Southwest

Dennis Hunt will head the public finance team at Stephens Inc. upon the retirement of Mark McBryde after 40 years at the firm.

Conduit bond issuers for two Texas counties failed to make full debt payments on private detention facilities that they were forced to take over, according to recent disclosures.

Delivering her budget and state-of-the-state address on the same day, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin urged the opening session of the state Legislature to find a longterm solution to this year’s $300 million shortfall.

Austin's airport hotel is seeking new terms from creditors on $40 million of bonds that were restructured a decade ago. The bonds are again in default after revenues fell short of debt service requirements.

After bearing the cost of its second Super Bowl, Glendale, Ariz., expects to finish a series of refundings this week with more than $44 million in present value savings so far.

Arizona State University will begin a major remodeling of its 56-year-old Sun Devil Stadium this spring, financed in part by a $356 million bond deal coming to market Feb. 24.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the Unified Government of Kansas City and Wyandotte County, Kan., to A1 from Aa3 due to "narrow general fund reserves and liquidity compared to similarly rated credits."

Baird has added eight bankers to its Houston public finance team from RBC Capital Markets, Milwaukee-based Baird said.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Texas school bus operator Dallas County School District's $67 million of general obligation debt to Baa1 from A3 and retained a negative outlook.

Public power utilities in five southern states most likely face fiscal challenges in complying with the EPA's Clean Power Plan, a new index by Fitch Ratings shows.