News and Information from Bond Buyer

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its rating on Spring Grove Area School District, Pa.'s existing general obligation debt to AA-minus from A-plus.

The Puerto Rico House of Representatives is expected to approve a hike on imported oil Tuesday for the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority.

The outlook for the U.S. not-for-profit healthcare industry in 2015 remains negative as financial and business fundamentals will remain weak over the next 12-18 months, says Moody's Investors Service.

Kentucky fuel costs will fall 4.3-cents a gallon on Jan. 1, a drop that translates into a "crippling" loss of $129 million in state road funding, officials warned.

A federal judge has sentenced former Ohio deputy treasurer and Chicago comptroller Amer Ahmad to 15 years in prison for his role in kickback scandal involving state investment business at the Ohio treasurer’s office.

Local water utility executives say they face funding pressures in upgrading treatment systems with limited financial resources.

Termed-out Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach announced his decision to run in a special election for the 37th State Senate District to subscribers of his email blast.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber is proposing to spend over half of an $18.6 billion budget on schools, community colleges, and universities in the state.

The Long Island Power Authority has had its debt ratings maintained by Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service just before the utility is slated to issue roughly $800 million in new revenue bonds.

The municipal bond market is shaking itself out of holiday mode as the primary gears up and sees some action with a big competitive sale on tap and two large issues priced for retail investors. High-quality municipal bond prices were weaker at midday.

The House may vote on a bill this week that would extend through the end of the year a number of expired tax provisions, including several relating to bonds, state and local finance, and Puerto Rico.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $50 billion of four-week bills at a 0.030% high yield, a price of 99.997583.

Alabama is facing a budget shortfall that could reach nearly $700 million in the next few years, according to Gov. Robert Bentley.

A beleaguered Victorville, Calif. airport authority notified bondholders in a filing that it expected to default for the seventh time on bonds it issued to redevelop the airport from military to civilian use.

In 2015 U.S. states should expect growing but variable revenues, financial position stabilization, and ongoing exposure to federal action, according to a Fitch Ratings report.

Uintah County School District earns a Moody's Investors Service upgrade to Aa3 from A1 despite signs of volatility in northeastern Utah's energy-based economy.

Construction spending gained 1.1% in October, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, and is 3.3% above the October 2013 level.

The municipal bond market is awaiting the kickoff of this week's primary market activity, topped on Tuesday by the competitive sale of $1.3 billion New York State Urban Development Corp. in three separate issues.

New York City business activity grew at a faster pace in November, as the current business conditions index surged to 62.4 from 54.8 in October, the Institute for Supply Management-New York's Report on Business index, released Tuesday, indicated.

Ottawa County, Mich., is bringing $29 million of gilt-edged federally taxable bonds to market on Wednesday to pay off a chunk of its unfunded pension liability, the first of several similar deals that may be on the horizon from local Michigan issuers.