Far West

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fined a firm $37,500 for trade and books and records violations, and a broker $5,000, giving him a four-month suspension, for telling a customer he redeemed bonds rather than sold them without the customer's permission.

The Internal Revenue Service is requesting public comment on existing rules governing when tax-exempt bond proceeds used for reimbursement of expenditures.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has published an introductory guide to its Electronic Municipal Market Access, or EMMA, website for state and local issuers of municipal bonds.

The California Health Facilities Financing Authority approved on Tuesday the sale of $1.9 billion of bonds to help Kaiser Foundation build six new hospitals, expand a current one, and construct a specialty medical office.

The Council of Development Finance Agencies and the California Association for Local Economic Development said in a statement Thursday the goal of the new group will be to bring new resources, tools and partners to help grow local economic development in the state.

Despite his entitlement reform proposals intended to serve as a bargaining chip with Republicans, President Obama's 2014 budget is dead on arrival primarily due to a provision to raise $580 billion in new tax revenues as made clear during two key congressional hearings Thursday.

The beleaguered Orange County Transportation Authority garnered another round of criticism recently — this time from a San Francisco nonprofit recommending that the tollway agency postpone an extension to its toll road until state authorities can review the operation.

Democrats in the Oregon Senate have proposed a bill has been proposed by that would reform the state's public employees pension system.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell elected in November 2012 has announced his nominations for budget director and deputy director.

All 42 voters in Vernon, Calif. turned out to support an election to decide three tax measures city leaders say is needed to close an $8 million budget gap, according to a Los Angeles Times report.