News and Information from Bond Buyer

The SEC has announced a settlement with an Arizona-based brokerage firm, its chief executive officer, and its former underwriter's counsel and head of investment banking over charges related to fraudulent municipal bond offerings related to Atlanta businessman Christopher Brogdon.

Midwestern voters loosened their purse strings to approve Kansas City, Missouri’s $800 million infrastructure referendum but held fast against St. Louis’ public financing request for a new soccer stadium.

East Texas Medical Center, one of the largest healthcare providers in the region, slipped two notches to B3 from B1 on the Moody's Investors Service as prospects for default.

Buffalo, N.Y. received an improved credit outlook from two rating agencies ahead of a planned bond sale to address capital improvements.

In the hunt for new revenue, two Southeast governors made proposals that could signal the revival of a taxing mechanism that was widespread in the pre-World War II era.

Morningstar has given its “Socially Conscious” designation to the JPMorgan Municipal Income Fund, making it one of the first in the municipal bond space.

The Treasury Department will conduct a live small-value contingency cash management bill auction on April 7.

Municipal bonds were stronger at mid-session as more new deals came to market, topped by some large offerings from issuers in New Jersey, California and Pennsylvania.

The State of Connecticut (Aa3 negative) is grappling with challenges to its financial sustainability as growing expenses from unfunded pension liabilities, retiree health care costs, and bonded debt place pressure on the state's credit quality, Moody's Investors Service says in a new report.

Municipal bond insurer analysts are rechecking their estimates of potential losses in Puerto Rico after the federal control board approved a 10-year plan that assumes less than 24% of debt coming due will be repaid.

Infrastructure advocates are bearish on the near-term success of President Donald Trump's ambitious plan to "rebuild America's crumbling infrastructure," despite the administration's continuing assurances that transportation, where the backlog is greatest, is a top priority for Trump.

About 4,639,700 online job postings appeared on leading internet job boards in March, an increase of 102,000 from February, the Conference Board reported Wednesday.

Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co. hired Ateesh Chanda to serve as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

The U.S. services sector expanded in March although the non-manufacturing business activity composite index was 55.2 in the month, compared to 57.6 in February, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday.

The rebranded Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank approaches infrastructure as a strategic economic development tool.

The municipal bond market is seeing more new issue supply hit the screens on Wednesday, topped by some large deals out of New Jersey, California and Massachusetts.

Private-sector employment increased by 263,000 in March, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ADP estimated Wednesday.

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board is seeking to start debt talks on April 13.

The New Jersey Municipal Qualified Bond Act program, New Jersey County College Enhancement Bond Program, and New Jersey School Bond Reserve Act program were all downgraded in connection with the recent downgrade of the state government.

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said a Trump infrastructure proposal could be ready by May.