Far West

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.

Appeals are likely after a Superior Court judge ruled last week that a San Diego hotel room tax to finance the $520 million planned expansion of San Diego¹s convention center is legal.

Stockton and its bond market creditors will battle over whether the city should be allowed to enter bankruptcy protection during a four-day trial next week.

Congress passed a short-term funding measure Thursday to keep the federal government operating and avoid a shutdown next week.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority authorized the eventual sale of $8.6 billion of bonds to fund the first stage of a 500-mile bullet train system.

Bell, the working class Los Angeles-area city that achieved national notoriety in 2010 for the outrageous salaries of city leaders, recently scored high marks for transparency.

Four firms agreed to pay $105,000 in fines for violations of pricing, political contribution, supervisory and other rules of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.

California Treasurer Bill Lockyer sent a letter Monday to state Attorney General Kamala Harris asking if it is legal for bond underwriters to provide election services to school districts.

California's revenues in February came in $322 million below projections in Gov. Jerry Brown¹s budget after rising around $5 billion a month earlier, according to the Department of Finance.