News and Information from Bond Buyer

Government

Samantha DeZur, the Bond Dealers of America vice president of federal policy and strategic communications, will take a new job as the manager of government relations for Chicago-based CME Group Sept. 14.

Three federal appeals court judges dismissed a challenge Tuesday to the Securities and Exchange Commission's pay-to-play rule for investment advisors that has similarities to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's own pay-to-play rule for broker-dealers.

New Jersey's bid to legalize sports betting has once again been shot down by a federal appellate court.

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority said Tuesday it had reached oil and natural gas purchase deals that will save it $55 million annually.

The New York Power Authority finished $2.1 million in energy efficiency upgrades at the MTA's Metro-North Railroad North White Plains Train Yard.

Nanticoke is the first city and 10th municipality to exit Pennsylvania's Act 47 workout program for distressed communities, state officials say.

Fast-growing Montomery County north of Houston will vote again on $280 million of road bonds that were defeated in 2014, county commissioners decided.

Sacramento is planning to convert existing short-term debt into long-term bonds next month to finance its share of an arena for the Sacramento Kings basketball team.

Prices of top-rated municipal bonds closed weaker on Tuesday, according to traders, as yields on some maturities increased by as much as five basis points. The primary was busy as several large deals came to market.

The Chicago Park District heads to market Thursday with $88 million of debt that market participants say should offer up some alluring yield premiums due to the troubled Chicago name.

Virginia's proposed $2.1 billion project to reduce congestion on Interstate 66 can go ahead as a public-private partnership.

A local engineering firm and its founder made a $2 million donation that provides one quarter of the local matching funds needed to qualify for federal grants on a $119 million runway project.

Ellen Bromagen has been appointed first vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, effective Sept. 1, the Bank announced Tuesday.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded to A1 from Aa3 the rating on the city of Brockton, Mass.'s $106 million of general obligation bonds.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $26 billion of two-year notes with a 5/8% coupon at a 0.663% yield, a price of 99.924626.

Moody's Investors Service said it has upgraded to Aa2 from Aa3 the rating on the borough of Hopatcong, N.J.'s outstanding general obligation debt.

Bitvore Corp. said Kroll Bond Rating Agency adopted its obligor intelligence platform, the first credit rating service to provide its analysts with the proactive credit surveillance of the municipal finance market.

When Congress returns to Washington in September, members will have to address a number of important fiscal issues in a short amount of time.

A $1 billion funding gap could jeopardize completion of the Green Line streetcar extension north of Boston, Massachusetts transportation officials say.