Far West

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board wants feedback from the public on the top regulatory and other priorities that it should address in its next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

Moody's Investors Service warned in a report Thursday that a review it anticipates concluding in 90 days could lead to it withdrawing all of its ratings on tax allocation bonds issued by former California redevelopment agencies.

The Internal Revenue Service has closed its audit of $162.53 million of general fee revenue bonds issued by Auburn University, Ala., in 2007 with no change the bonds' tax-exempt status.

Standard & Poor's downgraded San Fernando, Calif. redevelopment agency bonds to junk-level BB-plus from BBB-plus and gave the bonds a negative outlook.

Stockton, Calif.'s effort to make bondholders take a $350 million hit during its bankruptcy process will likely blackball it from the bond market for years and raise future costs.

Congressional staffers and finance experts speaking at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Washington Briefing said the outlook for highway funding is more uncertain than ever, while two transport-oriented lawmakers vowed to work across the aisle to make sure state and local officials have federal support.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has filed a proposed rule change with the Securities and Exchange Commission that would tighten regulation of dealers' muni-related telemarketing practices and require them to respect customers' "do not call" requests indefinitely, rather than for just five years.

The Washington State Department of Transportation said its mistakes in the design of the new Highway 520 floating bridge will costs tens of millions of dollars and delay construction.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced a five-year plan Monday to fix and repave 900 miles of road over the next three years.

Fitch Ratings assigned a AA-plus rating ahead of Nevada's plans on March 7 to refund $200 million in general obligation limited tax bonds.