Southwest

After years of official skepticism, publicly funded studies in Texas and Oklahoma cite oil and gas industry activity as the probable cause of earthquakes in the two states.

Texas power producers can expect weakening demand in 2015 as they cope with new federal regulations and falling prices, according to Standard & Poor’s.

A bill by Colorado Sen. Randy Baumgardner would authorize $3.5 billion of tax revenue anticipation notes to capture low interest rates and accelerate highway construction in the state.

A Moody's Investors Service downgrade drops Texas Southern University's $81 million of debt to the lowest investment grade rating of Baa3 with a continued negative outlook.

Standard & Poor's converted its positive outlook on Utah Transit Authority to a one-notch upgrade to A-Plus on April 17, citing the authority's improved coverage ratios after a January refunding.

Texas Health Resources, the operator of a Dallas hospital that received international news coverage for its handling of an Ebola case, goes to market with $360 million of bonds after a Moody's upgrade.

Kansas is seeking underwriters for a pension bond issue after Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill authorizing $1 billion of bonds for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.

Standard & Poor's upgraded Brownsville to AA from AA-minus, citing the southernmost Texas city's strengthening economy and falling unemployment.

David D. Hart, former Denver Public Schools chief financial officer and senior vice president of D.A. Davidson, has joined Public Financial Management as an advisor, the company said.

Rice University took advantage of low interest rates in the taxable market with $700 million of triple-A taxable bonds, including $100 million for new money.