Economy

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn outlined plans to spend $12.6 billion over the next six fiscal years on transportation and said more spending and borrowing for capital projects is needed.

New Orleans Aviation Board unanimously adopted an $826 million airport modernization effort financed in part with $267.5 million of revenue bonds.

New York City has issued an RFP for a new health care contract, with deputy mayor Cas Holloway calling labor contracts and benefit packages pressing challenges.

Some Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers propose using money from the expected privatization of the state's liquor stores to rebuild roads and bridges.

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Olmsted Medical Center's rating by one notch, pushing it into the A category in recognition of its strong financial profile and increasing liquidity.

Fitch Ratings last week downgraded to BB-plus from BBB-minus $30 million of revenue bonds issued for Beatrice Community Hospital.

El Paso County Hospital District will use proceeds from $152 million of certificates of obligation to build clinics and renovate a hospital in El Paso.

The New York Thruway Authority will release a finance plan for the new Tappan Zee this month or next.

Fitch Ratings dropped Manchester, N.H.'s airport revenue bonds to BBB-plus from A-minus.

A Maine legislative study of ways to pay off the state's $484 million debt to Maine's hospitals shows that a bond sale would generate the most money.

Construction could start as early as 2015 on a long-planned, largely bond-financed $3.5 billion trade bridge between Detroit and Windsor, the busiest trade route in the U.S.

Iowa Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald called Gov. Terry Branstad's alterative to the federal government's Medicaid expansion a bad deal for the state.

The California Health Facilities Financing Authority approved on Tuesday the sale of $1.9 billion of bonds to help Kaiser Foundation build six new hospitals, expand a current one, and construct a specialty medical office.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the underlying ratings on Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission senior lien revenue bonds to A1 from Aa3.

The Illinois Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear a direct appeal of a Circuit Court decision leaving intact a state overhaul of retiree health care benefits.

Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services and South Dakota-based Sanford Health have canceled discussions over a possible union due to mounting opposition in Minnesota.

Texas voters would be asked to approve the use of $6 billion from the state rainy day fund for water and road projects under a measure under consideration in the state Senate.

The beleaguered Orange County Transportation Authority garnered another round of criticism recently — this time from a San Francisco nonprofit recommending that the tollway agency postpone an extension to its toll road until state authorities can review the operation.

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago plans to sell up to $450 million of new-money and refunding bonds as it finalizes financing plans for a $550 million replacement facility.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a $500 million transportation bill that would, among other things, shore up a struggling Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.