Washington

Recent trends in the public pension arena "are not all gloom and doom," as most cities' pension funding ratios appear to have stabilized since the low point in 2010, Merritt Research Services said in a recent report.

The debate over the appropriate amount of public funding for professional sports facilities has been reignited in part because of growing revenue in the sports market, according to a report from Wells Fargo Securities.

Standard & Poor's placed Samaritan Healthcare's BBB-plus long-term rating and underlying rating on credit watch with negative implications after the Washington state healthcare provider failed to provide timely information.

Securities and Exchange Commission officials are seeking changes to practices in the municipal market and more stringent actions to enforce rules protecting investors.

Jessica Giroux has been promoted to general counsel of the Bond Dealers of America, assuming the number two position in the middle-market dealer group.

An agreement on staffing a new customs facility in Detroit removes the final roadblock to a $3.3 billion P3 bridge project.

A House panel will hold a hearing Feb. 26 on legislation that would allow Puerto Rico government-owned corporations to restructure their debts under Chapter 9 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.

Robert Fippinger, senior counsel at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and a Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board director since 2010, plans to join the MSRB as its chief legal officer on March 3, the board announced. Michael Post has been promoted to general counsel for regulatory affairs.

Connecticut governor proposes 30-year, $100 billion transportation program to modernize state's highway and transit infrastructure.

Municipal advisors remain concerned about one of the key provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission's municipal advisor registration rule, although communications between issuers and underwriters remain robust nearly eight months after the final effectiveness of the rule.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a favorable private-letter ruling to an issuer who planned to issue governmental and private-activity bonds to finance improvements to water facilities.

A $35.4 million issue of revenue bonds for a private detention center in Central Texas will retain tax-exempt status following a review by the Internal Revenue Service, according to a disclosure notice.

Almost $3 billion of potential lost revenue from cuts in Maryland gasoline taxes could cripple spending for major transportation projects.

Leslie Carey Kirk has joined Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. Washington, D.C.'s office as general counsel for the firm.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined two firms $370,000 for violating securities rules in their management of Puerto Rico funds, and dinged another firm $50,000 for violating trade reporting requirements.

The Conroe Industrial Development Corporation in Texas has requested a settlement under the Internal Revenue Service's voluntary closing agreement program to resolve a tax violation relating to bonds it issued in 2008 and 2012.

Harvey J. Goldschmid, a former Securities and Exchange Commission member who played a key role in getting the American Bar Association to adopt an ethics rule to prevent municipal bond and other pay-to-play practices, died Feb. 12 at the age 74 from complications of pneumonia.

Washington state lawmakers' new $15 billion transportation proposal funded with a higher gasolines tax and $4.3 billion of state GO bonds.

As 2015 begins, capital markets participants would do well to reflect on the lessons of recent Chapter 9 proceedings.

House Transportation Committee approved rail legislation that prompts Amtrak to seek private partners for station development projects.