Economy

Rating upgrades overlook rural and secondary markets with high unemployment and aging demographics that will continue to challenge hospitals in those markets.

Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System will acquire Allegiance Health, a union that offers benefits for both in what marks the latest in an ongoing wave of healthcare consolidations.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe plans to ask lawmakers for approval to issue up to $3.5 billion of bonds for capital needs, including transportation projects.

New York and New Jersey announced a deal to allow a long-stalled Amtrak tail runnel project between New York and New Jersey to move full steam ahead.

The Federal Transit Administration estimates that more than $131 billion will be needed for transit systems in poor and marginal condition, including almost $86 billion to replace infrastructure that has already exceeded its useful life, Moody’s Investment Service said in a report issued on Thursday.

Maryland gets $27.9 million grant to study a 40-mile magnetic levitation train route expected to cost $10 billion.

Michigan’s recent adoption of a $1.2 billion road funding package was labeled a positive credit factor for the state’s transportation revenue bonds by Moody’s Investors Service.

Missouri has turned east to New Hampshire for a new head of transportation.

On the eve of pricing $1.75 billion of bonds for a privately owned intercity passenger train system, its Florida developers introduced Brightline as the name of the new service.

Tennessee’s cash-funded transportation system fails to keep pace with billions in backlogged needs, and residents must decide how to tackle the problem, Gov. Bill Haslam said Monday.

Oklahoma system will finance almost $900 million of turnpike projects with toll revenue bonds rather than state tax revenues.

Massachusetts has completed a $500 million sale of Commonwealth Transportation Fund revenue bonds to help fund six new rail projects in the Bay State.

Voters in eight states approved 26 of 37 transportation funding proposals on Nov. 3 ballots.

The New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority appears to be settling a tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service over revenue bonds it issued in 1993 for Deborah Heart and Lung Center, which later entered into a total return swap.

Standard & Poor's revised its outlook on the Iowa Board of Regents' University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to stable from negative after a decision to trim capital spending.

The House adopted a six-year, $325 billion transportation funding measure that must be reconciled by Nov. 20 with Senate's $342 billion plan.

A capital project to provide East Side access in New York to Long Island Rail Road trains is nearly 60% complete, said MTA official Michael Horodniceanu.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf offered support for the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority’s planned development of the Southport Marine Terminal Complex during a visit Wednesday to the 196-acre site.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said he will sign a $1.2 billion road funding package that cleared the legislature late Tuesday after months of fits and starts during ongoing negotiations.

House leaders hope to have a final vote Thursday on a six-year, $325 billion transportation funding bill.