Far West

A day after New Jersey settled securities fraud charges with the Securities and Exchange Commission for failing to disclose to bond investors that it was underfunding its two largest pension plans, offering documents for the state's record $2.25 billion short-term tax and revenue anticipation note deal included several pages of disclosures about the woefully underfunded retirement plans.

The Congressional Budget Office Thursday upped the estimated cost of the Build America Bond program by $10 billion to $36 billion over 10 years in its new estimates on the fiscal 2010 budget deficit and economic outlook.

Many California government employees are off without pay today, after the state Supreme Court said that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could implement his order furloughing workers for three Fridays per month.

A group of Washington and Oregon leaders signed off this month on important parameters for one of the Northwest's biggest planned public works projects — a replacement for the Interstate 5 crossing of the Columbia River.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in California has reached a closing agreement with the Internal Revenue Service over $22.5 million of revenue bonds it issued in 2003 to finance a golf course and accompanying facilities.

Moody's Investors Service placed Fresno Pacific University's Ba2 rating on a watchlist for a possible downgrade.

Moody's Investors Service cut Torrance Memorial Medical Center's long-term rating to A2 from A1 ahead of a $234 million issue planned for next month.

Democrats fell short Tuesday in their effort to pick up an additional seat in the California Senate.

Seattle Children's Hospital will price $118 million of fixed-rate revenue bonds today in a deal driven partly by the huge demand for tax-exempt paper.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is seeking applicants for nine attorney, administrative, and technology positions, according to notices on its website.