Colorado

The Aurora City Council has declared 125 acres of vacant land near Denver International Airport “blighted” in a step toward developing a Gaylord Entertainment Co. resort that would adjoin the proposed new home of the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo.

DALLAS — While the volume of municipal bond sales in the Southwest fell nearly 35% to $17.8 million in the first half of 2011 compared to a year earlier, industry executives haven't lacked things to do.

Peck, Shaffer & Williams, a leading national public finance law firm, has named former Lathrop & Gage attorney Bob Coyne as a partner in its Denver office.

DALLAS - Colorado's Regional Transportation District has received confirmation of a $1.03 billion federal grant that is a key element in financing its $6.7 billion FasTracks program.

CHICAGO - Moody's Investors Service this week said it views positively recent court rulings in Colorado and Minnesota dismissing litigation that challenged legislative cuts to retirees' pension cost-of-living increases, and expects the rulings will spur other states to act.

Colorado will cover its cash-flow needs next week with the sale of $600 million of tax and revenue anticipation notes.

CHICAGO - Attorneys for state retirees in Colorado and Minnesota are weighing whether to appeal court decisions last week dismissing litigation that challenged legislative cuts to pension cost-of-living hikes but fear that such rulings will "embolden" other cash-strapped states eying ways to ease pension costs.

The Internal Revenue Service has completed a routine audit of $250 million of Build America Bonds issued by Denver School District No. 1, with no change to the subsidy payments the issuer receives from the federal government.

Trustees of Routt County School District No. RE-2 declined to set an override election for November to increase the property tax rate.

DALLAS — After campaigning on an issue over which he has little control — education ­— newly elected Denver Mayor Michael Hancock will oversee major projects already under way in transportation and economic development as the city continues its recovery from the Great Recession.

DALLAS — Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which limits the ability of state and local government to raise taxes and issue debt, violates the U.S. Constitution, according to a lawsuit seeking to overturn the voter-approved law.

DALLAS — The University of Colorado Hospital Authority plans to issue $200.8 million of variable-rate revenue bonds this week for a new medical tower on its rapidly expanding Anschutz Campus in Aurora.

DALLAS — With newly installed Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature already affixed to his first budget bill, Colorado’s evenly divided General Assembly adjourned this week, though it left some business unresolved.

DALLAS — Chris Romer, a former investment banker, state senator and son of former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, will face City Council member Michael Hancock in a June 7 runoff for mayor of Denver, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.

DALLAS — Fitch Ratings has lowered the outlook on Colorado Springs Airport debt from stable to negative while affirming its A-minus rating.

DALLAS — Denver continues to cut costs associated with its $500 million South Terminal airport redevelopment project that will be financed with bonds.

DALLAS — Isolux Corsan Group, a private Spanish developer, could finance and build the next major link in a beltway around the Denver metro area if it reaches agreement with the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed its AAA on the Southern Ute Indian Tribe's $305 million of adjustable-rate bonds and maintained the notes rating at the top F1-plus with a stable outlook. The ratings were affirmed as part of the agency's routine surveillance.

DALLAS — As part one of a two-part transaction, Denver Public Schools on Tuesday issued $400 million of certificates of participation designed to lower the cost of a controversial 2008 floating-rate deal that funded the teachers pension program.

DALLAS — Amid ambitious expansion plans, Denver International Airport will price up to $400 million of refunding revenue bonds on Thursday.