Far West

Tom Lockard has been appointed to head operations in California for a real estate start-up after a 30-year career at Stone & Youngberg.

The National Association of Bond Lawyers has renamed its Fundamentals of Municipal Bond Law Seminar scholarship program after the late Frederic "Rick" L. Ballard Jr.

In his last debt affordability report before he retires from public office, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer gives an update on California's financial position and debt issuance plans, including plans to issue $3.9 billion in new general fund supported debt in fiscal 2015.

San Bernardino experienced another setback in its bankruptcy when the police union's president announced that a breakdown has occurred in a tentative agreement with the city.

Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's say the recent ruling in Stockton, Calif.'s bankruptcy case does not have significant credit implications for Stockton and other distressed municipalities.

Moody's Investors Service revised the outlook on all of Fresno's ratings Tuesday signaling that the city's ratings could be upgraded in the next 12-14 months.

A judge's decision that bankrupt California local governments can impair pension obligations could open the door for pension negotiations but won't cause a rush to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, municipal bankruptcy attorneys say.

A memorial service for former D.C. Treasurer Lasana Mack will be held Friday morning.

Peter Chan, the architect of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation initiative, will join Morgan, Lewis & Bockius as a partner in the firm's Chicago office, it announced Thursday.

California's water utility sector is maintaining a strong credit profile, despite pressures from the state's ongoing drought, according to market participants.