Private activity bonds

An Oklahoma agency is borrowing $1.15 billion through an unrated tax-exempt Public Finance Authority bond deal to build and equip a tire factory backed by Finnish interests.

"If you're an issuer, this is fly-in season," said Jarrod Loadholt, partner at Ice Miller LLP. "Don't hope someone else is going to solve this for you — they're not."

Bond trustee UMB Trust has engaged Lighthouse Management Group to serve as the receiver.

It marks a major step forward for the long-stalled high-speed train project between Dallas and Houston.

The Senate hearing comes as lawmakers start to shape the next surface transportation bill.

Native American Tribes are working their way through Congressional committees looking for support on legislation that would allow the tribes to issue municipal bonds using the same rules as state governments.

The Trump administration singled out the Las Vegas-Los Angeles bullet train for praise Thursday, the same day the deal priced.

As Congress begins hammering out the budget resolutions that will shape the country's fiscal future, muni lobbyists double down on efforts to keep the tax-exemption in place.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn remains a supporter of private activity bonds, his staff told BDA.

It could be the year's largest unrated municipal bond deal.