Law and legal issues

A federal agency called off a settlement announcement regarding the lawsuit challenging Rhode Island's pension overhaul law, while a judge set a September trial date.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission and the city of New Orleans are a step closer toward settling a two-year-old federal housing discrimination lawsuit.

The Harrisburg, Pa., City Council tabled a vote to authorize up to $4 million to issue tax and revenue anticipation notes, while it OK'd a $78 million budget.

Hoping to avoid a state takeover, Wayne County, Mich., the junk-rated county that is home to Detroit, Tuesday unveiled a deficit elimination plan that relies on selling its wastewater treatment system.

Harrisburg and its firefighters union agreed on concessions that will enable Pennsylvania's distressed capital to balance its budget.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder appointed a team to review the finances of the struggling city of Lincoln Park, two weeks after declaring financial emergencies in two other Detroit-area cities.

Former Bank of America executive Phillip Murphy pleaded guilt Monday in a North Carolina federal court to rigging municipal bond investment bids, while convicted bid-rigger Mark Zaino's sentencing has been delayed yet again in New York.

Detroit wants to file a debt adjustment plan next week as the city and creditors meet for a fresh round of talks this week.

Detroit officially ended an interest-rate swap termination agreement with its counterparties Thursday, a move that the city says preserves its right to pursue legal action against the banks, but said talks with the banks continue.

Michigan officials agreed to step in to assist foundering negotiations between Detroit and neighboring counties over Detroit's water and sewer system considered key to the city's restructuring, Oakland County officials said.

Standard & Poor's outlook shifts to stable from negative on a Vail Valley golf community whose private club was tied up in bankruptcy and litigation.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's fraud case against Miami and its former budget director Michael Boudreaux is on hold pending Boudreaux's appeal of the court's decision to invalidate his effort to claim immunity from the lawsuit.

S&P revised the outlook to negative on CCC-rated bonds for South Carolina's Tuomey Healthcare due to a $277 million fraud judgment and operating losses.

Voters in bankrupt San Bernardino, Calif. elected as mayor, Carey Davis, who ran on a platform critical of decisions made by town leaders that he says landed the city of 213,000 in bankruptcy.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said it would be premature to assume that Detroit's bankruptcy will drive up borrowing costs across the state.

Attorneys for Georgia have asked the U.S. Supreme Court not to entertain a lawsuit from Florida over water rights between the states.

A partially bond funded plan to build a $650 million hockey arena and entertainment district near downtown Detroit advanced Tuesday when the city council agreed to transfer 39 acres of public land to the project.

Convicted bid-rigger David Rubin should pay more than $11,5 million in restitution to 99 municipal victims who have not been compensated for losses they incurred due to "kickbacks" and depressed interest rates resulting from criminal activity, according to U.S. Justice Department filings with a federal court this week.

The SEC and former JPMorgan bankers asked a federal court to exclude experts in the pay-to-play suit involving Jefferson County, Ala.'s sewer deals.

Contingent liabilities for nonessential, noncore enterprises pose huge credit risk for some local governments, Moody's said in a report that cited Harrisburg.