Alaska

Cruise ship ports in the U.S. may see some light at the end of the tunnel after more than a year without any departures because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A jump in oil prices and federal relief has increased the likelihood Alaska will continue judicious draws on its permanent fund.

Voters will consider bond issues in three states and a number of tax measures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

After the unprecedented collapse an oil futures contract into negative territory, the leading oil producing states face budget uncertainty.

S&P cited the state's growing structural budget gap resulting from an oil price plunge.

Fitch Ratings placed Alaska's AA-minus issuer default rating on Rating Watch Negative.

After eight oil-producing states recovered from the 2014 oil price collapse, they face another downturn, S&P Global Ratings said.

Facing loss of their tax-exemption under 2017 tax legislation, rural electric and utility cooperatives lobbied for language in the new federal spending bill.

A multiple-year recession and state leaders' failure to adequately address it led to the Fitch Ratings downgrade.

The multinational is selling its Alaska assets to Hilcorp Energy.

Issuers in the nine-state Far West region sold $34.6 billion of municipal bonds in 2019's first six months.

University of Alaska President Jim Jensen has six weeks to craft a plan to consolidate three universities.

Facing Gov. Mike Dunleavy's 40% cut in state funding, the regents passed a measure allowing it to lay off tenured professors and close campuses.

All of the nation's top producing states can look for a smoother ride in 2019, S&P analysts say.

If the budget passes as proposed, some municipalities would default on bonds, said the president of the Alaska Municipal League.

The region's 2018 new money bond sales were up 2% year-over-year, but refundings fell 57%.

Incumbent Bill Walker, an independent, faces challenges from Democrat Mark Begich and Republican Mike Dunleavy.

Issuance was down 27% in the region from the first half of 2017, and almost 30% in California, its largest market.

A report on cyber-related risks released Wednesday by S&P Global warned that “a successful attack on an entity with limited resources could have a credit impact.”

A lawsuit, filed by a former University of Alaska regent, hinges on whether bond plan violates state constitution limits on new debt.