News and Information from Bond Buyer

The East Baton Rouge Parish, La., City Council decided not to hold a referendum in May on whether to issue $335.6 million in bonds for public safety improvements.

Menasha, Wisconsin, which fell into junk bond status after defaulting on notes tied to a power plant conversion project that went awry, has won back its investment grade rating from Moody's Investors Service.

Muni Bond Indexes Strengthen Again in Latest Week

The Senate Finance Committee took a step toward comprehensive tax reform on Thursday by launching five bipartisan working groups charged with issuing a report with recommendations by the end of May.

Gov. Tom Corbett announced the investment of $53.4 million in nine drinking water and wastewater projects across six Pennsylvania counties through Pennvest.

Municipal bond prices remained strong on Thursday, keeping alive a rally that has taken yields on some top-rated munis down more than 30 basis points since the beginning of the year. J.P. Morgan Securities priced the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $500 million transportation revenue bonds.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission Thursday gave its approval for the New Orleans Aviation Board to issue up to $700 million for a new terminal.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its long-term rating on Williamson County Community Unit School District No. 3 (Crab Orchard), Ill.'s series 2012 general obligation alternate revenue source bonds to A from A-plus.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its rating to AA from AA-minus on Butte-Glenn Community College District, Calif.'s general obligation bonds outstanding.

Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García Padilla signed a bill Thursday that will raise oil taxes and provide support to the PRHTA and the GDB.

Weakening gasoline tax revenues will force Missouri to concentrate limited financial resources to road work on major arteries.

Bondholders will learn later this month how much they stand to recoup from a settlement that ended a trial accusing Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc. of misleading them on a bond deal that soured after the failure of an artificial sweetener plant project in Moberly, Mo.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined and censured New York-based Gates Capital Corporation $25,000 for failing to report variable rate demand obligation interest rate resets on time.

Gov. Charlie Baker named Northeastern University policy wonk and transit advocate Stephanie Pollaack as Massachusetts secretary of transportation.

Michigan economists are warning of unexpected revenue declines, due largely to sizable business tax credits, as the state prepares to release formal revenue projections on Friday.

California Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget dedicates additional funding to schools from boosted revenues for operating costs, but he proposes to shut down the state's K-12 school bond program.