Southeast

After the recession temporarily derailed discussions about building the Tampa Bay Rays a new ballpark, area chambers of commerce have joined forces in recent months to study financing options for the team.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott last week asked the state’s elected Cabinet to withhold approval of $15 million of new capital outlay bonding for education.

Jefferson County, Ala., commissioners offered the position of county manager to Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos Tuesday. He accepted and will start Tuesday, according to published reports.

Gov. Robert Bentley last week said Alabama would appeal after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals refused a request from his state and Florida to reconsider a ruling that allows Atlanta and other surrounding communities to withdraw drinking water from Lake Lanier.

BRADENTON, Fla. - A federal judge in Alabama Wednesday dismissed the Securities and Exchange Commission's suit against former Birmingham Mayor and Jefferson County Commission president Larry Langford, ending a case that began more than three years ago.

BRADENTON, Fla. - The trustee for the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority's $115.9 million of defaulted bonds is providing financial support to entice volunteers to serve on the authority's board, according to the Florida state representative who negotiated the deal.

The Rankin County School Board failed to get the votes necessary in a referendum last week to authorize the issuance of $169.5 million of general obligation bonds.

The Louisiana Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget last week accepted a revised business plan for a $1.088 billion state hospital in New Orleans.

Fitch Ratings on Friday lowered the rating on Hollywood, Fla.’s general obligation bonds to A from A-plus, citing a structural budget imbalance and “consistently optimistic revenue projections.”

Cash-strapped Jefferson County got a small windfall last week when a local judge ordered the return of $6.4 million from escrowed occupational taxes.