News and Information from Bond Buyer

A West Virginia pilot program expanding the number of municipalities receiving home rule powers is credit positive, Moody's said Oct. 16.

A Miami-Dade County committee has recommended a $9 million grant from GO bond proceeds for public infrastructure at the proposed SkyRise Miami project.

Moody's Investors Service upgraded St. Joseph's Healthcare System (N.J.) to Baa3 from Ba1 on Oct. 17.

Moody's Investors Service affirmed Loma Linda University Medical Center, Calif.'s Baa3 revenue bond rating.

Long-end interest dominated this week's secondary trading as the equity market's sell-off prompted a wave of interest in municipals, pushing yields down.

Government

Three New Mexico school districts are suing the state to boost funding that ranks among the lowest in the nation per pupil.

Moody's Investors Service shifted its outlook on Texas Health Resources to "developing" from "positive" after its Dallas hospital's handling of the nation's first Ebola case.

Eight state and local groups are urging federal banking regulators to classify investment-grade munis with demonstrated liquidity as high-quality liquid assets.

Standard & Poor's dropped Higginsville, Missouri's 2010 sewerage system revenue bonds down three notches to the lowest investment grade level Wednesday over its weakened fiscal position.

It could be January before Louisiana determines how much of a fund balance is available for the next budget, state legislators learned Friday. The uncertainty is delaying state bond sales.

Detroit's convention center is hitting the market Wednesday with $300 million of bonds that marks its first public offering since it was taken over by a regional authority in 2009.

Four years after its launch, the $2.1 billion North Tarrant Express is open to traffic and providing a financial model for other projects in the state, developers say.

Illinois closed out the first quarter of fiscal 2015 with its bill backlog holding steady at nearly $5 billion, state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka reported in her office's monthly update.

Moody's Investors Service released a report saying transparency in the municipal market has been diminished by the growth of bank loans and private placements.

In a major boost for California's high-speed rail project, the California Supreme Court declined to consider petitions challenging funding for the state's bullet train.

While spending on state highways is up, some states are falling further behind on maintenance needs, Reason Foundation says.

Massachusetts plans to resume its MassDirect notes sale, rolling offerings for retail investors totaling $510 million over nine months.

Experts say that the $1.63 billion in New York Liberty Development Corp. tax-exempt bonds for 3 World Trade Center expected in late October will have unusual but not necessarily worrisome features.

Friday proved to be another active day in the primary as repricings were announced with even tighter spreads.