Economy

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.

Some of investment banking's marquee names are competing to run Puerto Rico's main airport under a privatization plan that's part of a Federal Aviation Administration pilot program.

BRADENTON, Fla. - North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue has announced a plan to accelerate "urban loop projects" in six cities using grant anticipation revenue vehicle bonds.

Fitch Ratings upgraded the underlying rating on $430 million of outstanding Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission registration fee revenue refunding bonds, Series 2005, to AA-minus from A-plus with a stable outlook.

Transportation Secretary Richard Davey warned that closing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s budget deficit next year without fare hikes or service cuts would be “very difficult.”

The University of New England has received a $3.5 million state award from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to help open the first college of dental medicine in northern New England.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday voted unanimously to extend federal highway aid for four months to Jan. 31 at current spending levels.

Moody’s Investors Service gave an A2 rating to $296 million of airport refunding bonds that Hawaii plans to sell this month. The savings from the deal is expected to exceed 6%.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is already trying to tackle a $23 million annual budget deficit, according to local press reports.