Louisiana

Oklahoma is poised to follow in the footsteps of Texas by barring banks from municipal bond deals if deemed to be against firearms and fossil fuel industries.

Alex Wiggins, CEO of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, said it will be looking at a combination of bond authority and public-private partnerships to help pay for transportation infrastructure projects.

The state under transportation secretary Shawn Wilson is gaining a national reputation for pursuing P3s for tolled bridge replacements.

The deal priced into a market that has seen rising rates for municipal bonds along with record high oil and gas prices.

“We are anticipating a substantial present value savings as a result of our being proactive,” said the spokeswoman for state Treasurer John Schroder.

States, on the front lines of implementing the new $1.1 trillion infrastructure program, want clear, flexible federal rules and the ability to tap private investment.

Citing lingering questions about the bank's policies on financing of firearms manufacturers, the Bond Commission chose Wells Fargo for the refinancing deal.

Turnout was less than 14% during Saturday's voting where only one constitutional amendment out of four was approved.

Louisiana voters will decide Nov. 13 on constitutional amendments that affect how income taxes are calculated and sales taxes are collected.

“A year after two devastating hurricanes, Calcasieu Parish is struggling to rebuild because FEMA works at the pace of a snail,” says Treasurer John Schroder.

Long-term damage to municipal credits in the powerful hurricane’s path is not likely, according to early reports from analysts.

A new administration in Washington and the power of coastal atmospheric patterns may boost wind-turbine electricity generation in the Southeast.

The city faced significant challenges finishing its annual comprehensive financial report as a result of a cyberattack, an overhaul of financial systems and managing through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company's $200 million capital investment is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs in the city.

States are well-positioned to emerge from COVID-19, the investment firm said in its annual grading.

The Investment Company Institute reported another week of inflows, $800-plus million, as participants focus on that part of the market as an indicator of how munis will fare during tax season.

Louisiana and NASA are looking at creating a “Space Campus” in New Orleans out of an existing NASA assembly facility to drive economic development.

Moody's affirmed the state's general obligation bonds at Aa3, and credited it with significant long-term progress in restoring financial reserves and liquidity.

No rate hikes in sight as employment continues to struggle and inflation should rise this year, but not enough to force the Fed to raise rates.

The $136 million refunding is also backed by the state's appropriation pledge; a political dispute over how to handle unclaimed property was resolved last year.