Economy

Gov. Dannel Malloy has appointed four people to the nascent Connecticut Airport Authority and named Mary Ellen Jones of Glastonbury as the board’s chairwoman.

CHICAGO - A union between St. Louis-based Ascension Health and Arlington Heights, Ill.-based Alexian Brothers Health System advanced Thursday with the announcement that the two had signed a definitive agreement for Alexian's acquisition by the nation's largest nonprofit health care system.

LOS ANGELES - A confirmation hearing on the Las Vegas Monorail's plans to exit bankruptcy that had been slated this week was postponed after bondholders, the insurer, and the issuer all balked.

Federal investigators are auditing a billion dollar expansion project at the Port of Anchorage amid huge cost overruns, published reports say.

CHICAGO - The Illinois Finance Authority board this week approved Novi, Mich.-based Trinity Health Corp.'s issue of up to $600 million tied to its acquisition of Loyola University Health System in suburban Chicago, and advanced a Midwestern disaster area revenue bond issue for Cargill Inc.

WASHINGTON - Transportation industry and government groups have not found a lot to like in President Obama's American Jobs Act, and they are particularly unhappy about the proposed infrastructure bank.

Fairfield, Conn., is targeting an Oct. 31 opening for its third Metro-North Railroad train station after the town passed a $7.5 million bond authorization to cover the costs of the long-delayed Fairfield Metro project marked by cost overruns.

Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday downgraded Mary Washington Healthcare’s rating to Baa1 from A3.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal last week signed an executive order creating the Transit Governance Task Force.

The New York State Dormitory Authority plans to sell $491 million of Series 2011A revenue bonds for the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Obligated Group through negotiated bid on Thursday, following a one-day retail order period.

Fitch Ratings downgraded to A from A-plus its rating on Reid Hospital and Health Services last week, warning that the Richmond, Ind., facility continues to suffer from operating losses. Fitch revised the outlook to stable from negative.

Chicago-based Mercy Hospital is discussing some form of a union with Novi, Mich.-based Trinity Health Corp., according to published reports.

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority said in a notice that Florida has refused to pay its monthly bill under a lease-purchase agreement for facilities built with toll-backed debt.

DALLAS - The Arizona Transportation Board has switched lanes to adjust to market conditions, planning to substitute a senior-lien excise tax revenue bond issue for a subordinate-lien highway revenue bond sale that had been expected this week.

Highway and airport construction projects should escape shutdowns now that House and Senate leaders have agreed to extend airport construction funding through January and highway funding through March.

CHICAGO - A nursing home in Gary, Ind., has skipped monthly payments that fund debt service since last March, forcing the bond trustee to dip into a reserve account to cover a Sept. 1 interest payment.

Businesses and organizations associated with the chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission are the major contributors in support of a statewide election in November to reauthorize $525 million of grant anticipation revenue vehicle bonds.

WASHINGTON - The aviation community was prepared to see House Transportation Committee chairman John Mica, R. Fla., introduce a new Federal Aviation Administration extension bill Friday, one expected to pass both houses of Congress without a battle this week. But it didn't happen.

WASHINGTON - Fitch Ratings downgraded the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority's airport revenue bonds to AA-minus from AA as it prepares to issue $192 million of refunding bonds.

DALLAS - The board overseeing the construction of a $1.1 billion Louisiana state hospital in New Orleans unanimously adopted a revised no-debt financial plan on Thursday.