News and Information from Bond Buyer

Moody's said it may downgrade Henry Ford Health, one of Michigan's largest providers, due to continued operating performance declines and other challenges.

Government

Controversy erupted in Orlando over Atlanta's award of a Major League Soccer franchise because the team will play in a football stadium, while Orlando had to build a soccer stadium.

Municipal bonds rallied Friday for a fourth straight day, capping an 2nd week of gains as demand outpaces new supply.

Ziegler is expanding its investment banking team with the addition of three senior-living finance bankers from BB&T Capital Markets.

The Puerto Rico government's recently released four-year economic plan covers many policies besides strictly economic initiatives, notably education and energy.

The University of Missouri Board of Curators will offer up high-grade paper early next week in a nearly $300 million revenue-backed issue to refund existing debt and pay off commercial paper.

California should focus on addressing more of its $340 billion in long-term debt obligations, according to a recent report from the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Bond rating agencies could lower Rhode Island to junk if it misses 38 Studios moral obligation payments, said a report commissioned by a state agency.

Lawmakers have reconciled differences in House and Senate versions of a water infrastructure bill that would authorize $8 billion of federal funding.

A recent ruling from the California Supreme Court not to review an decision on other post-employment liabilities is a credit positive for California local governments, though challenges remain, credit rating agencies say.

Demand for municipal bonds will remain high through May and June, investors predict.

A Fulton County judge validated $278.3 million in revenue bonds to support the Atlanta Falcon's new stadium though an appeal is expected, an attorney said.

Moody's Investors Service said it downgrades to Caa2 and assigns a negative outlook to the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Maricopa, Ariz., charter schools education revenue bonds (Arizona Charter School Project I) Series 2000A and taxable series 2000B outstanding in the approximate amount of $15 million.

Two Midwestern issuers have disclosed that they will redeem Build America Bonds in early June because their subsidy payments have been reduced due to sequestration.

Despite sophisticated models, experience and theories, predictions about when the Federal Open Market Committee will begin to raise the federal funds rate is nothing more than the "best guesses" of participants, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President and CEO Richard W. Fisher said Friday.

Municipal bonds rallied for their fourth straight day on Friday.

Increased transparency in the bond rating agencies has been a positive for both investors and issuers, even though it can potentially create a false sense of analysis being an exact science, experts told fellow municipal analysts on Thursday.

Wholesale inventories increased 1.1% in March, the Commerce Department reported Friday.