Rich Saskal

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Seeing an environment favorable to smaller firms, San Francisco-based Nollenberger Capital Partners Inc. last week announced the hiring of two California municipal market veterans in what the firm described as a “re-launch” of its public finance unit.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — California’s plans for a bond-financed high-speed passenger train system are in critics’ crosshairs following the release last week of a critical report by the state ­auditor.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — California Treasurer Bill Lockyer has sent another round of questions to six large investment banks about their involvement in credit default swaps linked to California bonds.

Gov. Chris Gregoire Tuesday signed Washington’s supplemental budget, which used a mix of tax hikes and program cuts to close a $2.8 billion deficit.

Idaho’s Division of Financial Management reported Monday that preliminary April tax revenue came in $55.5 million lower than expected.

State policymakers cannot easily monitor local redevelopment agencies’ performance in meeting low-income housing mandates because of inadequate data collection, according to a report released Tuesday by the California Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes.

California’s April income tax receipts were disappointing.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — KeyBanc Capital Markets announced this week that it has hired the father-son team of John Urbina and Geoff Urbina to open a new Seattle office for the firm.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — A Superior Court judge in California Tuesday upheld the state government’s shift of $2.05 billion away from local redevelopment agencies to help balance the budget.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Hawaii lawmakers closed out their session this week, but not before taking a series of controversial actions to balance a $10.2 billion budget that has been hammered by the recession.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The tight supply situation in the primary tax-exempt bond market will get a $2 billion boost from one issuer next week when the California Department of Water Resources prices power supply revenue bonds.

The Tualatin City Council voted Monday to give up on plans to extend the city’s Central Urban Renewal District, according to a report in the Oregonian newspaper.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed Steven Spears to be executive director of the California Housing Finance Agency. Spears has served as acting executive director since late 2008, as the agency has navigated through the nation’s credit crunch and the state’s downward real estate market.

With the help of state bond money, a chunk of land around the famous Hollywood sign will be preserved as open space, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Monday.

After a more than five-month hiatus, California has a lieutenant governor again, but that may mean even more trouble than usual in getting a budget passed.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Idaho is a state of few Build America Bond deals and few competitive bond offerings.

SAN FRANCISCO — A disagreement between Los Angeles Mayor Antonio ­Villaraigosa and City Council members over the size of an electric rate increase at the city utility turned into a standoff last week — meaning there will be no rate increase at all for now.

SAN FRANCISCO — Idaho lawmakers adjourned this week after a session dominated by budget woes, while giving voters the chance to restore the ability of government-owned airports and hospitals to issue revenue bonds without a ­referendum.

SAN FRANCISCO — After California granted a franchise to build a private toll highway in San Diego County, it took almost 17 years before the 10-mile road opened to the public.

SAN FRANCISCO — State Treasurer Bill Lockyer Monday sent letters to six major underwriters of California bonds, asking them to provide his office with information about their activities in the credit-default swaps market.