Southwest

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded its issuer credit rating on Texas to AAA from AA-plus, giving the state top ratings from all three credit ratings agencies.

Most Oklahoma public schools offer scant protection from tornadoes, according to poll by a state representative seeking $500 million of state bonds for storm shelters.

Glendale, Ariz., has replaced a financial services director who resigned in the wake of an outside audit that detailed a series of financial irregularities, officials said.

Oklahoma's state lease revenue bond program for higher education projects will proceed after validation by Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Two polls show that voters in Harris County are about evenly divided on whether to issue $217 million of bonds to save the vacant, but historic Houston Astrodome.

Denver's competitive sale of $121.6 million of general obligation bonds drew more than 70 bids, with Bank of America Merrill Lynch emerging as the winner.

El Paso won't be liable for an additional $10 million needed to complete a bond-funded downtown minor league ballpark now under construction.

Pima County, Ariz., bond panel votes unanimously to put off a proposed $650 million bond election until 2015.

El Paso city leaders are meeting with sponsors of bond-financed downtown baseball stadium after costs went up another $10 million.

The San Antonio Water System next month will issue $180.5 million of debt, including $100 million of variable-rate bonds.