News and Information from Bond Buyer

Standard & Poor’s downgraded the Willacy County Local Government Corp. to a junk-bond rating of CCC-plus from an investment grade BBB after a $78 million bond-funded detention center lost its operator in the wake of an inmate revolt.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago won an upgrade from Standard & Poor’s as it fiscal books remain on the upswing.

Ohio next week will launch its first public-private partnership with the sale of $230 million of tax-exempt private activity bonds for a highway through the Appalachians.

With no solution in sight for fully funding New York MTA's capital program, the Citizens Budget commission watchdog group presents a funding alternative.

Standard & Poor's is reviewing its Atlantic City, N.J. BB bond rating in response to a new emergency manager report indicating possible debt payment delays this year.

Prices of top-rated municipal bonds finished little changed on Wednesday, traders said, with yields on some maturities slipping by a basis point after remaining flat in the previous two trading sessions. Meanwhile, the $1.7 billion California tobacco bond deal was priced for institutions after a one-day order period.

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund will explore using taxable munis and reinsurance to provide $2.2 billion in liquidity for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season.

Wisconsin's tab to repay $220 million in proposed borrowing for a new Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena ranges from $324 million to $488 million, according to a legislative report.

States have postponed scores of road projects over concerns that federal funding will be delayed during the summer construction season.

A federal appeals court will hear oral arguments May 15 in the case of three convicted bid riggers seeking to have their convictions overturned.

States have postponed scores of road projects over concerns that federal funding will be delayed during the summer construction season.

The Treasury Department auctioned $35 billion of five-year notes, with a 1 3/8% coupon, a 1.387% high yield, a price of 99.442226.

Standard & Poor’s joined Fitch Ratings in upgrading the rating on the California Department of Water Resources power revenue bonds.

Prices of top-rated municipal bonds were stronger at mid-session, traders said, with yields on some maturities down by more than two basis points after remaining flat for the previous two trading sessions.

The Treasury Department Wednesday auctioned $13 billion of one-year 10-month floating rate notes with a high discount margin of 0.085%, at a 0.084% spread, a price of 99.998123.

The Kentucky General Assembly adjourned March 25 without passing a major funding bill for the Teachers’ Retirement System, potentially imperiling the Bluegrass state’s credit rating.

Betsy Taylor, the longtime finance director Massachusetts Port Authority and its point person on bond deals, is retiring after 37 years with the agency.

Moody’s Investors Service hit Detroit Public Schools with another downgrade late Monday, warning that the troubled district faces major fiscal stress and a rising debt burden.

The $1.7 billion California tobacco bond deal is set to be priced for institutions on Wednesday after a one-day order period was held on Tuesday as more deals are set to hit the screens in the municipal bond market.