Southwest

Standard & Poor's raised the credit rating on the troubled North Forest Independent School District to AA-plus from its previous junk-bond rating of B after the district's annexation by the Houston Independent School District.

Backers of a new city library in Wichita, Kans., will have to find other funding options after the City Council rejected a plan for $29 million of bonds for the project.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin created a 15-member task force to look into the operations of Grand River Dam Authority ahead of the agency's planned $380 million bond program.

Denver will price one of its largest issues of airport bonds Thursday, offering $736 million of subordinate-lien debt for construction of its South Terminal hotel and commuter rail station.

Glendale, Ariz.'s decision to lease its Jobing.com arena to a proposed new owner of the Phoenix Coyotes National Hockey League team is credit negative, says Moody's Investors Service.

Texas' longest-serving Gov. Rick Perry will not seek a fourth term in 2014, he told supporters in San Antonio Monday. He didn't indicate whether he plans a second run for president.

Triple-A-rated Utah will offer investors a safe bet this week with $217 million of general obligation bonds for the Beehive State's growing highway system.

A citizens advisory panel has recommended a $252.6 million GO bond referendum for Alvin Independent School District, Texas.

Arkansas ended fiscal 2013 with a $300 million surplus, but much of may be from taxpayers who paid early to avoid a higher federal income tax bill.

Glendale, Ariz., has approved an agreement to keep the NHL Phoenix Coyotes at a city-owned, bond-financed stadium