Richard Williamson

Baird, an employee-owned capital markets firm based in Milwaukee, has added five bankers to its public finance team and opened three new offices in Texas.

DALLAS — Moody’s Investors Service will keep the Aaa rating of Texas’ Alamo Community College District on negative outlook because of its exposure to a weakened U.S. credit profile, the agency said.

DALLAS — Taking advantage of high credit ratings, the Denver Board of Water Commissioners will refund $122 million of debt for savings while seeking new ways of serving a growing metro area.

DALLAS — Colorado will issue $625 million of special revenue bonds to replenish its unemployment compensation fund next week.

DALLAS — Houston’s decision to allow Southwest Airlines to open five new international gates at Hobby Airport in competition with United Airlines at Bush Intercontinental Airport is a credit positive for the Houston Airport System, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

DALLAS — Amid renewed attention to the growing border economy, two major bond issues from the El Paso, Texas, international crossroads region will provide funding for transportation, law enforcement and education.

DALLAS — Glendale, Ariz., would set aside $24 million for improvements to its $220 million Jobing.com arena under a lease to the proposed buyer of the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes.

DALLAS — U.S. electric utilities are expected to continue a shift toward natural gas and away from coal as new domestic supplies keep prices for the cleaner-burning fuel low, according to a report from Moody’s Investors Service.

DALLAS — The Houston Airport System expects to begin expansion of Hobby Airport next spring using debt backed by Southwest Airlines as the discount carrier begins offering international flights.

DALLAS — Glendale, Ariz., would pay nearly $325 million in management fees to the proposed buyer of the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team under a plan to protect the city's $180 million bond funded investment in the Jobing.com arena.

DALLAS — The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, which feeds suburban traffic to the Harris County toll system in the Houston area, is advance refunding $119 million of debt while continuing its expansion.

DALLAS — Jodie Jiles, who is retiring from RBC Capital Markets as managing director this month, discussed his 26-year career in the municipal bond industry via cell phone as he drove home from a friend’s funeral Friday.

DALLAS — Standard & Poor’s has placed the AAA-rated Irving, Texas, on CreditWatch for a possible downgrade as the Dallas suburb struggles to raise $170 million for an entertainment center adjoining its new convention center.

DALLAS — Moody's Investors Service has shifted the outlook on Dallas County's triple-A rating to stable from negative, citing surpluses in recent years and a low debt burden.

DALLAS — Development of the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas-producing region of South Texas will have a $20 billion impact that is likely to boost credits for cities, counties and school districts in the area, researchers say.

DALLAS — Austin taxpayers would be asked to back $275 million of general obligation bonds to get an urban rail system started under a proposal before the City Council.

San Antonio aims to get a jump on a busy week in the municipal bond market with a $650 million refunding for the city's CPS Energy Utility.

DALLAS — Austin risks a downgrade on its electric utility bonds if it fails to raise rates high enough, its financial advisor told the City Council last week.

DALLAS — An Austin bond committee that has recommended $575 million for the November ballot is providing an alternative that will leave room for an urban rail project long championed by re-elected Mayor Lee Leffingwell.

DALLAS — The Houston Independent School District is refunding $186.5 million of variable-rate debt in one of the largest school bond issues in Texas this year.