Southwest

Good Shepherd Medical Center took a three-notch downgrade to B-minus on Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings scale as the East Texas hospital struggled to maintain its Medicare reimbursements.

Oklahoma’s recently enacted budget offers positive credit factors for public schools but negative factors for higher education and the state itself, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

An Internal Revenue Service audit of $73.6 million of Series A excise revenue refunding bonds issued by the city and county of Denver in 2009 has been closed with no change to the bonds’ tax-exempt status.

A slowdown in oil exploration and production gives Texas an opportunity to repair damaged roads under a $3 billion program funded by state revenues from the industry, officials say.

Faced with a state Supreme Court threat to block distribution of funds to Kansas public schools, Gov. Sam Brownback called a special session of the legislature to provide a funding solution.

Using new criteria, Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings warned that eight federal prisons operated privately for profit could see downgrades or upgrades.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin voiced regret that the newly approved state budget did so little to solve structural imbalances.

A nonprofit group in Austin, Texas, wants a November vote on $397 million of GO bonds for first phase of a light rail line.

Arlington, Texas, may pay off the debt it issued for a pro football stadium to clear the path for subsidizing a pro baseball stadium.

In its first deal with Frost Bank as its financial advisor, San Antonio Independent School District achieved savings of more than 18% on the refunding portion of a $123.7 million issue. The negotiated sale is scheduled to close June 9.