News and Information from Bond Buyer

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law a transportation funding package that raises the state's tax on gasoline and diesel fuel by 10 cents a gallon and lifts permit fees on oversized vehicles.

California plans to price $1.9 billion of general obligation bonds next week, bolstered by upbeat rating reports including a Fitch Ratings upgrade.

Trudy Zibit has left her position as managing director at Fitch Ratings after 18 years at the firm.

Moody's Investors Service said it downgraded Mission Hospital's (d.b.a Mission Regional Medical Center, "MRMC") bond rating to Baa3 from Baa2 assigned to $30.7 million of rated debt outstanding issued by Hidalgo County Health Services Corporation, Texas.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has lowered its long-term rating and underlying rating on Lacey Township Board of Education, N.J.'s general obligation debt to A from AA-minus.

Chairman Thomas Prendergast said New York's MTA would explore advanced technology to minimize accident risk at track grade crossings.

New York tax collections rose slightly during the first 10 months of the state's 2015 fiscal year, but are below estimates, according to new report released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Conduit issuers and dealers face challenges under the eight month–old municipal advisor registration rule, though most market participants say the new regime is running fairly smoothly.

Moody's Investors Service said it has upgraded to Aa2 from Aa3 the rating on Falls Township, Pa.'s $19.4 million in general obligation debt outstanding.

Taxes and royalties from the oil and gas industry in Texas are expected to fall in 2015 after hitting a record $15.7 billion in 2014.

Macomb County, which borders Detroit, is expected to come to market next week with $264 million of retiree health care bonds to pay off all of the outstanding OPEB obligation.

The Treasury Department auctioned $35 billion of five-year notes, with a 1 3/8% coupon, a 1.480% high yield, a price of 99.496222.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the Cleveland suburb of Maple Heights two notches into junk territory a week after the state auditor declared a fiscal emergency and two months after the city missed payments on sewer loans to the state.

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

Doral Financial's future took another blow after the Puerto Rican company disclosed that its bank is now viewed by regulators as being "critically undercapitalized."

Issuers in the Southeast sold $48.8 billion of municipal bonds in 2014, according to Thomson Reuters, down 14.3% from 2013 to decline for the second consecutive year.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its long-term rating to AA-plus from AA on Piedmont Unified School District, Calif.'s general obligation debt.

The Treasury Department Wednesday auctioned $13 billion of one-year 11-month floating rate notes with a high discount margin of 0.084%, at a 0.084% spread, a price of 99.999999.

Congress should end Puerto Rico's exclusion from federal bankruptcy protection — but it's unfair to leave the territory's existing creditors in the lurch.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Consumer Confidence Jan.: 103.8 Feb.: 99.6 Feb.: 96.4