News and Information from Bond Buyer

Rating agency announcements were the catalysts for a bulk of Thursday's secondary market trading, widening spreads on Illinois and Atlantic City debt.

Houston saved about $16.6 million on $372 million of new money and refunding issues over a two-day period, controller Ronald Green told The Bond Buyer.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law Tuesday a $1.1 billion bond-financed transportation package.

Atlantic City, N.J.'s mayor responded to the junk rating placed on its debt by Moody's Investors Service, saying the city is already shifting away from a casino-centered economy.

Three consumer advocacy groups filed a lawsuit accusing Tennessee of implementing policies that deny health coverage to individuals eligible for TennCare.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, a frequent critic of federal spending, is urging Congress not to cut funding for military bases in the Sunflower State.

Allowing states to toll existing highways as an infrastructure funding option divides transportation industry advocates.

Hospital bankruptcies are on pace to set a record in 2014 and investors should get more involved with restructuring efforts, a firm specializing the field says.

Having dropped the stigmatized Harrisburg Authority name, Capital Region Water of Pennsylvania is shooting for an investment-grade rating within 18 to 24 months. Meanwhile, the unrated is selling debt with the help of credit enhancement.

Municipal bond issuers, dealers, and lawyers are making another push to alter the Securities and Exchange Commission's Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation initiative, asking the SEC to narrow the program's scope and delay its deadline by several months.

Samson Capital Advisors LLC, a New York-based global fixed-income investment management boutique, has tripled its assets under management in the past decade, as demand surged for wealth management advice.

The Chicago Board of Education unanimously approved a nearly $6.8 billion budget even as some board members expressed reservations over the district's reliance on one-time manuevers to close a $900 million shortfall.

Atlantic City bond yields jumped and trading on the New Jersey city's debt spiked after a downgrade, as traders looked to get out of what one of them called a "dying gambling metropolis."

Detroit's bankruptcy may prove relevant for current restructuring candidates like Puerto Rico, the City of Chicago, and several municipalities in California.

Outflows from tax-exempt money market funds decreased to $66 million in the week ended July 21, as total net assets settled at $256.75 billion, according to The Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneyNet.com.

Credit spreads on California's general obligation have been narrowing, both before and after the state's upgrade to Aa3 by Moody's Investors Service.

Maryland's general obligation pricing, which pushed yields on the MMD scale lower earlier in the week, may bode well for the $163.6 million Louisiana Public Facilities Authority deal scheduled to enter the market on Thursday.

Jul. 24, 2014 Southeast: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alabama Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.11 1.31 2.36 3.44 Florida Aa1/AAA/AAA 0.11 1.3 2.34 3.48 Georgia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.11 1.24 2.23 3.29 Kentucky Aa2/AA+/AA 0.13 1.36 2.43 3.52 Louisiana Aa2/AA/AA 0.12 1.34 2.41 3.48 Mississippi Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.13 1.34 2.43 3.49 North Carolina Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.11 1.24 2.22 3.28 South Carolina Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.11 1.25 2.26 3.32 Tennessee Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.11 1.24 2.27 3.31 Virginia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.11 1.23 2.21 3.27 West Virginia Aa1/AA/AA 0.12 1.36 2.44 3.51

7/23/2014 7/16/2014 State Iss Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Alabama 1 $186,505 2 $49,890 $136,615 Florida 7 238,275 3 251,190 -12,915 Georgia 2 24,260 3 36,760 -12,500 Kentucky 2 25,755 4 64,205 -38,450 Louisiana 2 356,050 0 0 356,050 Mississippi 1 8,445 0 0 8,445 North Carolina 0 0 0 0 0 South Carolina 1 65,000 0 0 65,000 Tennessee 1 19,000 2 210,000 -191,000 Virginia 4 165,300 2 36,285 129,015 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 0

Thursday, July 24 Issuer St Description Amount