California

A California appeals court has agreed to fast track review of a lower court's decision that prevents the state from issuing $8.6 billion in bonds for its high-speed rail project.

California school and community college districts have $37.5 billion in authorized, but unissued local school bonds, according to a report that could influence if voters see a new state-level school bond measure.

Republican City Councilman Kevin Faulconer was elected San Diego mayor in a Tuesday night run-off election, replacing former mayor Bob Filner, who resigned last fall amid a sexual harassment scandal.

The rain and snowstorms that hit California last weekend weren't enough to pull the state out of its drought emergency, according to Fitch Ratings.

A three-judge panel granted California a two-year extension on court-ordered efforts to reduce prison overcrowding reducing the likelihood the state will have to resort to early release.

California revenue for the month of January was down from last year, but beat estimates in the state budget.

California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow a water district on the central coast issue water rate relief bonds to help fund its Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the rating of Lancaster, Calif.-based Antelope Valley Hospital District to junk, maintaining a negative outlook

Many California lawmakers agree that the drought-stricken state needs a new water bond measure, but have different ideas regarding the funding amount and allocations.

Fitch Ratings downgraded more than $7 billion of general revenue bonds issued by the University of California to AA from AA-plus.

Voters in bankrupt San Bernardino, Calif. elected as mayor, Carey Davis, who ran on a platform critical of decisions made by town leaders that he says landed the city of 213,000 in bankruptcy.

LAUSD has moved on to Phase 2 of a $1 billion bond-funded program to provide all students with iPads with the purchase of 45,000 devices last week.

California's income tax collections were mostly on target for the month of January, according to a report from the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Placentia, Calif. is financially challenged, but not in immediate danger of declaring bankruptcy, city leaders say.

Public finance attorney Bryan Victor, who has worked on a number of transactions for California, has been named partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

Los Angeles city officials said they have found the right person in Anaheim City Manager Marcie Edwards to replace departing Los Angeles Department of Water and Power general manager Ron Nichols.

Outgoing Los Angeles Department of Water and Power chief Ron Nichols garnered buy-in for rate increases needed to fund an $8.9 billion capital improvement plan, leaving tough shoes for a successor to fill.

Stifel Financial Corp., the parent company of Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., acquired public finance banking boutique De La Rosa & Co. The deal may catapult Stifel into a top-10 underwriting position in municipal bonds.

Two members of the California Assembly announced hearings starting Feb. 19 to close the $71 billion funding shortfall in the California State Teachers' Retirement System.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and other proponents of the Pension Reform Act of 2014 say they will legally challenge Attorney General Kamala Harris's ballot summary language, likely delaying the measure.