News and Information from Bond Buyer

New criminal charges stemming from the Flint, Michigan water contamination crisis accuse two former state-appointed emergency managers and two other ex-city employees with using false and misleading tactics to participate in the bond-financed Karegnondi Water Authority project.

Puerto Rico Board Chairman José Carrión III said Governor-Elect Ricardo Rosselló will have the final say on the five-year fiscal plan for finances and debt.

Top-shelf municipal bonds were steady on Tuesday, according to traders, who saw few notable deals come to market on what was a slow day in the primary.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s rule changes to prevent municipal advisors from engaging in pay-to-play practices are constitutional and comply with federal statutes, contrary to the claims of three Republican groups, the MSRB told a federal appeals court on Monday

Interstate tolling and higher gas taxes are among state road funding proposals already on the table for 2017.

The credit implications of Washington States' K-12 funding overhaul may hinge on how the state's solutions affect each district's revenues and flexibility.

Chicago returns to the market in January with a $1.14 billion general obligation deal that should benefit from the stabilization of three of its bond ratings.

Hartford, Conn.'s four-year contract firefighters will save the teetering city millions, said Mayor Luke Bronin.

California Treasurer John Chiang has formed a cannabis banking group to help marijuana growers gain access to banking.

The Senate Finance Committee Democratic staff sends colleagues a memo detailing problems with the Republican Blueprint for tax reform.

Top-shelf municipal bonds were steady through midday on Tuesday, according to traders, who saw a handful of new deals hit the market.

Philadelphia got the green light to proceed with a new tax on sugary drinks after a judge dismissed efforts by the beverage industry seeking to halt the policy.

In a far-reaching chat with Bond Buyer northeast regional editor Paul Burton, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin explains what Connecticut's capital city needs to turn its finances around, and what building blocks exist for the city's recovery.

New York City projects a $439 million surplus in fiscal 2017, according to state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $55 billion of four-week bills at a 0.490% high yield, a price of 99.961889.

Calculations of the impact on municipal yields of tax rate cuts are a simplification of how prices are set in bond markets and should not be relied upon.

After a sleepy Monday, which saw no primary action and little secondary action, municipal market participants are ready for the lion's share of what little new issuance is planned this week to hit the market. Munis were steady according to traders.

The region's non-manufacturing sector "rose in December," as the general business conditions index soared to 20.9 from 10.6 in November, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business, released Tuesday, indicates.

Dec. 20, 2016 Southwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* Southwest: GO Yield Curves for Dec. 16, 2016 State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Arizona Aa3/AA?/NR 1.02 2.02 2.72 3.46 Arkansas Aa1/AA/NR 1.01 1.96 2.62 3.36 Colorado Aa1/AA/NR 1.00 1.99 2.68 3.43 Kansas Aa2/AA/NR 1.00 1.98 2.70 3.45 New Mexico Aa1/AA/NR 0.99 1.91 2.58 3.33 Oklahoma Aa2/AA+/AA+ 1.01 2.02 2.70 3.45 Texas Aaa/AAA/AAA 1.02 1.96 2.65 3.46 Utah Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.97 1.86 2.48 3.21

12/19/2016 12/12/2016 State Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Arizona 1 $75,735 1 $75,735 $0 Arkansas 0 0 1 3,610 -3,610 Colorado 5 103,641 7 260,645 -157,004 Kansas 2 11,735 8 41,688 -29,953 New Mexico 1 2,000 0 0 2,000 Oklahoma 1 2,930 3 15,055 -12,125 Texas 21 261,960 40 619,765 -357,805 Utah 0 0 0 0 0