North Carolina

A plan to sharply cut Community Development Block Grant program staffing follows Trump's statement that he is inclined to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A state board moved toward instituting salary-based employee premium health insurance payment system as a way to avoid a looming $1.3 billion deficit in the government's health plan budget.

Charlotte received approval to sell the debt from the North Carolina Local Government Commission, an arm of the Department of State Treasurer.

The recovery of local governments and utilities from hurricanes Helene and Milton continues but the outlook for next season and beyond is troubling.

The Local Government Commission needs to approve the proposed competitive sale.

The largest issuance the Local Government Commission approved was $387 million of bonds for Mecklenburg County.

The president of St. Augustine University in North Carolina called the loan a "necessary evil" as it fights to remain solvent and accredited.

Brad Briner said the state may need to issue short-term debt in the near future to pay for Hurricane Helene expenses.

Nashville, Tennessee, voters approved a $2 billion bond measure, while Lancaster County, South Carolina, and Cary, North Carolina, opposed the bond referendums.

Moody's believes Florida will sell bonds to help replenish the CAT fund this spring.

Large measures to authorize or support bonds are on the menu in several of the region's largest cities and suburbs.

The state lacks the money to widen the traffic-clogged highway on its own, officials said.

Recent EPA regulations mandating utilities remove lead pipes from distribution systems within 10 years will add to the financial burden.

In the long run, Helene and Milton may further drive already rising property insurance costs, while in the short-term S&P placed three utilities on CreditWatch.

MMA says some risky-sector issuers in the area hit hard by the hurricane may be pushed into technical or payment defaults.

Florida's catastrophe fund will weather the storm and shouldn't need reinforcements yet. Two Florida-related sales are still expected next week.

North Carolina is the latest state to eye using a P3 to build tolled express lanes amid insufficient state funding.

Moodys says it is placing additional weight on the states' Aaa ratings in determining the Garvee ratings.

The commission approved $73 million of limited obligation bonds for Rowan County schools.

Agency cites growing debt levels and midrange demographic and economic factors.