Munis

The pace of the issuance and the increase of refundings, surging 59.6% in the first quarter of 2024, have also led some firms to up their overall 2024 issuance projections.

The city gave no reason for the cancellation of its redemption plans or bond issuance, but reserved the right to call the 2010B BABs for redemption in the future.

Utah's Seven County Infrastructure Coalition has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeals court ruling that led to the loss of federal permits for a proposed bond-financed railway that would transport crude oil.

Goddard College became the latest small liberal arts school to close, citing long-term enrollment declines.

DASNY, Washington, Massachusetts, Jefferson County, Alabama, and the New Jersey Education Facilities Authority entered the top 10, with the last three issuers coming to market after not issuing any debt in the first quarter of 2023.

The deal comes amid market inflows and a dearth of high-yield supply, but demand will depend, as always, on the price, investors said.

Major headwinds for the muni market include climate change, growing federal debt, shrinkage of the workforce, the impact of remote work, cybersecurity attacks, and political polarization. And they are poised to be costly for states and municipalities.

Kaufman Hall & Associates, Piper Sandler and Montague DeRose & Associates moved into the top 10, while CSG Advisors, Estrada Hinojosa and RBC Capital Markets were bumped.

The state's transportation commission took action to end a comprehensive development agreement for a partially bond-financed toll lane project on State Highway 288.

Muni to UST ratios also continue to rise across the curve, inching closer to more normal averages.

Voters in the Milwaukee Public Schools District passed a referendum Tuesday that would raise property taxes to fund $252 million of additional spending.

BofA Securities remained at the top of the list.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom reached an agreement with Democratic leaders on early deficit-reduction tactics.

While the number is high, the par amount affected is less than the first quarter of 2023 figures.

The criteria should result in a nearly equal number of upgrades and downgrades in the next half year, according to the rating agency.

A recent report calls for the elimination of the muni bond tax-exemption.

Two mega deals recently priced with make-whole calls for bonds due in 2034 and shorter where the market does not appear "to be penalizing issuers for including an optional make whole call feature in the short maturity tax-exempt bonds," said Pat Luby, head of Municipal Strategy at CreditSights, in a report.

S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook on the university's debt to negative a month after Moody's Ratings took similar action as the school faces financial difficulties and management changes.

"HB 727, if signed into law, should lower borrowing costs for Kentucky school districts and will serve as a critical tool in dealing with cost overruns and other inflationary pressures," said Compass Municipal Advisors.

Gyliane Morgan alleges the company retaliated against her in 2020 after she pointed to the firm's oversight failings — including not flagging defaults by borrowers — stemming from its role in a U.S. Department of Education program that helps finance campus projects, according to a wrongful termination lawsuit she filed March 27 in a New York federal court.