Trends in the Regions

Charter schools drove the worst January ever for impairments since Municipal Market Analytics began tracking default trends, the firm said in a Feb. 5 report.

Governors in the drought-prone region are asking their legislatures for funding to boost future water supply or to repair aging water infrastructure.

Josh Shapiro suggested modest spending hikes — and even more modest revenue growth. 

A Moody's Ratings upgrade means Hawaii DOT's airport division is headed to market with across-the-board double-A ratings.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority will issue $475 million in green sales tax revenue bonds for capital projects and refunding.

As Chicago Public Schools tries to get its fiscal house in order, it faces management turmoil, risks to federal funding and threatened immigration raids.

From two Colorado lines to more Amtrak service, Southwest states are advancing passenger rail projects, but the Trump administration may slow that roll.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's $252 billion state budget proposal calls for lower-bracket income tax cuts and one-time cash payouts for everyone.

The legislation would permit a state government conduit issuer to sell bonds to bolster the last-resort FAIR Plan in the wake of Los Angeles-area wildfires.

The recovery of local governments and utilities from hurricanes Helene and Milton continues but the outlook for next season and beyond is troubling.

Bond proposals are included in recent budget proposals from the Minnesota and North Dakota governors, as the region's 2026 spending plans begin to take shape.

The turnpike authority brings a $1.3 billion new and refunding bond deal to market this week after a toll hike sparked a spate of bills to rein in its powers.

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust has seen higher demand from local utilities for loans because of climate change threats and clean water regulations. 

The municipal bond market's initial negative reaction to this month's Southern California wildfires has eased, with secondary spreads starting to tighten.

Some observers say Jenniffer González Colón, who took office in January, may be more open to compromise with Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bondholders.

Chicago's Regional Transportation Authority released a plan calling for $1.5 billion in operating funding from state and local sources and more RTA control.

While Texas is forecasting a big budget balance, fiscal boom times are ebbing for it and other Southwest states amid tax cuts and depleted federal funding.

With losses expected to be measured in the tens or hundreds of billions, the municipal finance industry begins to take stock of the Los Angeles-area wildfires.

The bonds — $824.8 million tax-exempt and $400 million taxable — follow Orlando Health's major acquisitions of hospitals in Alabama and Florida.

Ohio is facing steeper than projected declines in cigarette smoking, and thus in tobacco settlement revenues, and disputes from tobacco giants over payments.