News and Information from Bond Buyer

Government

Los Angeles County has given the greenlight to a public-private project for a $270 million office building for its Department of Mental Health anchored by tax-exempt bonds.

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service released their 2016-2017 priority guidance plan this week, which includes a revenue procedure on management contracts as well as regulations on issue price and political subdivisions.

Municipal bond prices ended weaker on Tuesday as the nearly $499 million Barclays Center deal came to market amid eager buyers.

Providence Health & Services took a one-notch downgrade from Fitch Ratings, ahead of a planned &803 million revenue bond deal for Providence St. Joseph Health.

Detroit-based law firm Clark Hill is expanding its public finance reach in Michigan with the acquisition of competitor Axe & Ecklund.

Chicago's junk-rated school district scheduled a public hearing next week on a request for $945 million of borrowing authorization.

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts is suggesting that Congress should give the Securities and Exchange Commission direct regulatory authority over issuers as a way to improve disclosure in the municipal market.

Both presidential candidates should focus more on rebuilding U.S. infrastructure, former officials urge.

An $800 million bond sale to finance New Jersey's American Dream retail development could provide fuel for critics of the municipal bond tax exemption, according to Municipal Market Analytics.

Moody's upgrades Pennsylvania's school district pre-default enhancement program to A2 from Baa1, citing a new state law.

Conditions may allow for at least one rate increase this year, if projections are correct, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart said Tuesday.

Municipal bond prices were weaker at midday as the big Barclays Center deal came to market on Tuesday.

Puerto Rico's July General Fund revenues came in 1% above the government's forecast for the month.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $20 billion of 364-day bills at a 0.570% high yield, a price of 99.423667.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $55 billion of four-week bills at a 0.275% high yield, a price of 99.978611.

Political gridlock has stymied attempts to overhaul pensions across the nation, most notably in the two lowest-rated states, New Jersey and Illinois.

Georgia's chief financial officer Teresa MacCartney has received the Gloria Timmer Award from the National Association of Budget Officers during the organization’s annual meeting.

The municipal bond market is set to see some large deals hit the screens on Tuesday, led by a high-yield deal from a Brooklyn, N.Y., issuer.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual CPI June: +0.2% July: unch July: unch CPI Core June: +0.2% July: +0.2% July: +0.1% Housing Starts June: 1.186M July: 1.180M July: 1.211M Building Permits June: 1.153M July: 1.160M July: 1.152M Industrial Production June: +0.4% July: +0.3% July: +0.7% Capacity Utilization June: 75.4 July: 75.6 July: 75.9