News and Information from Bond Buyer

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday filed securities fraud charges against a nonprofit charter school operator in Chicago for misleading investors of $37.5 million of bonds about conflicts of interest that could have jeopardized the ability to pay debt service.

Standard & Poor's Rating Services said it has placed its ratings on New Jersey's general obligation, appropriation-backed, and moral obligation debt on CreditWatch with negative implications, which means that it could lower the rating within the next 60 to 90 days depending on the outcome of the state's budget deliberations and other developments.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Construction Spending March: +0.6% April: +0.6% April: +0.2% ISM Manufacturing April: 54.9 May: 55.5 May: 55.4

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its long-term rating to BBB-plus from A-minus on Mississippi Hospital Equipment and Facilities Authority's series 2007A revenue bonds issued for Mississippi Baptist Health Systems.

Jun. 3, 2014 Southwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Arizona Aa3/AA+/NR 0.2 1.35 2.47 3.61 Arkansas Aa1/AA/NR 0.15 1.18 2.24 3.35 Colorado Aa1/AA/NR 0.16 1.26 2.38 3.5 Kansas Aa1/AA+/NR 0.15 1.23 2.31 3.42 New Mexico Aaa/AA+/NR 0.15 1.19 2.28 3.4 Oklahoma Aa2/AA+/AA+ 0.16 1.26 2.37 3.49 Texas Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.15 1.17 2.24 3.34 Utah Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.15 1.15 2.16 3.26

6/2/2014 5/26/2014 State Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Arizona 10 $809,560 3 $88,690 $720,870 Arkansas 3 36,860 3 24,270 12,590 Colorado 4 472,415 4 116,630 355,785 Kansas 7 34,605 3 12,760 21,845 New Mexico 1 43,075 0 0 43,075 Oklahoma 27 75,875 31 79,310 -3,435 Texas 45 1,325,270 25 466,460 858,810 Utah 1 13,000 3 66,005 -53,005

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its long-term rating to A from A-minus on the Colorado Health Facilities Authority's series 2004 revenue bonds issued for Vail Valley Medical Center.

Columbus Ohio is selling nearly $300 million in top-grade general obligation paper in a competitive sale Wednesday as part of the city's annual new-money borrowing.

The $140 million Ventura County, Calif., tax and revenue anticipation notes received strong demand on Monday, investors said.

Marshall Independent School District in East Texas will try again to get voters to take on new debt after a $150 million bond proposal failed in May.

The University of North Texas System received $84 million in questionable state funds over a 10-year period, according to officials.

House GOP leaders propose cutting Saturday mail deliveries and use the savings to fund highway projects.

Moody's Investors Service said has downgraded to A2 from Aa3 the underlying rating for Pueblo County School District 70 (Pueblo County), Colo., affecting $100 million in outstanding general obligation unlimited tax debt.

Local Michigan general obligation bonds and Chicago debt represent pockets of risk in an otherwise-improving municipal bond market, Charles Schwab said Friday.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its rating on the Virginia College Building Authority's revenue bonds, issued for Regent University, to BBB from BBB-plus.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised to AA-plus from AA the rating on Memphis, Tenn.'s outstanding sewer revenue bonds.

Illinois and New Jersey are showing us how you should never, ever underestimate politicians' willingness to put off painful fiscal decisions.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were higher, as the three-months incurred a 0.035% high rate, up from 0.030% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.055% high rate, up from 0.050% the week before.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its rating on Inland Valley Development Agency, Calif.'s series 2011B and 2011C tax allocation bonds two notches to AA-minus from A.

The number of large competitive deals scheduled for auction this week climbed from the past two weeks' issuance because it's an ideal new-issue market, market participants said.