News and Information from Bond Buyer

On Wednesday morning the FBI arrested an official in the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority.

Roy Amemiya, a television executive and former banker, has been appointed to the second highest position in Honolulu's administration.

Moody's Investors Service said Tuesday it is maintaining its negative outlook on the non-profit health care sector for 2015, warning that key economic and financial conditions are expected to remain weak.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized 20 boxes of documents Tuesday related to purchases made through Los Angeles Unified School District's $1.3 billion plans to provide iPads to every student.

The Long Island Power Authority has scrapped plans to build new gas-fueled power plants designed for the peak summer months.

The six-month hurricane season ended Sunday and left Florida's two publicly operated insurers in good financial health.

A Republican Congressman on Wednesday said that Congress should pass Internet sales tax legislation.

Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr said he plans to resign from his position in the new few weeks and that he hopes the city will be allowed to formally exit bankruptcy by Christmas.

Rhode Island Gov.-elect Gina Raimondo named Stephen Neuman, a key operative for Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, as her chief of staff.

Economic expansion continued and the future outlook was termed "optimistic" in "a number of districts," according to the Beige Book, released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve.

A $20.8 million green bond issue will allow Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems to recycle waste heat from gas pipeline compressors as a power source for its utility partners.

New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development issues an RFQ for minority- and women-owned business enterprises to work on affordable housing.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn on Tuesday said that Jefferson County can file a petition with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta in the county's bankruptcy appeal, while reframing the question, which is critical to holders of Jefferson County sewer warrants.

A jury trial is scheduled in the challenge to Rhode Island's landmark pension overhaul law, and a citizen jury represents a wild card in the case, say legal experts.

The municipal bond market saw an avalanche of new supply from a variety of issuers hit the screens on Wednesday as New Jersey sold $525 million of general obligation bonds in the competitive arena and two issuers from Texas came to market with almost $2 billion of debt in the negotiated sector.

Trends and the expectations for longer-term economic movements provide more insight than recent data when setting monetary policy, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser said Wednesday.

About 5,253,900 online job postings appeared on leading Internet job boards in November, an increase of 170,200 from October, the Conference Board reported Wednesday.

The U.S. services sector expanded at a faster pace in November as the non-manufacturing business activity composite index was 59.3 in the month, compared to 57.1 in October, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its rating to BBB from BBB-minus on New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority's $124.6 million series 2007A and 2007B bonds issued for Trinitas Regional Medical Center (TRMC).

Securities and Exchange Commission member Daniel Gallagher wants more action on pension accounting and more staff devoted to the municipal market.