News and Information from Bond Buyer

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its long-term rating to B-plus from BB-minus on Conner Creek Academy East (CCAE), Mich.'s series 2007 revenue and refunding bonds.

Members of Congress broke the news early on allocations of federal TIGER grants ahead of the official announcement of awards totaling $600 million from the program.

An oversight committee has raised questions about Fort Worth Independent School District’s use of $4.5 million to buy real estate.

Guam Power Authority's plans to sell $76.5 million in senior revenue bonds the week of Sept. 15. and the three ratings agencies have three different outlooks on the low-investment grade credit.

Fitch Ratings said it assigns an A rating to $2.29 billion in general obligation bonds of the state of California, consisting of: $940 million various purpose GO bonds; $200 million various purpose GO bonds (green bonds); $950 million various purpose GO refunding bonds; and $200 million GO bonds (mandatory put bonds).

The $371.05 million Chicago second lien water revenue bonds was priced with appealing yields.

In Rhode Island, state Treasurer Gina Raimondo and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung will face off for governor after winning primaries on a day that also featured primaries in Massachusetts and New York.

Low interest rates on federal and bank loans for the $2.3 billion Interstate 4 Ultimate project in central Florida saved the state nearly $70 million from estimates, officials said.

The Treasury Department auctioned $21 billion of 9-year 11 month notes with a 2 3/8% coupon at a 2.535% high yield, a price of 980602787.

The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee has introduced legislation that would continue funding government programs and services until Dec. 11, preventing a federal government shutdown before the midterm elections.

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership, which received a AA-minus rating from S&P, expects to sign a new funding agreement with Fannie Mae this week.

Standard & Poor's downgraded New Jersey's general obligation rating to A from A-plus on Wednesday.

California's state controller released a monthly report this week, showing the state's revenues for the month of August came in below estimates.

Detroit's historic bankruptcy case saw a major breakthrough late Tuesday when the city and its strongest opponent, bond insurer Syncora Guarantee, announced they had reached an agreement in principal.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has lowered its rating on New Jersey's general obligation bonds to A from A-plus.

Municipal bonds continued to sell-off on Wednesday morning, following Treasuries' yield hike.

Two-term Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock resigned four months before the end of his term, prompting Gov. Mike Pence to appoint long-time public finance figure Dan Huge as interim replacement.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has hired former BondDesk Trading LLC president John Bagley as its chief market structure officer, the MSRB announced Wednesday.

Wholesale inventories increased 0.1% in July, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

Sep. 10, 2014 Midwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Illinois A3/A+/A+ 0.72 2.42 3.71 4.61 Indiana Aaa/AAA/AA+ 0.12 1.18 2.28 3.23 Iowa Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.12 1.19 2.28 3.23 Michigan Aa2/AA/AA 0.15 1.26 2.42 3.4 Minnesota Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.12 1.15 2.21 3.12 Missouri Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.12 1.13 2.19 3.14 Nebraska NR/AAA/AA+ 0.12 1.2 2.36 3.31 North Dakota Aa1/AA+/NR 0.13 1.22 2.34 3.29 Ohio Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.13 1.19 2.3 3.28 South Dakota NR/AA+/NR 0.13 1.23 2.38 3.34 Wisconsin Aa2/AA/AA 0.13 1.2 2.32 3.31