Southwest

Spending on fuel for cars and trucks in 2015 is expected to reach the lowest level in 11 years due to falling pump prices and more efficient engines, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Standard & Poor's on Dec. 12 downgraded El Paso County Hospital District's credit to A-plus from AA-minus, citing a weakened cash position.

Among the 10 states that account for nearly 78% of oil production in the U.S., Texas and California appear better insulated from falling prices because of their diverse economies, according to Fitch Ratings.

Standard & Poor's downgraded Colorado-based nonprofit healthcare giant Catholic Health Initiatives to A from A-plus and retained a negative outlook in a Dec. 15 report.

Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems and its partners hope to blaze a trail toward a carbon-free future through small modular nuclear reactors designed to overcome the problems of large nuclear plants.

Teaming with state and local investigators, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is launching a sweeping investigation of public corruption in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Topeka, Kan., will await a ruling from the Kansas Court of Appeals on a citizens petition before issuing $5 million of sales tax and revenue bonds to buy a financially trouble race track. The petition drive seeks a vote on whether to buy the track.

A privately operated immigration detention center in La Salle, County, Texas, will receive no revenues while closed for repairs, according to a disclosure notice to bondholders.

Despite tumbling oil prices, Texas sales tax revenue soared 10.7% to $2.66 billion, according to state Comptroller Susan Combs, who will leave office in January.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will cut spending by 4% to offset a $279 million revenue shortfall in the current fiscal year. Brownback will also ask the Legislature to authorize internal fund transfers of more than $200 million.