the city of Natchez, Miss.'s general obligation rating to A2 from A1 citing the city's limited cash and reserves.

Historically low interest rates last year helped boost bond sales across the Southeast to $63 billion, an increase of 33% over 2011. The surge in debt was propelled by refundings.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Gulfport, Miss.'s underlying general obligation debt rating to A1 from Aa3 citing imbalanced financial operations.

Fitch dropped the outlook on Forrest County General Hospital, Miss. to negative while affirming its A rating.