News and Information from Bond Buyer

A Treasury Department official, a former Federal Reserve Board chair, congressional staffers and state treasurers spoke at an industry-sponsored municipal securities conference on Thursday that was closed to the press.

Fitch Ratings said it upgraded to AA-plus from AA the following San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) sales tax revenue bonds: $728.9 million sales tax revenue bonds, series 2005A, 2006, 2006A, 2010, 2012A, and 2012B.

Moody's Investors Service said it has downgraded to Baa1 from A2 the rating on the city of New Britain, Conn.'s outstanding general obligation bonds, affecting approximately $207 million of outstanding debt.

The Louisiana Transportation Funding Task Force plans to ask candidates for governor about their positions on new ways to fund roads and bridges.

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. approved $370 million in loans for wastewater improvements in New York City.

California cities are moving ahead on convention center expansions despite lingering questions about whether convention center expansions pay off for cities.

The federal government ran a $128.7 billion budget deficit in August, the Treasury reported Thursday.

Syncora Guarantee Inc. is pushing back against widely reported claims that it is receiving 26 cents on the dollar in its tentative settlement with Detroit, saying the actual recovery is “much lower than reported.”

Local government spending in New York State on roads, bridges, and water and sewer systems declined by approximately 8% to 2012 from 2010.

Coalition of shippers and operators of infrastructure assets wants long-term funding for freight projects in the next federal transportation bill.

This week's short-term California RAN deal picked up heavy secondary market activity during Thursday' morning trading session, demonstrating the market's continued fear of rising interest rates.

The Treasury Department Thursday auctioned $13 billion of 29-year 11-month bonds with a 3 1/8% coupon at a 3.240% high yield, a price of 97.804086.

Detroit's chief bankruptcy mediator ordered FGIC, the last holdout creditor, into talks with the city and Syncora Guarantee Inc. and other major creditors on Friday to try to resolve a dispute over $1.5 billion of certificates of participation.

Dave Sanchez, a lawyer who previously worked in the Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Municipal Securities, has launched a new practice that will focus on securities law compliance for issuers and municipal advisors.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $24 billion 91-day bills and $23 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $25 billion year bills on Sept. 16.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $13 billion 9-year 10-month 1/8% inflation-protected notes on Thursday, Sept. 18.

Atlanta launched a second round of public meetings in September to discuss a general obligation bond referendum to be held next year for infrastructure needs.

The primary calendar volume will retreat on Thursday with no deals scheduled for more than $50 million in either the long-term competitive or negotiated markets.

While experts say municipals should have been included in the new liquidity coverage ratio ruling for large banks, they are at odds over its anticipated impact.