Southeast

Sweet Briar College in Virginia, which announced that it will close this year, said it will pay its bond and debt obligations after Standard & Poor's lowered its bond ratings to B-minus from BBB.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has recommended a combined $102.7 billion state budget for fiscal 2016 and 2017, along with up to $2.8 billion in bond financing.

Moody's Investors Service upgraded Miami's general obligation bond ratings to A1 from A2 because of an improving economy and the city's strengthened financial position.

The Internal Revenue Service has advised several community development districts in Florida that they may not be political subdivisions that can issue tax-exempt bonds if they do not have public electors within five years of their bonds' issuance, a bond lawyer said.

Standard & Poor's lowered its ratings on Sweet Briar College's bonds to B-minus from BBB due to a recent decision to close the central Virginia woman's college.

Raymond James has hired public finance banker Matt Palumbo to work with the firm's mid-Atlantic team in Richmond, Va.

The Village Center Community Development District in Florida said Monday that it disagrees with two Internal Revenue Service notices that asserted that the district's bonds are taxable.

A group opposing C's planned passenger train service says its economic analysis questions the viability of the project.

Facing a $1.6 billion deficit in fiscal 2016, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has recommended a $24.6 billion state budget along with revenue raising measures such as issuing tobacco bonds.

Standard & Poor's lowered its rating on Hillview, Ky.'s bonds four notches to BB-plus citing a potential $11.4 million damage assessment that could land the city in bankruptcy court.