Natural disasters

The disaster in Hawaii highlights the increasing importance of Congress to act on the dwindling budget of FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund.

The investor-owned utility issues tax-exempt bonds through the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance.

The coastal town of Lahaina is "gone," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said during a press conference.

"The main climate factors expected to influence the 2023 Atlantic hurricane activity are the ongoing El Nino and the warm phase of the Atlantic Multi-Decadal Oscillation, including record-warm Atlantic sea surface temperatures," said NOAA's Matthew Rosencrans.

Extreme temperatures affecting much of the United States add an additional challenge to hospitals still reeling from the pandemic.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli urged state agencies to do more to protect water systems from cyberattacks as Moody's Investors Service said cyber risks pose challenges to municipalities across the United States.

The Florida Insurance Guaranty Association is getting ready to head back to the market next week with a variable-rate bond deal after successfully selling fixed-rate bonds last week to help fund claims from insolvent insurance companies.

California filed a disclosure notice March 30 saying it would cover lease revenue bond payments for a damaged Central Valley agriculture lab.

The Tulare lab is not required to make lease payments that pay the debt if the building is rendered inoperable.

Toks Omishakin's second year as State Transportation Agency secretary is off to a challenging start between massive rainfalls and proposed budget cuts.