Far West

Officials of Bell, Calif., the Los Angleles-area city where the former administration was jailed earlier this year for misappropriation of funds, said the tax-exempt status of $35 million in general obligation bonds that came under review by the Internal Revenue Service has been preserved.

Portland, Ore. is planning to sell $85 million of water revenue bonds to finance projects for its water system.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing bonds issued by the East Bay Municipal Utility District in 2003 and 2005.

If San Bernardino follows Stockton and Vallejo's example by impairing its bond creditors, it consolidates a pattern in California Chapter 9 cases in which pensions fare better than lease-backed and pension-obligated bondholders.

Following the failure of a local ballot measure to increase its sales tax rate, Marysville, Calif. was downgraded to Baa1 from A3 by Moody's Investors Service.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority will host a joint educational webinar on rule proposals that would require dealers acting as principals to disclose to customers on their confirmations a "reference price" of the same security traded that same day.

Loma Linda University Medical Center had its outlook lowered to negative by Fitch Ratings, which cited a higher-than-expected debt burden and a pressured financial profile.

A recent analysis conducted by the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission found that the state's water districts could afford to pay estimated debt service costs included in the Bay Area Delta Conservation Plan.

A judge gave the green light for Portland, Ore.'s Metro to issue bonds for a hotel project, but opponents say they will appeal the ruling.

Prince George's County, Md., signed 30-year P3 pact with Corvias for management of storm water runoff into Chesapeake Bay.