The Bond Buyer articles from July 2008

The Bond Buyer archives from July 2008

Southwest Bond-Watch;.(Southwest)
July 1, 2008... Byline: JIM WATTS ARKANSAS Dueling Lottery Estimates A proposed state lottery would bring in $61.5 million, or $55 million, or maybe $100 million a year for Arkansas, depending on whose estimate you look at. Arkansas...

Bond Insurers: MBIA Says it Has Cash Needed to Satisfy GIC Requirements;.
July 1, 2008... Byline: JACK HERMAN After selling more than $4 billion in assets during the second quarter, MBIA Inc. said yesterday it has the extra cash and other assets needed to satisfy additional requirements under its guaranteed investment contracts...

New Hires: Mesirow Financial Adds Two to Its Chicago Staff;.
July 1, 2008... Byline: YVETTE SHIELDS CHICAGO - In a hiring mode, Chicago-based Mesirow Financial Inc. yesterday announced the addition of two Chicago-based municipal veterans - portfolio manager Joseph Piraro and sales professional Dominick Mondi - as...

Munis Finish Firmer in Light Trading;.
July 1, 2008... Byline: JACK HERMANN The municipal market was firmer in light trading yesterday, even as Treasuries were largely unchanged. "It's quiet and firm, up a couple basis points," a trader in New York said. "Munis have gotten cheap. I think...

Chicago PMI Rises 49.6 In June From 49.1 in May.(News in Brief)
July 1, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Chicago Purchasing Managers' Business Barometer rose to a still contractionary 49.6 in June from 49.1 in May, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said yesterday. The data is compiled on...

NAPM-NY Slips to 45.4 From 50.4 in May.(News in Brief)
July 1, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel New York City businesses suffered a downturn in June, as the current business conditions index dropped below 50 after posting the first reading above 50 this calendar year in May, according to the National...

Dallas Fed: June Factory Activity Weakened.(News in Brief)
July 1, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel "Texas manufacturing activity weakened in June," according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, released yesterday. The general business conditions index...

Jobs Posted on Internet Increase 5,200 in June.(News in Brief)
July 1, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel About 3,800,600 online job postings appeared on leading Internet job boards in June, 5,200 more than the 3,795,400 posted in May, a 0.1% rise, the Conference Board reported yesterday. In June, there were 2.5...

Fed Sets 2.01% Minimum On $75B 28-Day TAFs.(News in Brief)
July 1, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Federal Reserve yesterday announced it set a 2.01% minimum bid on its $75 billion 28-day term auction facility credit, which sold yesterday. Results will be announced at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time today,...

Weekly T-Bills Go At 1.900%, 2.135% Highs.(News in Brief)
July 1, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 183-day discount bills were mixed yesterday, as the three-months incurred a 1.900% high rate, up from 1.855% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a...

Treasury to Sell $27B 4-Week Bills.(News in Brief)
July 1, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Treasury Department yesterday said it will sell $27 billion of four-week discount bills today. There are currently $47.306 billion of four-week, or 28-day, bills outstanding. The bills have an issue date...

People: Veteran of JCT, IRS Goes To Nixon Peabody in D.C.
July 1, 2008... Byline: PETER SCHROEDER Gary Bornholdt, who previously served with the Joint Committee on Taxation in the U.S. Congress, is joining Nixon Peabody LLP as counsel in its Washington office. Bornholdt will specialize in tax-exempt bonds,...

Nevada Lawmakers Pare Down Budget By $275 Million;.
July 1, 2008... Byline: RICH SASKAL SAN FRANCISCO - Given three days to cut the budget, Nevada lawmakers did their business in one day Friday, authorizing $275 million in cuts and adjourning after a little more than 12 hours. Gov. Jim Gibbons called...

N.Y., N.J. Port Authority to Launch 90-Day WTC Review;.
July 1, 2008... Byline: TED PHILLIPS In the face of delays and cost overruns at the the World Trade Center site in New York City, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will begin a 90-day review of the projects at the site and has implemented a...

Pima County, Ariz., Supervisors Weigh Delaying $1.2B Bond Vote;.
July 1, 2008... Byline: RICHARD WILLIAMSON DALLAS - Pima County Supervisors in Tucson, Ariz., today will consider delaying a $1.2 billion bond election planned for November as the county and the city struggle to complete a joint courthouse project funded...

Trends In The Region: In Texas, More Bad Insurance News; Triple-A School Fund Nears Capacity.
July 1, 2008... Byline: JASON PHILYAW DALLAS -Texas is nearly out of capacity to back new school bonds with its triple-A rated Permanent School Fund. The constraints come at a time of strong demand for the PSF backing from school districts and as the...

Unions Ask Judge to Dismiss Vallejo's Chapter 9 Case; Say City Can Pay Bills;.
July 1, 2008... Byline: ANDREW WARD SACRAMENTO - Unions representing public employees in Vallejo, Calif., asked a judge to dismiss the city's Chapter 9 bankruptcy case Friday, arguing that Vallejo can afford to pay its bills. "Vallejo is not eligible...

S&P Bumps Up Wyoming to AA-Plus From AA;.
July 1, 2008... Byline: RICH SASKAL SAN FRANCISCO - Standard & Poor's yesterday upgraded the issuer credit rating on Wyoming to AA-plus from AA. The outlook is stable. "We believe that Wyoming's revenue growth will continue due to high energy prices...

Clarification;.(Correction notice)
July 1, 2008... Yesterday's Deal in Focus story about the District of Columbia's upcoming general obligation bond sale neglected to include MacKenzie & Associates as being among the deal's underwriters counsel.

Midwest Bond-Watch;.(Midwest)
July 2, 2008... Byline: YVETTE SHIELDS, CAITLIN DEVITT ILLINOIS Budget Delay Redux For the second year in a row, Illinois entered a new fiscal year without a formal budget in place, as Gov. Rod Blagojevich has yet to act on the $59 billion...

D.C. Council Gives Initial OK to Income Tax Bond Bill;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: LYNNE FUNK WASHINGTON - The District of Columbia is one step closer to having the authority to issue income tax bonds after the District Council yesterday gave preliminary approval through a first reading of a bill that would grant...

California Program Sparks Site Commitment by Electric Car Maker;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: RICH SASKAL SAN FRANCISCO - A new financing program developed by the California state treasurer's office was the key to this week's announcement by electric car developer Tesla Motors Inc. that it will build its next vehicle in...

Harris County, Tex., to Sell $395M Of Tax Anticipation Notes Next Week;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: RICHARD WILLIAMSON DALLAS - Harris County, which includes Houston, will competitively price $395 million of tax anticipation notes next week to cover cash-flow needs in the upcoming fiscal year. Texas' most populous county is...

Report: Illinois Port District Should Be Handed Over to Chicago;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: YVETTE SHIELDS CHICAGO - The Illinois International Port District should be dissolved and its operations handed over to Chicago because it has failed to promote maritime commerce and shipping activities and instead is focused on...

Economic Outlook: Economists See Jobs Decline Ahead of Employment Data;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: PATRICK TEMPLE-WEST Housing sector declines and rising energy prices will likely offset any benefits from tax rebates as the economy braces for its sixth consecutive decline in employment when the Labor Department releases monthly...

Bid-Rigging Probe: Two More JPMorgan Officials Cited in Justice Department Investigation;.(Washington)
July 2, 2008... Byline: ANDREW ACKERMAN WASHINGTON - At least two more former JPMorgan Chase & Co. officials are facing allegations in a Justice Department criminal investigation of anti-competitive practices in municipal market derivatives and...

S&P Upgrades Louisiana GOs to A-Plus, Appropriation Debt to A;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: JIM WATTS DALLAS -Standard & Poor's raised its ratings on Louisiana's state debt Tuesday, moving the state's general obligation to A-plus from A, and to A from A-minus for the state's appropriations-backed debt. The increases...

Munis Firm Three to Five Basis Points;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: MICHAEL SCARCHILLI & JACK HERMAN The municipal market was firmer by three to five basis points yesterday. "The market is pretty firm," a trader in Chicago said. "There's quite a bit of interest. It seems like it's tougher to...

Construction Spending Off 0.4% to $1.085 Tril.(News in Brief)
July 2, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel Spending on construction projects fell 0.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.085 trillion in May as private construction decreased 0.7%, and public construction rose 0.4%, according to Commerce Department...

ISM Index at 50.2 in June From 49.6 in May.(News in Brief)
July 2, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The overall economy grew for the 80th straight month, while the manufacturing sector expanded after four months of contraction, the Institute for Supply Management reported yesterday. According to the ISM's...

Fed TAFs Go At 2.340% Stop-Out Rate.(News in Brief)
July 2, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Federal Reserve yesterday announced the results of its term auction facility, selling $75 billion of 28-day credits at a 2.340% stop-out rate, the lowest rate at which the offering amount clears, which is the...

Treasury Year Bills Go At 2.295% Highs.(News in Brief)
July 2, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Treasury Department yesterday auctioned $17 billion of one-year bills at a 2.295% high yield, a price of 97.679500. The coupon equivalent was 2.368%. The bid-to-cover ratio was 2.54. Tenders at the high rate...

Treasury 4-Weeks Go At 1.850% High Yield.(News in Brief)
July 2, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Treasury Department yesterday auctioned $27 billion of four-week bills at a 1.850% high yield, a price of 99.856111. The coupon equivalent was 1.878%. The bid-to-cover ratio was 2.73. Tenders at the high rate...

Puerto Rico Legislature OKs $9.5B '09 Budget;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: MICHELLE KASKE Puerto Rico's Legislature late Monday evening passed a $9.48 billion fiscal 2009 budget that includes the creation of a new fund for direct investment - a plan that could bring in $575 million of funds to help fill a...

Bond Insurance: Regulators Eye New Rules as Market Deals With Credit Crisis;.
July 2, 2008... Byline: JACK HERMAN Regulators may propose a number of new rules for bond insurers - such as substantially raising capital requirements and limiting the guarantees of credit default swaps - as market participants continue to deal with the...

It's Never Dull in Detroit; In Switch, Council OKs Mayor's Bridge Sale.
July 2, 2008... Byline: CAITLIN DEVITT CHICAGO - When a lightning strike shut down Detroit's City Hall last Friday, at least one City Council member brought up the Old Testament. The biblical reference reflected the political, legal, and fiscal...

Stock Exchange Halts Trading on Ambac, Radian Group as Shares Fall Below $1.05;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: JACK HERMAN The New York Stock Exchange halted trading on both Ambac Financial Group Inc. and Radian Group Inc. under its "sub-penny" rules yesterday after shares of both insurers fell below $1.05. The exchange stops trading on...

Arkansas AG Says Bonds for Energy Savings Are Constitutionally Suspect;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: JIM WATTS DALLAS - An Arkansas law that authorizes local governments to finance energy-saving improvements at public facilities with revenue bonds supported by the utility cost savings seems to violate the state constitution, said...

Southeast Bond-Watch;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: Shelly Sigo, Tedra DeSue ALABAMA Riley Eyes VW Session Gov. Bob Riley is considering calling a special session of the Legislature in late July if Volkswagen selects a location in Alabama to build a $1 billion vehicle...

Fitch Revises Cook County, Ill., Outlook to Negative;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: CAITLIN DEVITT CHICAGO - Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook to negative from stable on Cook County, Ill.'s AA general obligation credit as the county prepares to go to market with $150 million of notes for the first time under...

Correction;.(Correction notice)
July 3, 2008... Tuesday's lead story about first-half municipal bond volume included an incorrect figure. Issuance fell 4.1% to $221.7 billion from $231.3 billion in last year's first half, according to preliminary data from Thomson Reuters.

Arlington to Refinance ARS From Cowboy Deal;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: RICHARD WILLIAMSON DALLAS - Arlington, Tex., will refinance $153 million of auction-rate securities issued in 2005 as part of a three-tranche deal for the Dallas Cowboys stadium after interest rates spiked in the wake of bond...

Fresno to Sell $161M of Sewer Bonds, Exit VRDO Market;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: ANDREW WARD SAN FRANCISCO - Fresno, Calif., next week plans to sell $161.2 million of subordinate sewer revenue bonds, including a $74 million refunding that will get it out of the variable-rate bond market for now. ...

Illinois Gov. Calls Special Session; Eyes $850M in Cuts From Budget Plan.
July 3, 2008... Byline: YVETTE SHIELDS CHICAGO - Two days into a new fiscal year without a budget in place, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich yesterday announced a two-day special session of the General Assembly for next week aimed at winning passage of...

In Illinois, One Hospital Gets OK for Replacement, Another Is Postponed;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: YVETTE SHIELDS CHICAGO - Joliet, Ill.-based Silver Cross Hospital and Medical Centerwon state regulatory approval this week to build a nearly $400 million replacement hospital a few miles from its current location while...

Yields: Most Weekly Indexes Decline as Tax-Exempts Finish Firmer;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: MICHAEL SCARCHILLI Nearly all The Bond Buyer's weekly yield indexes declined this week, as tax-exempts finished firmer in each of the week's sessions. "Monday was the last day of the quarter, and we did see a bit of buying...

Atlanta's Jackson Securities Shuffles Management;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: Tedra DeSue ATLANTA - Jackson Securities, a business unit of Atlanta Life Financial Group, announced several management changes earlier this week. The Atlanta-based company named Reuben McDaniel3d as chief executive officer. He...

Moody's, Following Standard & Poor's, Raises Louisiana's GO Rating;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: JIM WATTS DALLAS - Louisiana saw its second bond rating upgrade in two days yesterday as Moody's Investors Service raised the state's general obligation rating to A1 from A2. Appropriations-backed debt was raised to A2 from A3. ...

Regulation: SIFMA Backs MSRB's VRDO Information Proposal;.(Washington)
July 3, 2008... Byline: ANDREW ACKERMAN The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association said in a comment letter this week that it supports a proposal by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board to develop a centralized system for the...

Munis Firmer But Quiet in Summer Lull;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: MICHAEL SCARCHILLI & JACK HERMAN The municipal market was firmer by about three basis points yesterday, in light to moderate trading. "The market is a touch firmer, but it's very quiet," a trader in New York said. "You have...

Fed's Lockhart Sees Recovery Starting in '09.(News in Brief)
July 3, 2008... Byline: Market News International WASHINGTON - Atlanta Federal Reserve president Dennis Lockhart Tuesday night said he is changing his previous forecast to see recovery happening later than the second half of the year, a time which will...

Factory Orders Rise 0.6%; Ex-Transportation Up 0.4%.(News in Brief)
July 3, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel New factory orders for manufactured goods jumped 0.6% in May, the Commerce Department said yesterday. The factory order increase, to $448.680 billion, matched the 0.6% increase projected by IFR Markets and came...

Crowded Columbus Ballot to Include at Least Seven Bond Questions;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: CAITLIN DEVITT CHICAGO - Voters could face a crowded ballot this November in Columbus where city and school officials are putting at least seven new bond proposals on the ticket, including a $1.66 billion package that marks the...

Pennsylvania Eyes Passage of $28B Budget With $3B of GOs, Debt;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: MICHELLE KASKE Pennsylvania lawmakers anticipate they will pass a $28 billion fiscal 2009 budget today along with a plan to borrow nearly $3 billion of general obligation and appropriation debt to support capital projects...

State and Local Finance: 1Q Losses in State Tax Revenue Could Spark Budget Cuts;.
July 3, 2008... Byline: LYNNE FUNK State tax revenues weakened during the first quarter of the year and could lead to fiscal 2009 budget cuts in the coming months, according to a report released this week by the Rockefeller Institute that joins a group of...

N. Orleans Project Eyes State Aid; Legislative Support Needed for Hospital.
July 3, 2008... Byline: JIM WATTS DALLAS - A revised business plan for a proposed new medical center in New Orleans supports construction of the $1.2 billion facility, but indicates that the Louisiana Legislature will have to provide financial support to...

Ambac Eyes Infusion for Connie Lee; Expects Regulators To OK $850 Million.
July 8, 2008... Byline: DAKIN CAMPBELL Ambac Financial Group Inc. expects to soon receive approval from regulators to capitalize its bond insurance subsidiary, Connie Lee Insurance Co., with $850 million in new capital. The new capital will be used to...

Southwest Bond-Watch;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: JIM WATTS ARKANSAS '08 Surplus Beats Forecast Arkansas ended its fiscal year last week with a surplus of $176.5 million, or about $81.7 million higher than the state Department of Finance and Administration predicted in...

Poll Finds Dim View of Rating Agencies;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: JACK HERMAN Even as rating agencies attempt to improve their image, an industry group of investment professionals said they need to take further steps to ensure the credibility of their work. The comments followed a poll by the...

Correction;.(Correction notice)
July 8, 2008... Yesterday's story about West Linn, Ore., included incorrect rating information. Moody's Investors Service never revoked its rating of West Linn. It placed the city on negative watch in May 2006 after the city's former finance director was...

Longview, Tex., ISD to Hit Market With Half Of $267M Package Passed in Close May Vote;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: JASON PHILYAW DALLAS - The Longview, Tex., Independent School District is coming to market Thursday with the first sale from a $267 million bond package narrowly approved in May. The largest bond referendum in district history...

House Committee to Vote on Credit Rating Reform Bill;.(Washington)
July 8, 2008... Byline: ANDREW ACKERMAN The House Financial Services Committee has tentatively scheduled a vote for July 15 on a bill that would require credit rating agencies to rate municipal, corporate, and other securities in the same manner and based...

MetPier Falling Short; Deficit May Trigger Sales Tax Backup.
July 8, 2008... Byline: YVETTE SHIELDS CHICAGO - The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority in Chicago is still reviewing tax collection figures for fiscal 2008, which ended last week, but officials expect revenues may have fallen short of what was...

Texas Conservator Hopes to Fix Things Up at Lancaster ISD;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: JASON PHILYAW DALLAS - A state-appointed conservator plans to meet with Lancaster Independent School District officials this week to try and rebuild the finances and hopefully enhance the public perception of the beleaguered...

Munis Firmer as Players Get Back to Work;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: Michael Scarchilli & Jack Herman The municipal market was slightly firmer yesterday, as market participants eased their way back from the three-day holiday weekend. "It's been a quiet day, but the market is noticeably firmer,"...

North Carolina State Univ. to Get $66 Million From Variable-Rate Deal;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: TEDRA DESUE ATLANTA - About $66 million of variable-rate revenue bonds will be sold tomorrow for North Carolina State University at Raleigh as it works to fund new projects and refinance outstanding debt. Moody's Investors...

Fed Nearing 'Crossroads' On Monetary Policy: Yellen.(News in Brief)
July 8, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Federal Reserve is "approaching a crossroads" on monetary policy and needs to "carefully" monitor developments and be ready "to act as needed to fulfill our mandate for sustainable economic growth and price...

Job Losses to Continue, Sharpen: Conference Board.(News in Brief)
July 8, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel Job losses will continue in the coming months, according to the Conference Board, based on a decline in its employment trends index. "Most leading indicators of employment point to an even sharper deterioration...

Weekly T-Bills Go At 1.865%, 2.060% Highs.(News in Brief)
July 8, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were lower yesterday, as the three-months incurred a 1.865% high rate, down from 1.900% the prior week, and the six-months incurred...

Treasury to Sell $8B of 10-Year TIPs Thursday.(News in Brief)
July 8, 2008... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Treasury Department yesterday said it will sell $8 billion of 10-year inflation-indexed bonds on July 10, $28 billion of four-week discount bills today, and $6 billion of seven-day cash management bills today.

Oklahoma's Integris Health Selling $223M, Mostly to Cut VRDBs;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: JIM WATTS DALLAS - Integris Health will reduce its level of variable-rate demand debt with next week's negotiated sale of $222.7 million of fixed-rate hospital system revenue and refunding bonds by Oklahoma Development Finance...

Pennsylvania to Issue $1.2B in '09 For Transportation, Infrastructure;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: MICHELLE KASKE Pennsylvania will issue roughly $1.2 billion of general obligation and state appropriation debt in fiscal 2009 after Gov. Edward Rendell signed off on nearly $3 billion of borrowing to be issued over the next three...

Puerto Rico HFA Gets S&P AA-Minus for $322M Deal;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: MICHELLE KASKE The Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority snagged a AA-minus rating from Standard & Poor's for its upcoming $322 million revenue bond sale. JPMorgan will price the 2008 capital fund securitization revenue bonds...

RBC Boosts Housing Business With 5 Ex-UBS Bankers;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: DAKIN CAMPBELL RBC Capital Markets has hired five single-family housing bankers formerly employed by UBS Securities LLC, expanding its housing business less than a month after it took a similar opportunity to expand its health care...

SEC, Fed Memo Outlines Plan to Boost Coordination;.(Washington)
July 8, 2008... Byline: ANDREW ACKERMAN The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve will exchange more information and cooperate across a number of sectors under a memorandum of understanding that the heads of the two agencies signed...

Wells Fargo Taps UBS to Double Texas Muni Team;.
July 8, 2008... Byline: RICHARD WILLIAMSON DALLAS - Wells Fargo & Co. is more than doubling the size of its Texas public finance team with the recruitment of five investment bankers from UBS AG, which has closed its municipal bond practice. The new...

Moody's Goes Negative on Airlines, Citing Skyrocketing Fuel and Other Costs.
July 9, 2008... Byline: AUDREY DUTTON U.S. airlines will face an uphill battle to survive during the next 12 to 18 months in the face of rising fuel and other costs, Moody's Investors Service said in a report released last week assigning a negative...

Midwest Bond-Watch.(Midwest)
July 9, 2008... Byline: Reach Yvette at 773-282-9106 or on cell...773-368-4691.... ILLINOIS New Outlook for Hospital Standard & Poor's last week revised the outlook to stable from negative on Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers' BBB-plus...

Californians to Vote on $900 Million Of Mortgage Bonds for Veterans.
July 9, 2008... Byline: RICH SASKAL SAN FRANCISCO - California lawmakers sent the state's voters another bond measure this week, giving unanimous approval to a ballot measure to authorize $900 million of veterans' mortgage bonds. The bill was approved...

Citi Cuts Several From Public Finance Staff.
July 9, 2008... Byline: DAKIN CAMPBELL & JACK HERMAN Citi, the perennially top- ranked senior manager, has over the last several weeks fired or asked to leave about 20 employees in the public finance department, including nine bankers, in a move to...

Correction.(Correction notice)
July 9, 2008... Yesterday's story about Pennsylvania's $3 billion borrowing plan included an incorrect amount for the state's outstanding debt. Pennsylvania has $8.2 billion of outstanding general obligation debt and $1.2 billion of outstanding lease- and...

Illinois Finance Authority OKs $500M Of Debt for Health Care Facilities.
July 9, 2008... Byline: YVETTE SHIELDS CHICAGO - The Illinois Finance Authority board yesterday advanced borrowing plans totaling $500 million for health care facilities in the state, including up to $350 million for Northwest Community Hospital to...

Siebert Brandford Shank Expands Its Muni Unit to Go After New Business.
July 9, 2008... Byline: DAKIN CAMPBELL Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. has hired three managing directors in its municipal sales and trading department, expanding the unit when other firms are cutting back, and bringing the total number of professionals to...

Jefferson Co. Fires Merrill, Two Others; Says Firms Produced 'Unacceptable' Plan.
July 9, 2008... Byline: SHELLY SIGO BRADENTON, Fla. - Jefferson County, Ala., commissioners yesterday fired top negotiators working on the county's $3.2 billion sewer debt crisis, including Merrill Lynch & Co. The county had hired Merrill just over a...