Munis

Opposition to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s $5 billion, bond-financed improvement and expansion project is heating up with a lawsuit seeking to block it filed ahead of a meeting to consider initial financing. 

Audit times for municipal bond issuers are on the rise, with the median reaching 164 days in 2020 compared with 147 in 2009.

Moody's upgraded five Illinois public universities after lifting the state government's rating, lifting one to investment grade and putting three others closer.

Texas ballots are bursting with $18.5 billion of bonds Saturday as cities and school districts ask voters to approve 207 bond measures.

Total April volume was $34.329 billion in 729 deals versus $37.105 billion in 1,124 issues a year earlier.

This is the second time S&P Global Ratings placed New Orleans on negative CreditWatch due to long delays in publishing audited financial statements.

The Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority wants to sell up to $443.8 million in tax-exempt refunding bonds when market conditions improve.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago now has $600 million of pension obligation bond authority as it aims for a 100% funded ratio by 2050.

Municipal advisors are seeking more and better communication from regulators and enforcers, NAMA Executive Director Susan Gaffney says. Kyle Glazier hosts. (24 minutes)

After a four-year absence, Utah’s Intermountain Power Agency returns to the municipal market with nearly $552 million of power supply revenue bonds.

The future is uncertain and population shifts may take decades, but city officials need to start preparing for climate-driven migration now, says a new report.

Through BondLink’s new ESG solution, the system provides investors with updates on an ongoing basis — not just at the time of sale — about the projects selected, their progress and any potential impacts.

The two active municipal bond insurers wrapped $8.176 billion in the first quarter of 2022, a 3.25% decrease from the $8.442 billion of deals done in the first three months of 2021.

Kaufman Hall & Associates, Municipal Capital Markets Group and Montague DeRose & Associates moved up into the top 10.

Steven Washington joined Chapman and Cutler this week as a partner.

Moody's deemed the temporary gas tax holidays implemented in several states credit negative.

High gas prices usually have the biggest effect on leisure travel because drivers take fewer or shorter trips, Fitch Ratings says.

Denver will head to the municipal market next week with its biggest new money general obligation bond sale ever at $366.4 million.

The Fitch Ratings upgrade to A-plus applies to $80 million in debt issued for the University of Portland in Oregon.

Independent municipal advisory firm Sycamore Advisors LLC adds veteran banker and issuer Phil Wasserman as part of its expansion.