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Mary Simpkins, who joined the SEC's Office of Municipal Securities in November 1997, is retiring.

As muni advocates fight for the preservation of tax exemption, foreign investors are using the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card as evidence that increased privatization of assets is needed to improve the grades.

The departures happened around the time Barclays handed out companywide bonuses and coincided with the firm in the process of shrinking its muni footprint in the regions, according to sources.

Only Georgia has a higher state-level infrastructure grade from the ASCE than the the C the U.S. received this week. More in the Southeast are C-minus or lower.

The S&P issuer rating upgrade marks the second for Oklahoma since September when Moody's raised its rating a notch to Aa1.

"We're navigating a crosscurrent of macro risks — tariffs, tax policy proposals, DOGE cuts, and evolving economic data — layered on top of a broader risk-off tone," said James Pruskowski, CIO of 16Rock Asset Management.

The Los Angeles Legislative Delegation penned a letter to state budget leaders asking for $1.9 billion in fire recovery aid for the city after meeting with city leaders.

The effects of infrastructure spending and the need for more are coming into focus as the municipal bond community is dealing with a Congressional threat to eliminate the tax-exempt status of munis. 

The legislation would create a bond-financed reinsurance program to stabilize the homeowner's insurance market, which has been impacted by wildfires.

United First Partners was fined for reporting and supervisory rule violations as part of a wider FINRA disciplinary action involving the firm.