South Carolina

Moody's Investors Service lowered its general obligation bond ratings for Clarendon Hospital District, S.C., to Baa2 because of its narrow cash position.

South Carolina-based Pope Zeigler has changed its name to Pope Flynn LLC following the departure of Belton Zeigler, a founder of the firm.

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.

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.

Gov. Nikki Haley will support an increase in South Carolina's gas tax if it is tied to a reduction in the state's income tax and overhauling the DOT.

Moody's Investors Service sees a stable outlook for public power in 2015, as an improving U.S. economy outweighs slowing demand for electricity.

A court ruling that South Carolina failed to provide a "minimally adequate" education to poor children is credit positive for low-income school districts, said Moody's.

Just ahead of a planned refunding, Charleston, S.C, won a general obligation bond upgrade to Aaa from Moody's Investors Service.

A three-year delay completing new nuclear units in which the South Carolina Public Service Authority owns 45% is a credit negative for the public utility, Moody's said Thursday.

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.

Tuomey Healthcare System in South Carolina does not plan to file for bankruptcy, at least not at this time, the hospital told bondholders July 31.

The CDFA and South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority are partnering to launch the South Carolina Financing Roundtable.

Moody's cut Hampton County School District No. 2, S.C.'s GO bond ratings six notches to Ba3 from A3 due to the small district's deficit fund balance.

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.

Moody's upgraded Charleston County School District, S.C.'s general obligation debt to Aa1 from Aa2 citing its strong financial position.

S&P cut the ratings on the bonds of Tuomey Healthcare System in South Carolina two notches, to CC from CCC, citing the hospital's plan to file for bankruptcy if it fails to prevail in a federal lawsuit.

South Carolina's Tuomey Healthcare System told bondholders Wednesday that it will file for bankruptcy if it cannot resolve a dispute with the federal government, which won a $237 million judgment against the hospital.

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.

S&P revised the outlook to negative on CCC-rated bonds for South Carolina's Tuomey Healthcare due to a $277 million fraud judgment and operating losses.

The Tuomey Healthcare System is fighting what it calls improper federal efforts to subordinate bondholders while it appeals a massive fraud judgement.