News and Information from Bond Buyer

Michigan public finance veteran Dale Deis joins top-ranked PFM after nearly 30 years at Municipal Financial Consultants in Michigan.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew’s recommendation Tuesday to grant Puerto Rico municipalities and public entities access to Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection failed to convince Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that the administration has the clear plan that’s needed before Congress can act to help the territory.

Prices of top-quality municipal bonds finished weaker on Wednesday, traders said, with yields on some maturities strengthening by as much as three basis points.

The developer of the All Aboard Florida private passenger train system plans to quickly issue $1.75 billion of private activity bonds after approval of the deal.

The $8 billion, three-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund avoids a project shutdown in August.

Standard & Poor’s assigned an A rating and stable outlook to Detroit’s first post-bankruptcy bond sale, set for Aug. 19.

Credits of the U.S. publicly owned airport sector and the crucial role of airport management are undervalued by the major ratings agencies despite their blemish-proof record, Kroll Bond Rating Agency said in a new report.

Moody's Investors Service said it has downgraded to A2 from A1 the underlying rating on Wayland Union School District, Mich.'s general obligation unlimited tax debt.

Senate leaders are raising concerns over legislation passed by the House and supported by Gov. Bruce Rauner that halts cost-of-living pay raises for Illinois lawmakers in the current fiscal year.

A $250 million public financing package for a new Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena is headed to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's desk.

The Treasury Department auctioned $35 billion of five-year notes, with a 1 5/8% coupon, a 1.625% high yield, a price of par.

"Detroit's a much better credit than it was two years ago," its former emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, told a municipal bond market group.

Prices of top-quality municipal bonds were weaker at mid-session, traders said, with yields on some maturities strengthening by as much as three basis points.

San Diego city and county leaders said they remain optimistic about the city’s chances of retaining its National Football League team following a meeting with league officials on Tuesday.

The Treasury Department Wednesday auctioned $15 billion of two-year floating rate notes with a high discount margin of 0.077%, at a 0.077% spread, a price of par.

S&P Dow Jones Indices on Wednesday launched two new indexes that will break out and track tax-exempt and taxable revenue bonds in existing S&P DJI indexes.

Andres Capital Management, an independent investment advisory firm formed by former Merrill Lynch municipal market executives Bob Andres, Ted Palatucci, and Fred Offenberg, opened for business this week in Berwyn, Pa.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Lake Elsinore Unified School District, Calif.’s issuer rating to A3 from A2 and assigned a negative outlook.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Pending Home Sales May: +0.6% June: +1.0% June: -1.8%

MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast called on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to quintuple the city's capital plan contribution to $3.2 billion.