Southeast

Talks are afoot to finalize a nearly $1 billion deal for a new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons by year's end.

The Birmingham City Council Tuesday approved calling for a special election Oct. 9 to ask voters for approval to issue $150 million of bonds.

The judge overseeing Jefferson County, Ala.'s bankruptcy is being asked to stop a lawsuit filed by the city of Birmingham.

The Southern Environmental Law Center Tuesday filed a federal suit on behalf of conservation groups challenging North Carolina's $1 billion Garden Parkway toll road.

The North Carolina Retirement Systems' pension fund benefitted from investments in bonds to return 2.21% for the year, State Treasurer Janet Cowell said Friday.

GLC Advisors, representing investors owning $700 million of Jefferson County's defaulted sewer warrants, says low interest rates could make a refinancing possible.

Municipal bond issuance in the Southeast during the first half of this year was up by 57% to $34 billion - nearly the same amount that was lost between 2011 and 2010.

Mississippi's higher education officials last week said they have $683.9 million in capital needs, and they hope the Legislature will address some of that with bonding capacity next year.

The Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana filed a suit in state court Aug. 16 to stop the implementation of a new state pension plan proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and passed by the 2012 Legislature.

The number of state boards and commissions in Louisiana has fallen to a total of 492 entities after peaking at 513 in 2004, legislative auditor Daryl Purpera said Aug. 20 in a report to lawmakers.