Far West

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Allen Park, Mich., and two former city leaders with fraud in connection with a municipal bond offering to support a movie studio project within the city.

California Gov. Jerry Brown easily won re-election while persuading voters to approve two ballot measures with municipal market implications.

Incumbent Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval led a sweep of top state offices that resulted in Republicans taking control of the state Assembly and Senate.

Standard & Poor's upgraded California GO bonds to A-plus from A Wednesday, citing voter approval of a rainy-day-fund ballot measure.

San Bernardino voters decided the city should continue to determine police and firefighter pay by a charter formula that effectively ratchets up their pay.

Moody's Investors Service said the outcome of Stockton, Calif.'s bankruptcy confirmation hearing is a credit positive for the California Public Employees Retirement System since pension obligations were unimpaired.

Republicans won enough races in Tuesday's midterm elections to gain control of the Senate - the first time they've controlled both chambers in eight years. At least two Senators who have sponsored bills relating to bonds and state and local finance during the last two years lost their reelection bids.

Former Miami, Fla. budget director Michael Boudreaux is seeking a rehearing before a full federal court of appeals after a three-judge panel earlier this year denied his claim of immunity from a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit.

Tennessee has deferred $400 million of highway projects until 2016 because of concerns the Highway Trust Fund will be insolvent again in May.

U.S. President Barack Obama signed a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance on Nov. 3 to provide financial aid to the small Hawaii town of Pahoa threatened by a slow-moving lava flow.