News and Information from Bond Buyer

The funding will help facilities in the state deal with the nurse and doctor shortage, and increase IT projects to bolster its Medi-Cal system.

Todd Russ, who took office Jan. 9, is vetting banks and financial institutions to determine if they are 'boycotting' Oklahoma's fossil fuel industry.

"The main point is that this is a change primarily in name only," said Ben Watkins, head of the state's Bond Division. "There will be no impact on debt whatsoever."

Jim Link joins the asset management firm as head of institutional Outsourced Chief Investment Officer division.

"As we continue to strengthen our national platform, I am delighted to have Gary serving as president of the infrastructure and public finance department," Suzanne Shank said.

Louisa Chafee is senior vice president for external relations and public policy at the UJA-Federation of New York, the largest local Jewish philanthropy organization in the world.

Friday's payrolls "surprised to the upside, with nonfarm payrolls increasing 517,000 last month after an upwardly revised 260,000 gain in December," Barclays strategists said.

Nearly two-thirds of market participants in a Bond Buyer live market survey believe 2023 issuance will remain around last year's levels.

Despite its nearly drained capacity, the Texas Permanent School Fund program continues to operate as it seeks legislative and regulatory solutions to a federal cap.

A reserve account doesn't hold enough cover the semi-annual $8.7 million interest payment, said the bond's trustee.

A financial instrument that has appealed to many municipalities to remedy underfunded pension plans is once again looking like a losing borrow and bet scheme.

A panel of experts at The Bond Buyer's National Outlook Conference discussed the opportunities surrounding ESG for both investors and issuers.

California's bond ratings are likely to escape unscathed from the atmospheric rivers that caused an estimated $646 million in damage to the state's infrastructure.

"Build a culture and cohesiveness that fosters collaboration and resiliency," Deborah Goldberg told The Bond Buyer National Outlook conference.

Deposits to reserves that had been planned for fiscal 2024 and 2025 would be completed by the end of the current fiscal year, bringing the total to $24 billion.

The top two municipal bond insurers wrapped $28.224 billion in 2022, a 30.1% decrease from the $37.486 billion of deals done in 2021, according to Refinitiv data.

A few developments in recent sessions "may have staying power should the new outlook on upcoming FOMC actions gain traction," said Kim Olsan, a senior vice president of municipal bond trading at FHN Financial.

Illinois' net position for governmental activities remains deep in the red but after years of falling further behind, it trimmed the gap in fiscal 2022.

The $10,000 state and local tax deduction cap is an important issue for high tax states like New York and California and investors who trade paper from those states.

The budget "starts and ends with the housing and homelessness crisis because housing is fundamental to everything else in a person's life," said Gov. Tina Kotek.