Southeast

Moody's Investors Service placed tobacco settlement revenue bonds of issuers in 17 states and two territories under review with direction uncertain because of legal settlement announced in December. The action affects $20.5 billion of debt.

Louisiana has delayed the single-tranche sale of up to $350 million of highway improvement revenue bonds, shifting to a plan for phased issues over three years.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Tuesday that he will recommend over $2 billion of funding for hundreds of transportation projects statewide, new money projected to come from his controversial overhaul of the commonwealth's gas and sales taxes.

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., has reintroduced two bills aimed at giving Virginia control of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and strengthening government oversight of the scandal-wracked issuer.

A ruling by the Florida Supreme Court last week upholding the state's pension reform measures is a positive credit factor, according to Standard & Poor's.

Public Financial Management Inc. has hired veteran Georgia banker Dick Layton as a director in the firm's financial advisory practice in Atlanta.

Faced with decreased state funding, Kentucky's eight public universities are asking the state for permission to issue their own bonds for pent-up capital needs.

Bond-related bills pending in the Virginia House of Delegates would limit toll increases on the Dulles Toll Road and authorize the commonwealth, through authorities, to purchase and control the privately-owned Dulles Greenway.

Valarie Williams, director of the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority, has been appointed to an Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.

Louisiana will upgrade more than 1,000 miles of state rural roads in 63 parishes with next week’s sale of $249.2 million of highway improvement bonds.