Far West

WASHINGTON — Moody's Investor’s Service is keeping its negative outlook on U.S. toll roads because of rising fuel prices, political hesitancy to increase toll rates, and a sluggish economy.

MONROVIA, Calif.—Three weeks after the California Supreme Court affirmed legislation eradicating the state's community redevelopment agencies, local officials are scrambling to figure out what it means for them.

California Gov. Jerry Brown placed the budget at the top of an ambitious agenda for the new legislative year during his state of the state address.

Infrastructure projects would acquire a new source of funds under a bill that would allow investors to make tax-deductible contributions to approved projects.

While ratings will remain stable in the public power sector over the next 12 months, the sluggish economy and prospect of new regulations pose risks for the longer term, Standard & Poor's said in a report issued Thursday.

Nevada Treasurer Kate Marshall has been elected the 2012 president of the National Association of State Treasurers.

The Idaho Bond Bank Authority received a Aa1 rating from Moody’s Investors Service on $17.9 million of revenue bonds it planned to price this week.

A proposal introduced in the Hawaii Legislature Tuesday that would prevent so-called “spiking” of public pensions faced little resistance, according to published reports.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded the troubled Southern California Logistics Airport Authority’s subordinate tax-allocation revenue bonds to B3 from B1.

A high-profile group of California billionaires and influential political players has pulled plans to put two tax initiatives on the November ballot.