Richard Williamson

The doubling of Oklahoma's revenue shortfall to $600 billion is “the latest data point in a credit-negative trend,” according to Moody's Investors Service.

The Texas State University System combined new money and refunding in a $314.8 million issue that drew attractive yields for the issuer.

Ten local governments in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale petroleum producing regions of Texas are particularly susceptible to a slump in oil prices, and Moody's Investors Service is reviewing them for downgrades.

A plan to divert up to $2.5 billion of vehicle sales tax revenue to highway projects gained momentum as a lobbying organization called Move Texas Forward joined forces with legislative leaders.

Standard & Poor's has assigned a positive outlook to Good Shepherd Medical Center’s BB-minus credit after the East Texas healthcare system restructured $88 million of debt and raised cash through asset sales.

Arkansas saw the largest drop in the percentage of uninsured in 2014, followed closely by Kentucky, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Taxes and royalties from the oil and gas industry in Texas are expected to fall in 2015 after hitting a record $15.7 billion in 2014.

In a review of key public finance sectors affected by falling oil prices, Moody's Investors Service analysts see an upside for transportation and those supported by consumer spending.

A Colorado district court struck down the city of Aurora's plan to provide $300 million of subsidies for a Gaylord resort hotel, saying it violated the Taxpayer Bill of Rights amendment to the state constitution.

Standard & Poor's placed Willacy County Local Government Corp. on its watch list for a possible downgrade of its BBB credit after rioting inmates damaged a privately operated prison financed with $78 million of bonds.

A lawmaker from one of Texas' most heavily tolled counties has introduced legislation that would end tolls when bonds are paid off.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport remains vulnerable to service reductions after the merger of its major carrier US Airways and American Airlines, according to Standard & Poor's. Otherwise, the outlook on the airport’s AA-minus rating is stable.

A privately operated federal detention center in Raymondville, Texas, financed by $78 million of bonds suffered severe damage as inmates began rioting Feb. 20 and will be vacated, officials said.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is moving ahead with plans to seek private investment in the redevelopment of a 12-mile stretch of Interstate 70 that would be the largest project in CDOT's history.

Forty-four state and local governments have failed to meet the deadline for their audits in fiscal year 2014, earning them a place on State Auditor Tim Keller's "At Risk" list.

Buoyed by a strong fourth-quarter finish, 2014 municipal bond issuance in the Southwest region was 15% higher than 2013 at $64.7 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Two Austin lawmakers are pushing bills that would allow increases in auto registration fees to finance road construction in Travis County.

Voters gave three Tulsa, Okla., area school districts authority to issue $487 million of bonds for school construction, including $340 million for the Broken Arrow district.

A bill that reduces Arizona's income tax revenue by $15.4 million in the next fiscal year won state Senate approval despite the state's anticipated $1 billion budget deficit.

A $35.4 million issue of revenue bonds for a private detention center in Central Texas will retain tax-exempt status following a review by the Internal Revenue Service, according to a disclosure notice.