Industries

Standard & Poor’s last week said Illinois’ decision not to renew some of its managed-care contracts with Carle Foundation subsidiary Health Alliance Medical Plans won’t affect the Urbana-based system’s A-plus rating, although the loss of business could pose a credit risk down the road.

The New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Wednesday will issue $600 million of state appropriation-backed debt after Moody’s Investors Service downgraded such bonds last week to A1 from Aa3.

Utah Lawmakers will return to Salt Lake City this week to consider overriding Gov. Gary Herbert’s veto of a plan to earmark a large portion of new sales-tax revenue to state road projects.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority will continue to collect its own tolls rather than outsource manual toll collection services to a private company.

CHICAGO — The nation’s largest nonprofit health care provider, Ascension Health, will acquire Alexian Brothers Health System, a union that marks the latest in a consolidation trend as hospital systems seek to bolster their capital positions and navigate the challenges of federal health care reform.

SAN FRANCISCO — The restructuring of $2 billion of San Joaquin Hills toll-road debt appears to have bondholders on board since the alternative is a likely default.

The board of the bankrupt Sierra Kings Healthcare District in California earlier this month approved a letter of intent to join Adventist Health.

BRADENTON, Fla. — After nearly two decades of planning, a major runway extension project at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in South Florida is finally nearing takeoff.

DALLAS — Tolls on twin state bridges across the Mississippi River in New Orleans should be allowed to expire next year with the final payment on the bonds that financed the spans, an advocacy group argues.

DALLAS — Denver continues to cut costs associated with its $500 million South Terminal airport redevelopment project that will be financed with bonds.

The Department of Transportation is expected to launch TIGER III during the next few weeks, ultimately awarding grants for capital projects from $528 million that was provided for the program in the recently enacted fiscal 2011 budget compromise.

The Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association has called for an increase in the state tax on gasoline to fund the construction of more roads.

Brandon Beach of Alpharetta has been named chairman of the Georgia Transportation Board’s public-private partnership committee, which oversees P3 projects for the state.

A legislative plan to merge the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority and the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority with the Florida Turnpike Enterprise has failed to gain headway.

CHICAGO — Warning of the threat posed to its long-term fiscal stability, the Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois is leading a charge against state legislation that would aid retailers and other businesses seeking to avoid paying some local sales taxes by setting up shell offices elsewhere.

CHICAGO — Two weeks after it hit Cleveland with a credit downgrade, Fitch Ratings has cut the rating on $835 million of bonds issued for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to A-minus from A.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing the bonds of two issuers based in Florida — a health care provider and a community development district.

Moody’s Investors Service has affirmed its A2 first-lien and A3 second-lien ratings assigned to Midway Airport’s $1.4 billion of outstanding bonds in conjunction with Chicago’s replacement of a swap agreement on a portion of Midway’s debt portfolio.

Chicago is accepting requests for information and interest through July 26 for development of a rapid passenger-rail system connecting downtown with O’Hare International Airport.

WASHINGTON — The Great Recession significantly widened states’ pension and retiree health care funding shortfalls, the Pew Center on the States concluded in a report released Tuesday.