Far West

Hawaii's $844 million budget surplus for fiscal 2013 means the state has entered a new phase, said Gov. Neil Abercrombie in his state of the state address.

The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank plans to price $97 million combined refunding/new money on Jan. 23 as part of its plans to ramp up lending.

Gov. Jerry Brown laid out his priorities for California in his State of the State Address on Wednesday.

Municipal bankruptcy expert James Spiotto is proposing the idea of public pension authorities to resolve pension issues.

Most California water agencies are well-positioned to withstand a typical drought, but a more severe, or longer-than-usual drought, could put pressure on ratings, according to rating agencies.

With a better Fitch outlook, Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois will take bids on $106 million of general obligation bonds with officials hoping to benefit from an improving market for Illinois paper.

ABAG Finance Authority is selling $168 million of recently upgraded revenue bonds next week for a healthcare system in San Diego County.

Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget is a credit positive for California's school and community college districts, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Despite California Gov. Jerry Brown's efforts to reduce prison overcrowding, a favorable ruling from a U.S. District Court three-judge panel that would lift court oversight of the state's prisons has remained elusive.

Moody's Investors Service has placed 256 local government general obligation ratings on review, some for upgrade and some for downgrade, after updating the methodology it uses to evaluate those bonds.