Southwest

Anticipating a default by June, Moody's downgraded $1.1 billion of debt for the State Highway 130 toll road near Austin, Texas to Caa3.

Utah taxpayers will lend the federal government $1.7 million to reopen five national parks for 10 days under a deal signed by Gov. Gary Hebert.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is asking voters to approve draining $2 billion from a $9 billion rainy day fund to help pay for projects intended to provide sufficient water to the drought stricken state without raising taxes.

The National Governor's Association is calling for Congress and the Obama administration to promptly reopen the federal government and to "commit to fully reimbursing states and territories for the federal expenses they absorb during the shutown."

Texas lawmakers may allocate $250 million of unexpected registration fees to reverse a plan to convert some paved state roads to gravel.

Texas sales tax revenue grew 2.7% in September to $2.01 billion, state comptroller Susan Combs reported.

Colorado's Regional Transportation District could expect to spend about $1.4 billion for an extension of its FasTracks rail line to suburbs northwest of Denver, according to a study released Monday.

The small Wichita suburb of Goddard wants to use sales tax bonds to fund a $160 aquatic center and sports complex.

Growth in Texas oil and gas production will continue to pump billions of dollars each year into state's rainy day fund despite proposed diversions.

The National Association of State Treasurers elected officers for 2014 and adopted several bond-related resolutions, during an annual business meeting at its conference here on Monday.