Southeast

St. Louis-based Ascension Health Alliance is set to bring $1.9 billion of bonds to market in deals that fold into one package the system's new money needs, refunding opportunities and refinancing of inherited debt.

Bond attorney Kareem Spratling, whose career was boosted by timely mentoring, wants to assist the careers of lawyers of diverse backgrounds as chairman of the Diversity Committee for the National Association of Bond Lawyers.

A plan to resolve Hillview, Ky.'s bankruptcy case led Standard & Poor's late Tuesday to lift the bond ratings of the small city south of Louisville to investment grade from junk.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said Tuesday that he ordered an investigation into “potentially illegal” contracting and coerced political contributions during former Gov. Steve Beshear’s administration.

Kentucky legislators passed a biennial budget that cuts state agency and higher education funding in order to contribute $1.28 billion toward its underfunded pensions.

Louisiana’s fiscal problems require that the state alter how it prioritizes capital outlay projects, particularly those financed with state bonds, said Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne.

As Louisiana prepares to price $359.3 million of general obligation bonds next week for budget relief, headline risk associated with Illinois and Puerto Rico may factor into borrowing costs.

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, a Democrat, filed suit Monday contending that budget cuts at nine public colleges and universities ordered by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin were illegal.

UMB Bank N.A., the bond trustee for Texas Pellets, accelerated the outstanding debt on $186.5 million of bonds due to a default at the company owned by German Pellets, which filed for insolvency in February.

Douglass P. Selby will be the new head of public finance at Hunton & Williams, and John O’Neill will lead the public-private partnership practice group.