Economy

The California Supreme Court ruled in the Expo Line's favor on environmental challenges that could have shut down the $1.5 billion second phase of the light rail project linking Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

The privately owned Branson Airport LLC in Missouri --which is in default on its $113 million of municipal debt -- has filed a lawsuit against a group of airport contractors accusing them of faulty work.

Denver's plan to develop an "Airport City" at Denver International Airport faces challenges from neighbors who say they are already leading the way.

The Treasury Department agrees with Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., that 16-year-old safe harbor provisions for tax-exempt health care bonds need to be updated so they won't conflict with health care reform.

A senior democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has introduced a bill that would reauthorize a popular federal transportation grant program and set aside a portion of the program's funds for small and medium sized cities.

Ambac Assurance Corp will make supplemental payments on some policies in a segregated account that the company established to hold troubled liabilities during its bout with bankruptcy.

Tucson City Council will decide on a temporary hospital tax as a match for federal reimbursement of uninsured patient care.

Vermont expects to reduce its unfunded health care liability by $150 million through a waiver plan crafted by its teachers retirement system and Treasurer Beth Pearce.

After three special sessions, Texas lawmakers have passed a $1.2 billion transportation bill that appeared to satisfy outgoing Gov. Rick Perry.

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook on Fairview Health Services' A3 rating to stable from negative in recognition of its improved operations.

Indiana last week announced a shortlist of four firms that will compete for a chance to partner with the state on a $400 million interstate highway project.

Maryland intends to develop a 16-mile light rail project in the Washington D.C. suburbs through a public-private partnership, the largest P3 in the state and the first for a transit project, government leaders announced Monday.

Colorado's E-470 Public Highway Authority may change a closed toll booth to a service stop for drivers. Meanwhile, the authority is refinancing $66 million of debt that represents a legacy of the 2008 market collapse.

Chicago heads to market Tuesday with a $247 million O'Hare International Airport borrowing to help finance a consolidated car rental center that's part of an $800 million multi-modal transportation facility.

In an action that could affect numerous transactions across the country, the Internal Revenue Service has determined that revenue bonds issued by a New Jersey authority for the Deborah Heart and Lung Center are taxable because the borrower entered into a total return swap.

The Regents of the University of California is planning to sell $665 million of fixed and variable rate medical center pooled revenue bonds.

Preliminary results show a majority of bankrupt American Airlines' shareholders and creditors — which include some holders of the airline's $3.3 billion of municipal bonds — have signed off on a proposed reorganization.

Charlotte is in court again fighting passage of a second bill by the North Carolina General Assembly transferring Charlotte Douglas airport's operations to a 13-member commission.

Washington State is planning to sell $864 million of general obligation bonds in a competitive offering next week after receiving improved outlooks from two credit rating agencies.

A transportation and housing appropriations bill was pulled from consideration on the House of Representatives floor Wednesday.