California

The California Health Facilities Financing Authority granted the Downey Regional Medical-Center Hospital permission at its Sept. 29 board meeting to proceed with negotiations to sell its outstanding bonds to a private purchaser to enable it to exit bankruptcy in mid-November.

San Francisco’s Redevelopment Commission has appointed Tiffany Bohee as interim director of San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, replacing outgoing director Fred Blackwell.

California Gov. Jerry Brown Tuesday signed a bill that will strengthen the state auditor’s oversight of local governments in the wake of the scandal surrounding the city of Bell.

LOS ANGELES - Chapman University, a private university in Orange County, Calif., best known for its film, business, and law schools, wants to increase its health science offerings.

SAN FRANCISCO - Moody's Investors Service said the San Jose Redevelopment Agency's $1.7 billion of outstanding senior bonds could suffer should the RDA be forced to default on a floating-rate bond issue.

SAN FRANCISCO - Windrush School, a 35-year-old private school located in the East Bay suburbs of San Francisco, filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Oakland last week when it couldn't reach a forbearance agreement with bondholders on $13 million of bonds issued in 2007.

SAN FRANCISCO - California Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed legislation that would have helped the San Jose Redevelopment Agency avoid a $100 million default.

LOS ANGELES - Montebello officials claim that what they call an ill-timed report released by the California controller's office is impeding the city's ability to get short-term financing.

With the stroke of a pen, California Gov. Jerry Brown could avoid one of the largest municipal bond defaults of 2011. If not, the San Jose Redevelopment Agency could default on nearly $100 million of variable-rate debt this November.

LOS ANGELES - The proposed National Football League stadium in downtown Los Angeles took a leap forward Tuesday when California Gov. Jerry Brown signed two bills to streamline environmental review for key construction projects.

The Los Angeles Unified School District board voted last week to join opponents of local redevelopment agencies in the legal battle over who should control redevelopment funds, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Fitch Ratings recently downgraded several Riverside County bonds and certificates.

Standard & Poor’s upgraded the Moorpark Unified School District’s certificates of participation to A from A-minus based on the its significantly improved financial position.

Standard & Poor’s maintained the BBB-plus rating on the California State Public Works Board’s lease revenue bonds ahead of its upcoming sale.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Toll Authority voted Wednesday to try to buy an office building in San Francisco using bridge toll dollars despite a pending audit.

California’s budget has inspired three new lawsuits this week, adding to worries about its viability.

SAN FRANCISCO - California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a new law giving San Francisco special exemptions to form a tax district on its waterfront to help reimburse the city for the America's Cup and pay for other projects.

While state cutbacks to education funding in California have stressed the Los Angeles Unified School District's operating budget, resulting in the layoff of 1,900 teachers, they have not hampered its building program.

SAN FRANCISCO - Vallejo, Calif., hasn't quite wiggled out of bankruptcy, nearly two months after getting a judge's approval for its exit plan.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors approved plans last Thursday to issue $250 million of bonds.