Southeast

Fitch Ratings Tuesday downgraded to A from A-plus $114 million of Indian River County School Board’s outstanding certificates of participation. The rating outlook is stable.

DALLAS — Louisiana will sell $325 million of general ­obligation bonds next week as the state enters the new-money market for the first time in three years.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Hurricane ­Catastrophe Fund could be back in the bond market next year to again sell debt to pay damage claims caused by hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.

WASHINGTON — The South Carolina Public Service Authority, the state’s largest issuer in 2008, will begin selling $418.6 million of tax-exempt and taxable new-money and refunding bonds today as the power utility begins to shift toward nuclear energy and away from coal-generated electricity.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The $1 billion Port of Miami Tunnel project Thursday reached financial closing — a conclusion that took nearly four years due to economic challenges, political problems, and diminished access to credit for large transportation-related public-private partnerships.

WASHINGTON — Fairfax, Va., yesterday was upgraded one notch to AAA by Standard & Poor’s because the city’s economic base has remained strong throughout the recession.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The long-awaited pay-to-play trial of Birmingham, Ala., Mayor Larry Langford is slated to start Monday with jury selection.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has asked that a statewide grand jury be impaneled to investigate government corruption in the Sunshine state.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Alabama Public School and College Authority next week plans to sell $775.8 million of revenue bonds, much of which will refund outstanding debt associated with swap options that the issuer is challenging in federal court.

WASHINGTON — In an attempt to save schools money while promoting green technology, Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine announced yesterday that the state’s remaining $119 million qualified school construction bond allocation will be used to finance energy-efficiency projects rather than new construction.