News and Information from Bond Buyer

Two former Minneapolis-based Northland Securities veterans have returned to the firm to bolster its education work.

Michigan legislators neared a vote on a package of bills aimed at resolving Detroit's bankruptcy after a hearing that saw testimony from public finance veteran Richard Ravitch and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

Theodore Pockman Swick, former president of the Municipal Bond Club of New York, died last week after a short illness in Newport, R. I. He was 91-years-old.

The House passed a $12.3 billion water infrastructure bill Tuesday that funds 34 port, inland waterway, and dam projects.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has raised its long-term rating and issuer credit rating on Monroe Township Board of Education (Gloucester County) N.J.'s general obligation debt one notch to AA-minus from A-plus.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its long-term rating to A-plus from A on the Indiana Finance Authority's series 2009A, 2011, and 2013A fixed-rate revenue bonds, issued for Deaconess Health System Inc.

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association president and chief executive officer Kenneth Bentsen criticized recent efforts by the Securities and Exchange Commission to further regulate the muni market, telling issuer officials on Tuesday that a new rule and initiative could undermine productive relationships between municipalities and underwriters.

Airport infrastructure public-private partnerships are often stymied by a web of competing local interests, aviation advocates told a House P3 panel.

Moody's Investors Service Tuesday downgraded $975 million in outstanding Clark County, Nevada Airport Enterprise senior lien bonds to Aa3. The bonds are for Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport.

How utilities pay for damage related to Hurricane Sandy affects credit quality, Standard & Poor's said in a report.

The California Public Employees' Retirement System requested another extension to file court documents in its appeal of San Bernardino's eligibility to be in bankruptcy citing progress made in the confidential mediation.

The $145 million New Mexico severance bonds that came to market on Tuesday were priced too high, investors say.

Moody's said $2 billion in federal loans for a commuter train service extension into Virginia's Fairfax and Loudoun counties is a credit positive.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its rating on Columbia, Mo.'s water and electric system revenue bonds one notch to AA from AA-minus.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn lacks the House votes needed to win approval of his plan to make an expiring tax increase permanent, despite a lengthy lobbying session with fellow Democrats.

As inflation increases and more jobs are available, it may become necessary for the Federal Open Market Committee to start tightening rates "sooner rather than later," Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser said Tuesday.

Moody's Investors Service said it has downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2 the rating of Clark County, Nev., airport enterprise's senior lien general aviation revenue bonds.

The Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management board hired Andre Clapp as senior investment officer for public markets.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $45 billion of four-week bills at a 0.030% high yield, a price of 99.997667.