Southeast

WASHINGTON — States officials are eyeing $2.4 billion of federal high-speed rail money that was allocated for Florida, but is now up for grabs after Gov. Rick Scott effectively ended the state’s project by rejecting the funding earlier this month.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Alabama Education Association, its political action committee, and five individuals have filed a federal suit challenging some of the ethics reform laws passed by the state Legislature in a mid-December special session.

After meeting with Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Friday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood gave the state another week to decide once and for all if it wants $2.4 billion in federal funds to build a high-speed rail network.

In an effort to reduce the size of Florida's government, Republican lawmakers want restrictive spending caps placed into the state's constitution.

BRADENTON, Fla. — It will cost an estimated $700 million to build the Atlanta Falcons the open-air stadium the National Football League team has sought for several years.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida Gov. Rick Scott Thursday told four local governments that he would not change his mind about accepting $2.4 billion of federal funds for a high-speed rail project.

The financially ailing Jackson Health System in South Florida could become the latest public nonprofit entity to be taken private despite an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry believed to be related to bond disclosure issues.

Rep. Bill Owens, D-Camden, has introduced a bill to limit North Carolina's bonding authority to $138.5 million — or just 11% of what the state issued last year — in fiscal 2012 and 2013.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said he would support legislation this year that would allow him to cut state agency budgets by up to 10% — instead of the 5% he's currently allowed — if revenue falls below expectations.

Standard & Poor's Tuesday revised its outlook to positive from stable on the A rating of Western Kentucky University's 2002 and 2003 consolidated educational buildings revenue bonds.