Southeast

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Friday unveiled a $24.2 billion operating budget for fiscal 2011 that is $5.5 billion less than the state spent in fiscal 2010.

WASHINGTON — The South Carolina-based issuer of $322.5 million of toll road revenue bonds that are in default appears to be preparing to file for bankruptcy, according to a disclosure ­document.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Owensboro Medical Health System in Kentucky this week is expected to price $545 million of fixed-rate revenue and refunding bonds as part of a finance plan to build a new hospital and terminate two swaps.

WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission is defending its antifraud authority over certain interest-rate swaps and urging a federal judge not to dismiss its suit against two former JPMorgan bankers for allegedly making more than $8 million in undisclosed payments to secure swaps for the firm with Jefferson County, Ala.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Louisiana federal Judge Kurt Engelhardt has agreed to hear oral arguments April 21 from PaineWebber Capital Services Inc. and UBS Securities LLC on their motion to dismiss a suit filed by New Orleans involving the failed remarketing of its firefighters’ pension bonds.

DALLAS — Arguments got under way Wednesday in a New Orleans federal district court in an effort by historic preservationists to derail construction of a bond-financed state hospital in the city.

BRADENTON, Fla. — ­Investors in Florida’s distressed community development districts should expect an increasing number of defaults, primarily on bonds sold during the state’s real estate boom years, a new report by ­Interactive Data Corp. warned yesterday.

WASHINGTON — South Carolina lawmakers last Wednesday voted against legislation that would have paved the way for restructuring more than $200 million of tax-exempt bonds issued by the Southern Connector 2000 Association for a 16-mile toll road in Greenville, which went into default on Jan. 1.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The new bi-state authority created by Kentucky and Indiana to develop a $4.1 billion finance plan to build new bridges over the Ohio River met for the first time Tuesday in an organizational session.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court Monday decided to hear oral arguments on April 7 in the South Florida Water Management District’s quest to get legal validation for $650 million of certificates of participation, the sale of which is being opposed by two ­appellants.