News and Information from Bond Buyer

Martina Hinojosa and Kevin O'Donnell Stanek have joined FBT Gibbons' public finance practice as partners.

The new state income tax is expected to make Washington munis, which are exempt, more attractive for high-earning residents.

Investors pulled $600 million from municipal bond mutual funds in the week ended Wednesday, according to LSEG.

The East San Francisco Bay area water and wastewater utility will price into a market that has seen increased revenue bond issuance.

The MTA's goal to monetize its vast property portfolio could bring 300 homes to Crown Heights. 

Otero County addressed an Open Meetings Act violation by reapproving a contract with ICE that generates revenue to pay off bonds for a detention facility.

Despite headwinds in the higher education sector, Louisiana State has enjoyed rising undergraduate enrollment.

"Rates, not fundamentals, continue to drive benchmark yields higher, leaving munis on track for their fourth-worst monthly performance in 15 years," said James Pruskowski, managing director at Hennion & Walsh.

A lawsuit filed this week seeking to end Austin's transportation user fee comes as the Texas city is launching its fiscal 2027 budget process.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will release $1.05 billion that was set aside by the Biden administration for the long-awaited Blatnik Bridge project.

Virginia and Georgia topped the list of high performers and Alaska and California received the lowest marks in the Reason Foundation's analysis.

Overall rainy-day fund capacity for U.S. states fell in fiscal year 2025 for the first time since the World Financial Crisis as more states look at tapping reserves.

Iowa lawmakers have to merge competing visions for property tax reform after multiple bills passed out of committee in the state House and Senate this month.

"You would think global instability leads to flight for quality, but you also have the inflationary pressures that come with higher oil prices. I would say the inflationary pressures have been winning, and that's why you're seeing Treasury and muni rates move higher," said Keith Richard, head of public finance at Siebert Williams Shank.

The current lateral recruiting marketplace for public finance attorney talent is "highly competitive," according to Nixon Peabody's Julie Seymour.

The weakness in fixed-income markets comes after stocks and bonds saw strength Monday following President Donald Trump's announcement of a five-day pause on strikes on Iranian power plants amid talks between the two countries.

The AA-minus-rated bonds come to market as the hospital sector continues to navigate through rising expenses and other challenges.

"We are in interesting times as the market must now balance these robust technicals against a backdrop of geopolitical tension in the Middle East and the nomination of Kevin Warsh, whose hawkish reputation is already being weighed by participants," said Jason Wong, vice president of municipals at AmeriVet Securities.

Otero County's March 13 emergency meeting to avoid a bond default did not comply with the Open Meetings Act, the state's Justice Department determined.

"This is the largest flood we have had in 20 years," said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green.