Far West

North Las Vegas city manager Timothy Hacker warned Monday of massive layoffs after the city’s public safety employee unions walked away from negotiations, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Hawaii officials said Wednesday that continued strength in the visitor industry this year will boost economic growth at a rate that was faster than previously thought, according to the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday downgraded to A3 from A2 the Sulphur Springs Union School District’s $32 million of outstanding certificates of participation, and dropped the district’s issuer rating to A1 from Aa3.

Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday upgraded to B1 from B3 the rating on Southern California University of Health Science’s Series 1997 bonds and also revised the outlook to positive from negative on $7.5 million of outstanding bonds.

Sacramento spent $680,000 from September through April on its unsuccessful effort to build a new arena for its pro basketball team, according to the local press.

California’s Legislative Counsel says the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s $93 million purchase of a building in San Francisco, using bridge toll money, violates state law.

SAN FRANCISCO — The financial woes of some California local governments, epitomized by Stockton, have spooked some investors out of lease revenue bonds.

LOS ANGELES — A bankruptcy judge has approved the Las Vegas Monorail Co.'s reorganization plan, allowing it to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy while nearly wiping out the investment made by bondholders.

The MSRB is citing almost a half-dozen enforcement actions against municipal securities firms that highlight the need for its new Rule G-17 guidance, which clarifies and expands on underwriters' fair-dealing obligations to state and local issuers.

A coalition of public finance groups is lobbying hard for House and Senate conferees working on a long-term highway bill to include a provision that would temporarily increase the limit for bank-qualified bonds.