Far West

California State Controller John Chiang updated his pay data website with new salary information for city and county officials.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fined five firms and three individuals for violations of municipal securities requirements, including Barclays Capital Inc., which was directed to pay $200,000 for using bond proceeds to reimburse itself for membership in a lobbying group.

U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee granted the California Public Employees' Retirement System leave to appeal to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals San Bernardino's eligibility to be in bankruptcy.

California Treasurer Bill Lockyer has joined Brown Rudnick LLP's government and law strategies team in Orange County in a part time job in addition to his duties as treasurer.

The California Public Employees' Retirement System held a conference call with media to emphasized its belief that a Detroit bankruptcy ruling that pensions are not in a special class above other creditors does not apply to California.

The Foothill-Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency achieved its stated goal of reducing debt payments by $975 million through 2040 with a $2.3 billion refinancing that priced late in the day on Dec. 12.

The democratic caucus of the California State Assembly has released a "budget blueprint" for next year that includes boosting higher education spending and creating a rainy day fund.

Additional guidance from the SEC should provide some clarity to how the proposed trading restrictions under its new municipal advisor registration rule apply to municipal issuers, a securities industry official said.

Robert Rizzo, former city manager of Bell, Calif., agreed on Thursday to plead guilty to federal charges of tax evasion.