Economy

The Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, R.I., defaulted on scheduled interest and principal payments on bonds maturing this month, triggering a payment by its insurer, according to a notice posted last week by its trustee.

CHICAGO — Investment banks interested in working on the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority’s new-money and refunding bond sales planned over at least the next two years have until Oct. 20 to submit their qualifications to the agency.

CHICAGO — Henry Ford Health Systems is expected to enter the market this week with $322 million of new-money and refunding revenue bonds as part of the system’s scaled-back capital campaign to expand its services across southeast Michigan.

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission last week delayed the awarding of contracts for a number of highway projects due to questions over the continued availability of federal funding.

A significant drop in sales tax revenue may require Phoenix to reduce its bus system’s $171 million annual operating budget by $16 million in fiscal 2011 to avoid an operating fund deficit.

WASHINGTON — The trustee for millions of dollars of toll revenue bonds issued in 1998 to finance South Carolina’s first publicly owned and privately built toll road, the Southern Connector Project, is warning investors that the bonds will probably default on Jan. 1, 2010, because of insufficient revenue.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $28.08 billion five year-capital plan is unaffordable, New York Gov. David Paterson said yesterday, adding that the State Department of Transportation’s $25.8 billion five-year plan is too costly as well.

WASHINGTON — Groups representing student loan bond issuers, port authorities, and airports are asking Congress to permanently exempt private-activity bonds from the alternative minimum tax and allow all current PABs to be refinanced to obtain the exemption

CHICAGO — Chicago expects to tap an array of federal stimulus debt programs in its sales of up to $2.85 billion of new-money and refunding general obligation and airport bonds that were submitted to the City Council for approval yesterday, chief financial officer Gene Saffold said.

The National Governors Association adopted a policy opposing federal restrictions on public-private partnerships after a multiyear transportation authorization bill introduced in the House proposed creating a federal office to oversee see P3s on highways that receive federal aid.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has been making the rounds across the country, telling those vying for $8 billion in federal stimulus funds for high-speed and intercity rail projects that united public and official support — and state funding — are key elements for successful applicants.

Louisiana has opted for binding arbitration to resolve its dispute over the replacement value for Charity Hospital in New Orleans, wich was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said Monday that she has recommended the City Council approve legislation that would extend the lease between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Delta Air Lines covering gates and other space for seven years, ensuring that the world’s busiest airport does not lose its largest hub airline.

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance extending the city’s lease with the Birmingham Airport Authority giving it nine more years to operate Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and allowing it to issue debt for improvements.

CHICAGO — Froedtert & Community Health Inc. enters the market today to issue $187 million of revenue bonds to restructure some remaining insured auction-rate securities and variable-rate demand bonds and raise new money for various projects.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Los Angeles World Airports Board of Directors on Monday agreed to a $75 million settlement with bondholders in a seven-year-old dispute over United Airlines special facilities revenue bonds sold to make improvements at Los Angeles International Airport.

Standard & Poor’s downgraded $23 million of bonds issued for Clark Retirement Community Inc. by the Michigan Strategic Fund to BBB-minus and revised its outlook to negative.

Standard & Poor’s revised its outlook to negative from stable on debt issued for Memorial Health System in South Bend.

Scott County voters have approved $24 million of bonds to build a new 24-bed hospital in Scott City to replace a 56-year-old facility.

CHICAGO — Underwriters interested in working on Chicago Transit Authority bond sales over the next two years have until Oct. 13 to submit their qualifications for review.