Investments

The weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, rose five basis points the week ending Oct. 23 to 4.33%.

Maryland voters will decide whether to constitutionally prohibit lawmakers from diverting transportation-dedicated tax revenues to other purposes.

ALASKA

ILLINOIS

A new train station in downtown Dallas may be the northern terminal of a 240-mile privately financed high-speed rail line to Houston.

The trial on Detroit's debt-adjustment plan adjourned after court-appointed finance expert Martha Kopacz testified that its plan to exit Chapter 9 bankruptcy is feasible.

Connecticut will become the latest state to issue green bonds, state Treasurer Denise Nappier announced Wednesday.

FLORIDA

ARKANSAS

More details on Detroit's crucial settlement with bond insurer Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. emerged Tuesday, while testimony on the feasibility of the city's bankruptcy exit plan is expected to come Wednesday, the final day of the historic trial.

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP maintained their positions atop bond counsel rankings as muni volume sank in the first nine months of the year, while former No. 3 Squire Patton Boggs, fell out of the top 10.

Moody's Investors Service dropped its rating on Detroit's $1.5 billion of certificates of participation to C from Ca, saying proposed settlements with insurers mean recoveries well below the Ca category.

Work will get under way next year on D.C.'s $54 billion, 25-year transportation plan, including a new bridge over the Anacostia River.

Chicago's general obligation bond ratings will remain pressured until the city fully fixes its pension mess, top city finance officials told alderman, while warning City Council not to expect to use reserves to ease the pain of a coming $550 million pension spike.

IOWA

ILLINOIS

A refunding deal assembled by the County of Los Angeles Redevelopment Refunding Authority triggered some positive rating actions for debt issued by the former Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles.

A Michigan authority created to oversee the disbursement of nearly $200 million of state aid to bankrupt Detroit held its first meeting in Lansing last week.

Lumesis and Municipal Bond Information Service have entered into a strategic partnership to increase the transparency around pre-trade indicative price information, and post-trade operational practices.

While finding new revenue sources for highway improvements is indeed a thorny political issue, analysts at Conning feel that the credit quality of the existing bonds remains sound.