West Virginia

While the cost of caring for older people can pressure municipal issuers, in states like Florida wealthy seniors can also contribute to economic vibrancy.

The $44 million of unrated bonds, placed only with qualified investors, feature 9.5% coupons.

The Commercial Metals Company and the West Virginia Economic Development Authority took a chance by coming to market with a tax-exempt $150 million junk-rated private activity bond sale financing a scrap metal steel mill during uncertain times for the construction industry.

The state's February general revenue collections came in $30.62 million below official estimates. but total collections for fiscal 2024 are $428.1 million ahead of forecasts.

Six financial institutions may be placed on West Virginia's restricted list if they are found "boycott" the fossil fuel industry, Riley Moore said.

The fiscal 2025 budget Jim Justice laid out in his final State of the State address contains tax credits for senior citizens and families with young children.

West Virginia reduced its pension debt burden by 90% from 2000 to 2021, according to a recent report from the Pew Charitable Trust.

Amid a wellspring of federal funding to accelerate production, West Virginia is leveraging its own incentives to grow its local defense industries.

Economic and demographic trends working against revenues at U.S. higher education institutions are very evident in West Virginia at the start of the school year.

Travelers to the Mountain State gave West Virginia a $7 billion boost in 2022, with spending up 17% from pre-pandemic levels, which outpaced the 1% national recovery rate for the tourism industry.

The rating agency's release ESG credit indicators for states and territories last year was blasted by GOP officials for being politicized, vague, and confusing.

"This is a historic accomplishment — setting new records for the largest single-month revenue and personal income tax collections in state history," said Gov. Jim Justice.

The CPI numbers coming in pretty much as expected "was a relief" to the markets, with the bond market rallying after the release, said Luke Bartholomew, senior economist at abrdn.

The state approved further cuts next year with provisions for possible additional cuts annually, starting in 2025, paving the way for the elimination of the personal income tax.

"Now our state is blessed with an opportunity for prosperity and growth unlike any before in our history," said Jim Justice.

The $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will add to state and local funds to tackle aging waste treatments networks in some rural townships.

Due to their policies on fossil fuels, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo can't bid on state banking contracts in the Mountain State.

The “social” part of ESG evaluations poses the most downside risk to governmental and not-for-profit issuers in the Midwest and Central regions, S&P said.

Coming back from COVID, states in the Southeast are seeing their revenue streams perk up as economic activity resumes across the region.

State Treasurer Riley Moore is among of a group of GOP state officials challenging ESG efforts he calls “coercive capitalism.”