Tonya Chin

Standard & Poor's has upgraded the Washington cities of Kent and Centralia to AA-minus ratings from A-plus.

Long-term municipal bond volume continued to trail last year’s pace as issuers sold 31.3% less in November than they did during the same period last year.

With an enhanced bond structure, Morgan Hill, Calif., was able to restructure its tax allocation bonds last week at relatively low credit spreads compared to other successor agencies.

The recent surplus forecast from the California Legislative Analyst's Office is a credit positive for the state, according to Moody's Investors Service.

California is benefiting from an economic rebound, but it must contain spending levels in order to continue its progress, according to a recent report from Fitch Ratings.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the rating on the Port of Seattle's intermediate and subordinate revenue bonds ahead of its $140 million refunding deal.

Without a labor contract extension, Boeing could pursue out-of-state production locations, which would be a credit negative for Washington State and the Puget Sound region, Moody's Investors Service said.

California's budgetary condition is stronger now than it has been in the past decade, according to a report released by the Legislative Analyst's office on Wednesday.

Stockton is poised to exit Chapter 9 bankruptcy in March 2014, but not without a fight with its last major creditor, Franklin Advisers, over $35 million of the city's lease revenue bonds.

Standard & Poor's upgraded the rating on California's economic recovery bonds to AA from A-plus, with a stable outlook.

During a hearing Monday, a U.S. bankruptcy judge set the trial date to hear Stockton, Calif.'s bankruptcy exit plan in March.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the rating on Lake Tahoe Unified School District's general obligation bonds to A1.

Morgan Hill, Calif., is implementing special tactics in its $88 million refunding sale of tax allocation bonds in order to make the redevelopment debt more attractive for investors.

During a board meeting Wednesday, the University of California's new president proposed a tuition freeze for the next academic year in order to keep costs affordable.

Moody's Investors Service has upgraded the rating on Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health System's revenue bonds based on improved finances.

The California State Public Works Board is leading the new issue calendar this week with a $625 million sale of lease revenue bonds scheduled for Thursday.

Stockton's vote to approve raising the sales tax is a credit positive for the city and for its bond insurers as it increases the likelihood that the bankruptcy exit plan will be approved, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Fresno, Calif.'s subordinate lien water revenue bonds to A-plus based on weakening finances.

The municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, received Standard & Poor's top rating based on improved finances and the agency's new local general obligation bond criteria.

The bankrupt city of Stockton, Calif., is planning to sell $55 million of water revenue bonds next week to convert its outstanding variable rate bonds to fixed-rate.