Far West

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has hired a new head. Edward Reiskin will lead the agency after serving in the top spot at the city’s Department of Public Works.

WASHINGTON - Some airport bond ratings could be hurt by the congressional stalemate over funding the Federal Aviation Administration, according to credit rating analysts.

WASHINGTON - With lawmakers in Washington still deadlocked over a debt-ceiling solution, public finance attorneys are evaluating what the effects of a U.S. downgrade would be on the municipal bond market.

SAN FRANCISCO - The California Treasurer's Office has admitted law firm Polsinelli Shughart PC into the state's bond counsel pool.

CHICAGO - The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has assembled a group of 25 public employers and pension plans to "field test" the implementation of its proposed changes to state and local governments pension accounting standards, according to the organization's research manager.

WASHINGTON - The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board would begin collecting a $300 annual assessment from municipal advisers beginning this fall if the Securities and Exchange Commission approves the proposal the board filed with it on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON - Market participants are split over public pension-disclosure guidance floated earlier this year by a bond lawyers' group, with analysts saying they need more information about a plan's future funding status and issuers and pension experts balking at providing speculative information about future liabilities.

WASHINGTON — The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fined SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc. and SunTrust Investment Services Inc. a total of $5 million for disclosure and other failures related to underwriting and selling auction-rate securities.

WASHINGTON - State and local groups on Monday urged congressional leaders and the Obama administration to quickly reach a long-term solution to the debt-limit crisis, warning it has stalled key legislation.

SAN FRANCISCO - The city of Vallejo, Calif., could see its plan to exit bankruptcy sail through a final hearing Thursday with only one objection from two individuals.