Industries

DALLAS - Texas' Bexar County Hospital District will sell the first tax-supported debt in 43 years with Monday's negotiated sale of $274.1 million of combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation.

Massachusetts could tap into tobacco settlement and rainy-day funds to help pay down a $13.3 billion other post-employment benefit liability, according to a report released last week on the commonwealth's unfunded health care costs.

A proposal New York Gov. David Paterson announced yesterday to cut local assistance spending by 6% and to cut $506 million from Medicaid spending drew sharp criticism from organizations representing hospitals and municipalities.

DALLAS - Baylor College of Medicine in Texas will get closer to eliminating its outstanding auction-rate debt and all outstanding debt enhanced with insurance from Ambac Assurance Co. with next week's planned negotiated sale of $255 million of hospital revenue refunding bonds by the Harris County Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp.

WASHINGTON - The anemic federal highway trust fund and the overall U.S. transportation funding system are in dire need of help from Washington lawmakers, Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., said yesterday at a meeting of transportation officials in Florida.

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority can now use the state's appropriation pledge on an upcoming $800 million refunding deal after Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday signed into law a more than $2 billion general bond bill that will help finance capital improvements throughout the state.

CHICAGO - A DuPage County, Ill., Circuit Court judge yesterday cleared the path for Chicago's demolition of about 500 suburban homes to make room for the $7.5 billion runway expansion plan at O'Hare International Airport, although local opponents vowed to carry on their legal challenge.

DALLAS - With airlines under unprecedented financial stress, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is continuing to cut costs to help its tenants survive, officials said yesterday.

DALLAS - The president of a Tulsa police association has warned the city council about devoting too much of the city's financial resources to a proposed 12-year, $2 billion street maintenance program.

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority will review proposals for underwriting services on a $800 million refinancing bond deal that officials expect to price later this year.

WASHINGTON - Gasoline prices at $4.00 or more per gallon for a prolonged period could depress toll road traffic and revenue, and compel governments to increase tolls to prevent credit rating downgrades, Moody's Investors Service warned in a report issued today.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta was named the world’s busiest airport in 2007 by the Airports Council International.

SAN FRANCISCO - The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's $40 billion sales tax measure has been caught in a traffic jam. It's unclear whether the 30-year, half-cent sales tax will make it to the November ballot.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Authority officials yesterday announced a proposed electronic tolling plan on Interstate 80 that would implement nine stations along the roadway, bringing in roughly $450 million of toll revenue each year.

CHICAGO - The board of the Wayne County Airport Authority recently approved a $3.6 billion master plan for the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport that postpones plans to build a fifth runway and a passenger monorail line.

More than 20 states are vying for $30 million in federal grants to help finance intercity passenger-rail projects, through the first federal-state partnership of its kind at the U.S. Department of Transportation, officials announced yesterday.

Massachusetts bonding authorities could receive additional oversight on borrowing if Gov. Deval Patrick signs legislation granting the state's Finance Advisory Board increased supervisory powers, an initiative that also includes extending its state appropriation pledge to $800 million of Massachusetts Turnpike Authority debt.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said last week she does not support an increase in state gasoline and diesel fuel taxes to finance a new 10-year transportation program.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey yesterday said it would block flights into the three airports serving the New York City metropolitan area that are allocated landing slots through an auction conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Mississippi Department of Transportation on Friday received three statements of qualifications from firms interested in entering into the state's first public-private partnership.