Karen is a senior reporter covering the Southwest. She has covered the municipal bond market for more than 30 years at The Bond Buyer and Reuters. Prior to that she wrote about futures and options markets for magazines and was an award-winning reporter for a suburban Chicago newspaper chain.
-
While the city projects a water emergency, capital costs in the state's latest water plan skyrocket and demand exceeds capacity in a state financing program.
June 9 -
The rating agency gave the city a negative outlook in November 2024, following voter approval of a ballot measure requiring more public safety funding.
June 5 -
A federal appeals court panel stayed a lower court decision that found the 2021 state law to be unconstitutional.
June 4 -
The revenue bonds would continue financing for a 15-year, $8.2 billion program to widen existing toll roads and build new ones.
June 4 -
S&P lifted Graham's general obligation bond and certificates of obligation rating to A from BBB due to the city's earlier-than-projected financial turnaround.
June 3 -
A convention center, a wastewater treatment plant expansion, and a light rail system are among projects in the city that include bond financing.
June 2 -
Water supply woes continue to weigh on the Texas city's bond ratings, which have been hit with multi-notch downgrades and negative outlooks.
June 2 -
Affirmation of Otero County's ratings comes as a state law threatens bonds it sold for a detention facility used by federal immigration enforcement.
May 26 -
Actions this legislative session include a ballot measure to tighten caps on property assessment growth and allowing bond issuance for charter schools.
May 26 -
The Texas city's projected Level 1 emergency — indicating water supply is 180 days from not meeting demand — was moved to December from September.
May 20 -
The $762.4 million revenue bond deal will help finance a 750,000-square-foot arena to be named the Continental Coliseum, where the NBA's Thunder will play.
May 19 -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's ongoing audit compliance probe led to more than 130 cities being prohibited from raising their property tax rates.
May 14 -
Among the reasons S&P cited for the upgrades are "very high activity levels and long history of favorable enplanement trends."
May 13 -
The Texas city, which has been hit with rating downgrades due to a looming water supply crisis, plans to sell up to $728 million of bonds.
May 12 -
The constitutionality of a state law that threatens outstanding bonds issued for a detention facility is being challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice.
May 12 -
The mayor's plan to balance the fiscal 2027 budget relies heavily on proposed revenue-raising moves involving the combined utility system enterprise fund.
May 12 -
The rating agency cited an improving governance profile, which incorporates a trend of budgetary reserve fund maintenance and increasing pension contributions.
May 7 -
McKinney, Texas, is fighting a challenge to a refunding of sales tax-backed bonds sold for a commercial airline service project at its general aviation airport.
May 5 -
The drought-stricken Texas city's utility system rating was cut two notches to A, marking a continued downward trend in its credit quality.
May 5 -
Months after the state cracked down on cities' tardy annual financial audits, adherence to a statutory filing deadline is improving with fiscal 2025 reports.
May 5
