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.
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As much as $3 billion of Oklahoma utility debt related to 2021's Winter Storm Uri will begin hitting the market as early as July after winning state court approval.
May 31 -
Rising home values are putting the spotlight on property taxes in Texas, where state lawmakers are eying tax relief options even as previously approved measures slow the growth in tax bills.
May 26 -
A nonprofit Texas-based retirement community operator filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday to deal with its troubled debt and sell its assets.
May 24 -
Elected officials in Republican-dominated states say S&P Global Ratings, by introducing ESG analysis, is politicizing the ratings process or even possibly acting illegally.
May 23 -
While the report offers many positives for states, headwinds loom, according to investment management firm Conning.
May 19 -
A spike in POB issuance last year that was spurred by low interest rates, roaring stock markets, and other factors is likely to wane.
May 16 -
The recent Texas law led the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to drop three underwriters from a recent deal late in the process.
May 10 -
San Antonio and Fort Worth voters approved bonds, while a few school districts stumbled, particularly with projects unrelated to academics.
May 10 -
April revenue collections set records in Southwest states as a strong economy and inflation boosted income and sales tax collections, although some officials are urging caution.
May 9 -
The Texas Natural Gas Securitization Finance Corporation picked a team of underwriters to sell debt for utilities hit hard during 2021’s Winter Storm Uri.
May 6 -
The high court validated about $800 million of ratepayer-backed bonds to finance the recovery of fuel costs incurred by Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E) during the February 2021 storm.
May 5 -
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority received state approval on Wednesday for a $200 million revolving line of credit to jumpstart its $5 billion expansion program, but will not be able to spend a portion of the money unless a lawsuit is resolved in its favor.
May 4 -
Opposition to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s $5 billion, bond-financed improvement and expansion project is heating up with a lawsuit seeking to block it filed ahead of a meeting to consider initial financing.
May 3 -
Texas ballots are bursting with $18.5 billion of bonds Saturday as cities and school districts ask voters to approve 207 bond measures.
May 2 -
Several firms' ability to underwrite municipal bond issues in Texas is under review.
April 28 -
Oklahoma is poised to follow in the footsteps of Texas by barring banks from municipal bond deals if deemed to be against firearms and fossil fuel industries.
April 27 -
Crews & Associates, a top underwriter in Arkansas, eyes move into addirional states.
April 26 -
After a four-year absence, Utah’s Intermountain Power Agency returns to the municipal market with nearly $552 million of power supply revenue bonds.
April 25 -
Utah’s top elected officials demanded that S&P Global Ratings cease applying ESG factors to the state through the use of what they called a politicized rating system based on indeterminate factors.
April 22 -
Phoenix’s ratings were affirmed and its general obligation bond outlook was raised to stable from negative by Moody's.
April 20
