Even without the state's involvement, Tennessee-based bond issuers posted the Southeast's strongest growth in the first half of this year, bringing to market almost $5 billion in debt.

Community Health Systems (Ticker: CYH) has inked a national hospitalist deal with Colorado-based Emergency Medical Services. The contract also covers anesthesiology and radiology services.

Three Advocat insiders – under fire earlier this year for not having enough skin in the game – added to their holdings Tuesday, spending a combined $73,000 on shares of the nursing home operator. (Ticker: AVCA)

Robert W. Baird has started covering several local healthcare companies, saying CHS and Psychiatric Solutions (Ticker: PSYS) should outperform. 

Young Broadcasting (Ticker: YBTVA), the parent of News 2 in Nashville, saw revenue fall 7 percent and its San Francisco station account for the majority of a $153 million loss, but its CEO says advertising will bounce back soon.