Economy

Louisiana's chain of 10 state hospitals that serve 1.2 million low income and disabled Louisianians are imperiled by a sudden and severe cut in federal funds for the program.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office has begun an independent financial review of the financially troubled State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and its affiliates.

The commonwealth awards a $2.6 billion contact after bidding that attracted some of investment banking's biggest names.

A new 3.8% tax on investment income that's part of the federal health care overhaul will boost demand for tax-free municipal bonds starting next year, say some market experts.

The Chicago region could unsnarl its traffic mess and generate $2 billion in economic activity by 2040 by undertaking 11 major road construction projects with a $52 billion price tag paid for with new toll and user fees, according to a report from the California think tank the Reason Foundation.

The Federal Highway Administration put the brakes on North Carolina's second toll road this week and rescinded its approval of the Monroe Connector/Bypass project for which three tranches of bonds have been sold.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency raised $63.8 million last week from the sale of revenue bonds during its first foray ever into the municipal bond market.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Wednesday that authorizes $4.7 billion, partly from the sale of bonds, to start construction of a high-speed intercity passenger rail network.

The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority will price 262.3 million of bonds on behalf of 95 Express Lanes LLC next week, financing which is expected to pair with a $300 million federal loan for one of Virginia's biggest public-private partnerships.

Officials expect to accommodate large cargo ships traveling up the East Coast after the Panama Canal widens.

Proceeds will refund bonds and finance capital projects at the health system's three campuses near Philadelphia.

Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein will outline the reasons behind his order cutting $550 million from the state's Medicaid program Thursday at a special joint legislative committee hearing.

The importance of passenger facility fees, often used to back bonds, has grown in recent years and is likely to continue playing an expanding role in financing airport capital projects, according to a new Fitch Ratings report.

Two toll-road operators in the Houston area whose systems interlink will issue $379 million as the systems continue to expand in the suburbs of Texas' largest city.

Fitch Ratings raised the Rush University Medical Center Obligated Group one notch to A in recognition of its consistently strong profitability and the completion of its new patient tower, eliminating construction risks on the credit.

Current revenues will curtail road building in Texas within a few years, according to testimony last week before a House Appropriations subcommittee.

Baylor College of Medicine, the largest private medical school in the Southwest, plans to issue $320 million of bonds next month to refinance fixed and variable rate debt and stabilize its financial structure, officials said.

The outlook for bond-financed transportation infrastructure remains stable, but could possibly see a downturn if the slow economic recovery loses momentum or if banks are downgraded. according to a new mid-year report from Fitch Ratings.

After a long, bumpy road, Gov. Tom Corbett signs a bill that establishes a framework for infrastructure public-private partnerships.

Nassau County received 13 responses to its request for information regarding a public-private partnership for its troubled sewer system.