Far West

Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings have downgraded a health care system with hospitals in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, ahead of its $108 million refunding deal.

Sales of municipal bonds in the Far West bucked the national trend in 2013 by rising from 2012, as new money swapped with refundings as the market driver in the region.

The Los Angeles economy is improving, but the city still anticipates a $242 million deficit for fiscal 2014-15, according to presentations made at the city's investor conference held Wednesday at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

At the request of a healthcare workers union, California Treasurer Bill Lockyer has asked the state's debt commission to study the disclosures non-profit hospitals make to the bond market.

The Southern California Public Power Authority is planning to finance its acquisition of a Nevada natural-gas power plant with a $322 million sale of revenue bonds.

California's Department of Water Resources sold $162 million of water revenue bonds on Tuesday to finance construction and to refund outstanding debt.

The California Legislature has another water bond proposal to consider as more lawmakers proposed a $7.9 billion water bond to replace the $11 billion water bond set to go before voters in November.

Land isn't the only thing drying up in California, as the drought's economic impacts are dangerously closing in on the state's financial resources.

The first segment of a new $5.7 billion rail line extension of the Washington Metrorail system to Dulles International Airport needs more work before it can handle passengers, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said Monday.