Southeast

BRADENTON, Fla. — Standard & Poor’s last week revised its outlook on Tennessee’s AA-plus general obligation bond rating to positive from stable, citing an economic recovery that could result in a third gilt-edged rating.

DALLAS — A Louisiana bill proposing $3 billion of revenue bonds for state road projects died in a legislative committee Tuesday when its sponsor voluntarily deferred it due to opposition from lawmakers and Gov. Bobby Jindal. The bill would have raised the state’s private-vehicle registration fee to $30 from $10 to support up to $3 billion of bonds for 42 projects in 27 parishes.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Memphis-based Morgan Keegan & Co. is expanding its reach in the Northeast region with the addition of two veteran public finance bankers.

DALLAS — Louisiana lawmakers will consider a resolution this week to require legislative approval of a plan to issue revenue bonds to finance a proposed new state hospital in New Orleans.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Legislature is poised to approve a $68 billion budget for fiscal 2012 on Friday and end its 60-day regular annual session on time.

DALLAS — Standard & Poor’s raised its rating Wednesday on Louisiana’s general obligation debt to AA from AA-minus due to the state’s willingness to resolve structural issues in its budget.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Two Virginia issuers that plan to price a combined $806 million of double-A rated tax-exempt bonds early next week should find plenty of investors to snap up the high-grade paper, according to market participants.

With 36 Alabama counties declared eligible for federal disaster assistance due to tornadoes and storms that ravaged the state on April 27, lawmakers took action to protect schools and homeowners.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday placed DeKalb County’s ratings under review for a downgrade, citing a strained liquidity position, doubts about achieving structural budgetary balance, and a larger-than-anticipated decline in taxable values.

Piper Jaffray & Co. has opened a new office in Charlotte, N.C., and made its first four hires as the investment bank continues its national expansion and strengthens its presence in the municipal trading and sales arena.