News and Information from Bond Buyer

House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. John Larson considers municipal bonds to be “the lifeline of any given community.”

After Boston’s mass transit system ground to a halt during the winter, the wheels for overhauling the agency that runs it have begun to turn.

The Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management board named David Gurtz interim CFO and COO and promoted Sarah Samuels to deputy chief investment officer.

Stifel Financial Corp. said Oscar Cardenas and Curt Shelmire have joined the Public Finance Group of its broker-dealer subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus & Co.

Municipal bond traders are looking ahead to the upcoming week's dramatically lighter calendar, which has no new issues over $250 million on it.

Moody's Investors Service said it placed the ratings of all New Jersey public universities under review for downgrade.

Apr. 24, 2015 Far West: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alaska Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.19 1.28 2.07 2.96 California Aa3/A/A 0.22 1.31 2.29 3.26 Hawaii Aa2/AA/AA 0.22 1.36 2.18 3.11 Idaho Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.19 1.34 2.18 3.1 Montana Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.19 1.33 2.19 3.12 Nevada Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.22 1.42 2.24 3.17 Oregon Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.19 1.29 2.1 3.05 Washington Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.21 1.37 2.24 3.19 Wyoming NR/AAA/NR 0.19 1.32 2.1 3.01

4/23/2015 4/16/2015 State # Iss Amount ($000) # Iss Amount ($000) Chg in Amt ($000) Alaska 0 $0 0 $0 $0 California 22 802,765 15 1,341,990 ?539,225 Hawaii 0 0 0 0 0 Idaho 1 6,120 1 33,905 ?27,785 Montana 0 0 0 0 0 Nevada 0 0 0 0 0 Oregon 0 0 3 367,000 ?367,000 Washington 10 1,032,305 13 1,314,925 ?282,620 Wyoming 0 0 0 0 0

Monday, April 27 Issuer St Description Amount

Friday, April 24 Issuer St Description Amount

Friday, April 24 Issuer St Description Amount

CALIFORNIA

ALABAMA

Government

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, increased three basis points to 4.26% from 4.23% for the week ended April 16.

With Texas school funding still undecided in Austin, the El Paso Independent School District, one of the largest in the state, estimates that it will face a $12 million deficit in the coming fiscal year.

Prices of top-shelf municipal bonds ended weaker on Thursday, traders said, as yields on most maturities rose by one basis point.

Chicago-based general government banker Eric Rockhold started Monday with Bank of America Merrill Lynch as a co-head of the central region, industry sources said.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its long-term rating to AA-minus from AA on Taft School, Conn.'s existing bonds.

A California appellate court's decision could reduce the economic flexibility of local governments and water utilities that analysts are already concerned could struggle to raise revenue in the arid conditions.