Southwest

McLennan County in Central Texas is aiming for savings on $49 million of bonds for a privately-operated jail backed by an appropriation pledge if the inmate count falls below 325.

An overwhelming majority of Texans seem ready to approve a ballot measure moving $1.7 billion/ year into the state road fund.

A $250 million water supply and an $80 million job development program would be funded by a 1% sales tax that is up for approval in Wichita, Kan., Nov. 4.

Democrat Mike Collier, an accountant who has never run for office before, is on offense in his uphill battle to win the Texas Controller's office against Republican Glenn Hegar, a conservative state senator. They seek to replace, Susan Combs, a Republican who did not seek a third term..

Falling oil prices add fiscal pressure to five of the nation's top energy-producing states, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Standard & Poor's on Friday announced that it would take no rating action on Texas Health Resources as two nurses who contracted Ebola from a patient at its Presbyterian Dallas hospital were declared cured.

At least two issuers recently redeemed or said they are planning to redeem bonds issued to finance detention facilities because of private use. One redemption was required under a settlement between the issuer and the Internal Revenue Service and the other was triggered by provisions in the offering document.

Plans to issue $39.5 million for a performing arts center bring a downgrade to the Sugar Land Development Corp.

Good Shepherd Medical Center faces another possible downgrade on its junk-bond rating from Moody's Investors Service after missing a deadline to sell assets, analysts warned.

A new train station in downtown Dallas may be the northern terminal of a 240-mile privately financed high-speed rail line to Houston.