Iowa

A declining number of Midwestern high school graduates is adding to already highly competitive environment further straining the region's small colleges, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Moody's Investors Service lowered Des Moines, Iowa's rating by one notch to Aa2 due to its narrow operating reserves, below average income, and elevated debt burden.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa has lost its top credit marks from Moody's Investors Service.

Iowa's revenue estimating panel has finalized its projections for the next budget year offering numbers on par with its December report.

Plans for major terminal overhauls are afoot for airports at Kansas City and Des Moines where officials are promoting the need to modernize the air fields to meet current and future aviation demands.

Standard & Poor's raised its rating on the Iowa Board of Regents' parking system revenue bonds one level to AA-minus based on strong parking demand.

Davenport, Iowa won an upgrade from Standard & Poor's and a downgrade Moody's, landing its rating squarely at the same level in the low double-A- category.

Competitive bids Thursday on $27 million of revenue bonds will fund a new University of Iowa dormitory to help deal with a housing crunch due to rising enrollment.

Two ratings agencies have revised their outlooks on Iowa-based Mercy Medical Center's A level ratings to negative due to the hospital's operating struggles.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $26.5 million of general obligation bonds issued in 2006 by the Johnston Community School District in Iowa.

Moody's Investors Service has stripped Central College in Iowa of its underlying investment grade rating over its stressed operations.

Texas voters approved a $2 billion water bond program Tuesday in the largest of many bond related issues voters decided in the off-year.

Midwestern voters face a mix bag of bond and electoral questions Tuesday including bond referenda, and a pension measure in Cincinnati.

Rising interest rates and lagging economic growth sidelined borrowers in the Midwest where issuance dipped by 12% to $34 billion during the first half of 2013 compared to the same time last year.

Xenia Rural Water District, a once insolvent utility in Iowa that is currently making good on its $125 million of bonds and loans under a restructuring agreement still faces longterm challenges that could threaten its ability to remain on track, according to a state audit.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad will sign a sweeping tax overhaul package into law on Wednesday.

Iowa lawmakers approved bills retiring $116 million of state debt and implementing a sweeping property tax relief package that could strain local governments.

Standard & Poor's raised its rating on Des Moines Airport Authority by one level to A due to improved debt service coverage ratios.

Moody's Investors Service has lowered Mercy Hospital's rating one level to A3 due to declines in its operating performance.

For buyers, the allure of attractive yields, diversification, and liquidity drowned out the project risks tied to investing in the Iowa Fertilizer Co.'s $1.2 billion of junk-bond paper.