Southeast

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida Gov. Rick Scott Wednesday rejected $2.4 billion in federal funding toward the state’s $2.6 billion high-speed rail project from Orlando to Tampa before reviewing the most recent ridership and revenue study.

BRADENTON, Fla. — A plan to cut $500 million of costs from the $4.1 billion Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project has triggered the need for additional federal environmental studies.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Fitch Ratings downgraded Nashville’s water and sewer bonds on Thursday to AA-minus from AA, in part because of a consent decree that could require up to $1.5 billion in capital expenditures.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Birmingham Commercial Development Authority is selling $72.02 million of revenue bonds Tuesday to finance a hotel and entertainment district in an effort by Alabama’s most populous city to attract larger conventions.

BRADENTON, Fla. — A new study of pension and health care liabilities confronting Florida’s cities and counties found that those annual combined costs made up an average of 8.1% of the spending by the state’s 67 counties and 8.3% of spending by 50 cities.

The Connector 2000 Association Inc., a beleaguered Greenville, S.C., toll road operator that a year ago defaulted on $329 million of bonds, needs bondholders to approve a tentative restructuring plan to exit bankruptcy.

In the first graduating class of its kind in Tennessee, 97 municipal government officials from across the state have been recognized as “Certified Municipal Financial Officers” through a state-required curriculum.

Despite rising gas prices and fewer airlines seats due to consolidation, the central Florida home to the state’s mega-theme parks saw continued gains in the number of visitors in December to Orlando and surrounding Orange County.

Two Miami-Dade County elected officials facing recall petitions have now filed suits in an attempt to stop their recall elections.

BRADENTON, Fla. — As the Miami Dolphins continue to seek $225 million in public funding to upgrade their privately financed stadium, a Florida senator has filed a bill that would prohibit public funds from being spent on professional sports facilities without a local referendum.