Far West

WASHINGTON - The Senate confirmed two nominees to the Securities and Exchange Commission early Friday, ensuring the agency will not have vacancies as it grapples with rulemaking mandates imposed by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

LOS ANGELES - The San Diego Unified School District, despite double-A ratings, has put California lawmakers on notice that if proposed trigger cuts are implemented, it could be facing insolvency in the next two years.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday he will schedule a vote the week of Oct. 31 on a bill that would provide $60 billion for transportation and infrastructure and authorize the establishment of a national infrastructure bank.

A disclosure regimen that gives the Securities and Exchange Commission authority to set baseline standards might work for the traditional municipal securities markets, but not its riskier outposts, an independent financial advisor warned in an article last week.

SAN FRANCISCO - With Moody's Investors Service dropping Fresno three notches to A2 from Aa2 on Thursday, the California city's membership in the "super downgrade" club has now been affirmed by all three credit rating agencies.

SAN FRANCISCO - A California health care district is swaying once again on the edge of bankruptcy after emerging from Chapter 9 protection only three years ago.

Fitch Ratings dropped its rating to A from A-plus on $26.7 million of limited-tax general obligation bonds issued by North Las Vegas on Oct. 19.

Standard & Poor’s lowered its rating one notch on $35 million of outstanding bonds issued for Casa Colina Inc. and Affiliates to BBB from BBB-plus.

The Children’s Hospital of Orange County received A ratings from Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s on $105 million of fixed-rate bonds expected to sell on Oct. 24.

The California Supreme Court said it will hear arguments Nov. 10 in San Francisco in a case that will likely decide the future of redevelopment agencies in the state.