Tonya Chin

If bankrupt Stockton and San Bernardino, Calif. fail to modify their pension liabilities, they could end up like Vallejo, which did not change those liabilities and now risks of a second bankruptcy, said Moody's.

Standard & Poor's has downgraded the ratings on Northern Inyo Local County Hospital District's revenue bonds to junk.

California's drought emergency has heightened the need for financial aid, as the state and federal government pledge to send funds to communities in need.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill that would allow infrastructure finance districts to include previous redevelopment project areas.

The California Housing Finance Agency showed it's possible to buy time, and not just kick the can down the road, when faced with significant financial challenges, according to a Municipal Market Advisors report.

Washington voters failed to approve the majority of school bonds on the state's special election ballot, but some lawmakers are working to lower the voter approval threshold.

The Oregon's State Debt Policy Advisory Commission said the state can issue up to $215 million in additional debt through fiscal 2015 without going over the recommended debt capacity, but urges prudence.

California revenue for the month of January was down from last year, but beat estimates in the state budget.

California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow a water district on the central coast issue water rate relief bonds to help fund its Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project.

Many California lawmakers agree that the drought-stricken state needs a new water bond measure, but have different ideas regarding the funding amount and allocations.

Fitch Ratings downgraded more than $7 billion of general revenue bonds issued by the University of California to AA from AA-plus.

California's income tax collections were mostly on target for the month of January, according to a report from the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Washington state representative Hans Zeiger has introduced a bipartisan proposal to pilot social impact bonds in the state starting in 2016.

Public finance attorney Bryan Victor, who has worked on a number of transactions for California, has been named partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

Municipal bond volume in January dropped 33% from last year to $18 billion in 587 issues, according to Thomson Reuters data.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and other proponents of the Pension Reform Act of 2014 say they will legally challenge Attorney General Kamala Harris's ballot summary language, likely delaying the measure.

Muni finance veteran Catherine Bando has been appointed as executive director of the California Statewide Communities Development Authority.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says the state legislature must take action next month to move forward with the Columbia River bridge replacement project or it will die in March.

The city of Stockton, Calif. now has a new city manager, Kurt Wilson, to help guide it through the remainder of its bankruptcy process.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the issuer rating on Fresno, Calif. to Baa1, and about $300 million of related debt a notch further into junk territory.