Southwest

Midwestern University will expand its facilities in Glendale, Ariz., and Downers Grove, Ill., with proceeds from $50 million of tax-exempt revenue bonds approved last week by the Glendale city council.

DALLAS - Property tax collections in Arizona's largest county will fall for the third straight year as real estate values continue to plunge, officials said.

DALLAS - With its federal funding restored amid efforts to regain public trust, the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority in Houston is preparing a $511 million deal to get its belated light-rail expansion back on track.

Oklahoma’s seven state pension funds earned almost $4 billion during fiscal 2011, moving up to $21.5 billion from $17.9 billion at the end of fiscal 2011.

Residents of Benton will be asked to vote on Nov. 8 to extend the 1.5% hotel and restaurant tax to support $7 million to $8 million in bonds that would fund building a civic center.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe is expected this week to set a Nov. 8 election on extending the state’s existing $575 million Garvee road bond program to pay for maintenance on 300 miles of interstate highway.

A law that allows Arizona school districts to spend bond proceeds on projects not on the original program approved by voters was challenged as unconstitutional last week in oral arguments in a Maricopa County Superior Court.

DALLAS — Glendale, Ariz., is in negotiations to sell the Phoenix Coyotes to a former National Hockey League team official in a deal that will not require a bond issue.

DALLAS — Trustees of the Harlandale Independent School District in San Antonio have launched a probe into work financed with bonds authorized by voters in 2006 and 2009 to determine if costs are appropriate.

DALLAS — While other Arizona cities compete for a $100 million private prison on behalf of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Goodyear has threatened to sue the state if it decides to build another lockup in its backyard.