Southeast

Louisiana Attorney General James Caldwell filed a federal suit last week in the District of Columbia to overturn a change in offshore oil royalty rules that could require the state to repay royalties and cut its anticipated future royalties.

The New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board last week adopted a capital improvement plan that calls for more than $3 billion of projects through 2021.

Former Jefferson County Commissioner Larry Langford wants the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his conviction.

Federal Bankruptcy Judge Thomas Bennett has ordered that an automatic stay associated with Jefferson County's bankruptcy will remain in effect through midnight Jan. 6.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $800 million of hospital revenue bonds that were issued by the South Miami, Fla., Health Facilities Authority in May 2007 to finance projects for affiliates of Baptist Health South Florida and to refund previously issued bonds.

A Birmingham, Ala., agency has closed on $64 million in bank loans that were privately placed due to concern that the recent bankruptcy of Jefferson County would make it difficult to seek financing in the bond market.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation closes on a $145.5 million deal believed to be the first of its kind to use stand-alone, grant anticipation revenue vehicle bonds as interim financing.

Fitch Ratings on Tuesday dropped its BBB rating on the Fulton Science Academy Inc. in Georgia to below investment grade.

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. accelerated payment of $4.9 million of bonds owed by Lambuth University, according to a market notice filed Tuesday by Bank of New York Mellon, the trustee.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour on Tuesday submitted his final executive budget recommendations, and told legislators to curb spending for fiscal 2013 due to the state’s sluggish recovery.