Far West

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.

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.