Employee benefits

Mercy Hospital plans to sell facilities and other assets to the University of Iowa, which approved $20 million for the acquisition.

American Advanced Management signed a letter of intent for a lease-to-buy agreement for Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister.

The Senate proclamation says Shields left behind "an indelible mark on the public finance industry."

"We believe pensions have an elevated probability of stressing the state and local governments' budgets even as Illinois has made supplemental contributions above the statutorily required amounts," S&P Global Ratings analyst Joseph Vodziak said.

Houston is one of the largest U.S. cities to set up a trust to help fund non-pension retiree benefits such as healthcare.

Attorney General Rob Bonta faces criticism for restrictions that caused the collapse of a proposed buyout of a troubled Central Valley hospital.

A total of 26 Republican-led states have sued over the new retirement investing rule, saying it would diminish their tax revenue and hurt states that have a significant fossil fuel industry presence.

The demographics of the public-sector workforce are likely to change, even as many state and local governments consider increasing wages and improving other benefits to attract and retain employees.

Strong 2021 contribution levels continue a trend that began with pension reforms made in the wake of the Great Recession.

The hospitals are facing higher costs amid dwindling pandemic-related federal aid, although urban facilities are faring better than those in rural areas.

The downgrade of Kaweah Delta Health Care District's revenue bonds to Ba1 affected $218 million of debt.

Chicago is leading the pack in pension fund problems.

New Jersey and Illinois have the lowest state bond ratings. But all three states have been ramping up pension contributions, according to S&P Global Ratings.

S&P Global Ratings says that without funding reform, New Jersey's pension system may continue to negatively impact the state's credit outlook for decades.

The acquisition of Cancer Treatment Centers of America in February was cited for the downgrade along with City of Hope's financial weakness over the past two years.

ProMedica's senior living division has suffered deep pandemic-related fiscal wounds while its hospitals' recovery was set back by the Omicron variant.

Oregon State Hospital's Junction City campus has three months to correct problems after an investigation revealed lax supervision.

Mayor Jorge Elorza said the reworked bond proposal was better than the larger one put before the state Legislature last year.

The previously unrated Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District will be the first transit agency to price debt to cover pension liabilities when it hits the market Wednesday.

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