Economy

Local opposition to Gov. Rick Perry's refusal to expand Medicaid surfaces, as the state's 254 counties cope with the nation's highest rate of uninsured residents.

Ascension Health Alliance will make its first foray into the long-term taxable market this week when it sells $1 billion of refunding bonds in a mix of tax-exempt and taxable paper.

The chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, on Monday named Sens. Mark Warner and Richard Blumenthal to lead two subcommittees.

A New York law gives the state's government until June 15 to consider a four-year plan that would cost at least $457 million to sustain Brooklyn hospitals.

A federal judge in Rhode Island has agreed to let the state continue to implement electronic tolling equipment on the new Sakonnet River Bridge connecting Portsmouth and Tiverton.

Standard & Poor's upgraded Palisades Medical Center to the investment grade BBB-minus from the speculative grade BB-plus on Wednesday, citing its improved balance sheet.

Ontario, Calif. officials filed a lawsuit to have their regional airport returned to local control following a three-year battle with Los Angeles officials.

Judith Frank, 71, of Los Angeles, has been re-appointed to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority's bond rating to A3 from A2 a day after Delta announced that the airport would no longer be a hub.

The Chicago City Council ratified revisions to the much-maligned 75-year parking meter lease that Mayor Rahm Emanuel promoted as cutting the city's long-term penalties for lost parking revenue to the private meter operators.

New York MTA's chief acknowledged that extensive work to fix two major subway tubes damaged by Hurricane Sandy would cost "hundreds of millions" of dollars.

The Miami-Dade County commission gave final approval for an overall $4.24 billion bond program to finance the cost of water and sewer improvements.

Standard & Poor's dropped the rating on Rutgers University's general obligation debt to AA-minus from AA, citing risks associated with the planned merger with University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey.

While serving a prosperous city and picturesque tourist destination, Burlington, Vt.'s airport is one of the few passenger airports to which Moody's Investors Service has given a speculative grade.

Cincinnati-based Catholic Health Partners, Ohio's largest health care system, announced last week it is acquiring Kaiser Permanente Ohio, a northeast Ohio health plan.

Moody's Investors Service Monday affirmed its A2 rating on Bronson Healthcare Group and revised the outlook to stable from positive, saying the system has had softer operating margins following a 2011 merger and faces higher capital demands in 2013.

Standard & Poor's raised its rating on Des Moines Airport Authority by one level to A due to improved debt service coverage ratios.

Moody's Investors Service said a court ruling that allows California to cut its Medi-Cal program is a negative for the credit ratings of hospitals, and positive for the state's fiscal flexibility.

The California Health Facilities Financing Authority, a conduit issuer, last week approved an $850 million bond issuance for St. Joseph Health System, according to a spokesman.

The highly-regarded Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago received a first time rating of A-minus from Fitch Ratings that banks on a successful fundraising campaign to help repay debt being issued to finance a $550 million replacement facility.