COVID-19

Senate Republicans said the $10 billion COVID bill is paid for with unspent funds from previous pandemic bills, but it appears to avoid tapping state ARPA funds.

The budget provides more money to state and local governments and record levels of funding for schools and railroad initiatives.

The New York Fed has called on regulators to issue updated rules on money market funds, but the market effects are quickly transforming the market.

Florida's economy is stabilizing from the COVID-19 pandemic, but nature and man may bring other threats to its recovery.

Supported by the American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law almost exactly a year ago, cities "have come roaring back," the President said.

The Big Apple faces an uncertain economic future as many white-collar workers remain at home and the return to office movement takes hold only slowly.

Barkley hopes to get members back to educational events in person as well as adding younger members to the NFMA roster.

Thirty states would have been affected by the plan to claw back $8 billion in unspent ARPA funds to offset the FY22 appropriation.

Illinois senators joined House colleagues to introduce legislation that would give states with unemployment trust fund loans more interest-free time to repay them.

North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell talks with The Bond Buyer's Chip Barnett about how the state's economy has remained in financially good health despite dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic as well how the state deals with troubled municipalities. As chair of the debt affordability commission, he chats about bond issuance. He also discusses the ways to reform healthcare and increase transparency. (15 minutes)

SIFMA had argued that the SEC's temporary exemption order for municipal advisors was arbitrary and capricious.

School districts that impose COVID-19 related mitigation measures face state lawsuits and can't participate in the Missouri's bond enhancement program.

Municipals have been resilient throughout the pandemic — with the help of federal aid — keeping the Golden Age for public finance alive.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn urged counties to continue to lobby for a bill that would allow ARPA funds to be used for transportation infrastructure and disaster relief.

Unprecedented federal funding and community engagement on multiple levels are the keys to achieving digital equity and inclusion.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board voted to propose amendments to extend remote inspections until the end of this year, in addition to adjusting its fee model for the 2023 year.

The think tank seeks papers with a focus on research related to the impact of COVID-19 on public finance, innovations in funding infrastructure and threats posed by climate change.

Cancellations due to fears of omicron are putting a damper on cruise bookings, says Fitch's Emma Griffith, who adds there is still a lot of pent-up demand.

John Hallacy of John Hallacy Consulting LLC sits down with Chip Barnett to talk about what the municipal bond market will face in 2022. He discusses inflation, new issuance volume, and the future of infrastructure this year amid the lingering effects of COVID and Omicron. (19 minutes)

Cities led the American recovery last year, Yellen told mayors at the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting.