Far West

A federal appeals court ruling struck a blow to a financing program for energy efficiency and water conservation projects on homes when it upheld a decision last week by the Federal Housing Finance Administration prohibiting participation by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $529.1 million of education loan revenue bonds issued by the Alaska Student Loan Corporation from 2003 through 2012.

California Controller John Chiang said Thursday that San Jose's redevelopment agency improperly transferred $148 million of assets, including the potential site of an Oakland Athletics ballpark.

Standard & Poor's announced Thursday evening it has upgraded the District of Columbia's general obligation bonds to AA- from A+.

One of the options presented by the Senate Finance Committee to simplify the tax code is to repeal the alternative minimum tax, which is applied to private activity bonds and increases their borrowing costs.

A Los Angeles County jury deliberated 18 days before finding five of six former Bell officials guilty on charges of mismanaging funds and collecting exorbitant salaries.

Attorneys say resolution may be near for the Ritter Ranch community facilities district in Palmdale, Calif. after 23 years of trouble, including bankruptcies of the developer and Lehman Brothers.

Fewer than half of likely California voters favor current plans for construction of a bullet train system or support an $11 billion water bond slated for the 2014 ballot, according to a public opinion poll.

A U.S. Senate panel gave its stamp of approval this week to legislation that would create a federal loan and loan guarantee program for water infrastructure that could augment bond financing and public private partnerships.

Fitch affirmed its AA rating and negative outlook to Las Vegas limited tax general obligation bonds impacting $348 million in outstanding debt.