Economy

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook to negative from positive on Edward Health Services Corp.'s A2 rating due to challenges posed by its new affiliation with Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare.

Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch has increased weight limits on about 1,000 bridges statewide, citing the stalled transportation funding bill.

A fight over the future of a Brooklyn hospital that potentially affects SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s ability to pay its debt of $154 million recently took two more sharp legal turns, as a judge ordered Downstate to transfer ownership of the money-losing facility -- then reversed the order three days later.

The strong accord of creditors and others behind American Airlines’ confirmation plan could be jeopardized should the plan’s approval be delayed over the federal government’s move to block American’s merger with US Airways Group, an unsecured creditors’ committee warned.

Fitch placed A-plus rated bonds issued on behalf of Backus Hospital in Norwich, Conn., on watch, citing uncertainty about its agreement with Hartford HealthCare.

The University of Florida's Shands Healthcare has agreed to pay $26.2 million to settle allegations due to overpayments by Medicare and Medicaid.

Fitch Ratings Wednesday downgraded $41 million of highway improvement bonds issued by Ohio’s Butler County Transportation Improvement district amid declining debt service coverage levels.

The Internal Revenue Service has closed its audit of Rhode Island's $197 million tobacco settlement bonds, ruling that the bonds remained tax-exempt.

A weak financial report released by Providence Health & Services, Wash., will not affect its debt rating and outlook, said analysts at Standard & Poor's.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has named a bipartisan group of 11 people to a new local and regional transportation funding task force.

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McCrum has been named special prosecutor to lead an investigation of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

The National Conference of State Legislatures is urging Congress to take action on several issues, including transporation funding, tax-exempt financing of water infrastructure, the federal deficit and online sales taxes.

Presence Health in Illinois will privately place up to $215 million of bonds in a deal that restructures outstanding debt of the two Chicago area systems that joined in 2011 to form the new system.

Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn last week formed an independent task force to review and recommend management and oversight reforms for the Chicago region's public transit system that could affect the future of the Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois.

California was not the only target of a transit union's efforts to exempt transportation employees from state pension reform efforts. Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Jersey and Massachusetts have complied.

Michigan lawmakers are taking a fresh look at a long-stalled plan to raise $1.2 billion in new money for the state's transportation infrastructure.

The Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority, which has been in default on toll revenue bonds since July 2011, has agreed to have a traffic study done.

The federal government's attempt to block bankrupt American Airlines' merger with US Airways Group Inc. could have a "marginally positive" impact on U.S. airports, Fitch Ratings said in a report.

South Carolina's Charleston County Airport District plans to sell $175 million of bonds for improvements at Charleston International Airport.

Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market received a $10 million federal TIGER grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for freight rail improvements.