Texas

The Internal Revenue Service has closed an audit of $21.13 million of tax-exempt contract revenue refunding bonds issued by the Canyon Regional Water Authority in Texas in 2006 with no change to the bonds' tax-exempt status. However, it advised the authority that it had not completely filled out an IRS form.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx lent his support to Texas' high-speed-rail plans at the annual Texas Transportation Forum.

Texas sales tax revenue rose 3.9% in December to $2.25 billion compared to December 2012 but fell below November's record $2.41 billion.

Texas Department of Transportation chief financial officer James Bass will become interim executive director with the departure of Phil Wilson.

The Internal Revenue Service has preliminarily concluded that $35.38 million of bonds issued in 2008 by the Burnet County, Tex. Public Facility Corp. to finance a jail are taxable.

Catholic Health Initiatives' plan to invest $1 billion in Texas healthcare includes a new hospital.

The University of Texas System will open the new year with $240 million of top-rated Permanent University Fund bonds to refund commercial paper.

Alvin Independent School District near Houston will take advantage of low short-term interest rates with $103 million of soft-put variable rate bonds.

After years of negotiation and political upheaval over financing a $150 million entertainment center, the city of Irving, Texas, is ready to issue $35 million of revenue bonds for the project.

Standard & Poor's placed nearly $1 billion of certificates of participation for four transit systems on its watch list Monday based on its new ratings criteria.

Houston is considering building a new law enforcement headquarters that could cost up to $500 million.

Heavily used roads in Texas' energy-producing regions will get $150 million for repairs and improvements.

El Paso Water Utilities will refund $70 million of debt after an upgrade from Standard & Poor's to AA-plus from AA.

Former Bear Stearns banker Chol-Su "Chris" Pak was sentenced to three years of probation and a $20,000 fine for his part in a massive El Paso County corruption scandal.

The Texas Department of Transportation is preparing to open a 15-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road around metropolitan Houston.

FirstSouthwest is protesting against "restrictive" conditions included in a request for quotations issued by the Greater Texoma Utility Authority in Texas, which said it will only consider proposals from a financial advisor that is independent from a broker-dealer.

After a lengthy search, Texas Tech University has decided to keep interim chief financial officer Noel Sloan on a permanent basis.

Phil Wilson, executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation and former aide to Gov. Rick Perry, will become general manager of the Lower Colorado River Authority Feb. 1.

Moody's Investors Service lowered the outlook on its Baa1 rating for Galveston Wharves to negative, citing reduced cargo and passenger volumes.

Laredo Independent School District will refund lease-revenue bonds with long-term debt that does not carry the state's Permanent School Fund guarantee.