Public finance

Inflows continued for the third consecutive week as LSEG Lipper report fund inflows of $295.5 million for the week ending Wednesday with high-yield hitting the 10th consecutive week of positive flows.

Under a settlement agreement, the Texas Education Agency assigned two conservators to oversee IDEA Public Schools, which was the target of a probe into alleged financial and operational improprieties.

In an April 2 special election, voters in Jackson County, home of Kansas City, will decide whether to impose a sales tax to fund a new baseball ballpark.

BofA Securities is the latest firm to scoop up former employees from Citi, which decided to shutter its muni division late last year.

Separately, Fitch raised Orlando's $159.87 million of Series 2017A senior tourist development tax revenue bonds, 6th-cent contract payments, to A from BBB.

While the SEC's cybersecurity rule does not apply to municipal issuers, there are a few points discussed in the Adopting Release that may be useful for municipal market participants. 

Federal officials are pushing for reauthorization while cities tout their planning.

Since Gov. Ron DeSantis took office in 2019, Florida has paid down $5.3 billion of state debt, or about 25% of the Sunshine State's total debt.

The Investment Company Institute reported larger inflows into municipal bond mutual funds for the week ending March 6, with investors adding $956 million to funds following $57 million the week prior.

The state's transportation department plans to sell $200 million of highway fund revenue bonds this summer for its Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program.

The American High-Speed Rail Act has seen "some initial interest from Republican lawmakers – I'm working hard to get them on board too," said bill sponsor Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass.

Narens' hiring complements Stifel's public finance practice and the types of deals the firm is doing, said Betsy Kiehn, managing director and head of Stifel's Municipal Capital Markets Group.

Chicago will issue $80.865 million of Series 2024A and 2024B senior lien airport revenue refunding bonds for Midway, with a pricing date to be determined.

Bond parties want several creditor classes' votes in favor of the plan of adjustment to be disqualified.

Rural hospitals and clinics are closing in Wisconsin while Democratic Gov. Tony Evers battles the state's Republican legislature over Medicaid expansion.

The relative health of state treasuries was an area of interest at the National Association of State Treasurers legislative conference.

"The muni AAA [high grade] curve has been relatively steady thus far in March, but lags relative to the broader fixed income market after sizable muni outperformance in February," said J.P. Morgan strategists. 

Taxable munis have returned 1.48% month to date and 0.29% year-to-date while investment-grade munis have seen 0.44% returns so far in March and 0.05% year-to-date. USTs are in the black at 1.43% so far this month but returning -1.76% year-to-date while corporate bonds are returning 1.24% in March but -0.46% year-to-date.

Bond trustee UMB Bank notified bondholders that Branson Airport's leaders want to pursue federal grant funding for maintenance and infrastructure upgrades, but it will require bondholder approval.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said her public-private sector plan to build a strategic water supply will remain a top priority after a bill for financing failed to advance in the legislature.