Southwest

Heavily used roads in Texas' energy-producing regions will get $150 million for repairs and improvements.

El Paso Water Utilities will refund $70 million of debt after an upgrade from Standard & Poor's to AA-plus from AA.

Former Bear Stearns banker Chol-Su "Chris" Pak was sentenced to three years of probation and a $20,000 fine for his part in a massive El Paso County corruption scandal.

Arizona is well into an economic recovery but has no plans to issue any debt in the next year, state officials say.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's proposed $13.3 billion includes $261 million in new money for education and $36 million to expand the state prison at Gunnison.

A new provision on federal oil and gas production royalties will cost New Mexico $100 million over the next decade, according to the Capitol Report New Mexico.

The Texas Department of Transportation is preparing to open a 15-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road around metropolitan Houston.

FirstSouthwest is protesting against "restrictive" conditions included in a request for quotations issued by the Greater Texoma Utility Authority in Texas, which said it will only consider proposals from a financial advisor that is independent from a broker-dealer.

Colorado's complex constitution will make budget balance a challenge for years to come, according to researchers at Colorado State University.

About $23 million of lease-revenue debt issued for a hospital in southern Kansas has fallen below investment grade, according to Moody's Investors Service.