Groups Push Underwriter, Rating Agencies in Effort to Stop Louisiana Bonds
Two Louisiana advocacy groups have urged lead underwriter Wells Fargo and the four major rating agencies to halt a proposed $440 million municipal bond issuance that would fund a deep‑water dock for Hyundai’s planned $5.8 billion steel plant at RiverPlex MegaPark. The groups argue the obligor is unidentified, repayment sources are unclear, and ongoing litigation makes the bonds “unratable.” Rating agencies have either declined to rate the bonds or offered no comment, and the bonds have not yet reached the state bond commission for approval. Hyundai and the Port of South Louisiana face mounting legal and financial scrutiny that could delay the project.
Congress Passes Major Housing Bill, but Trump Won't Sign
President Donald Trump announced via social media that he will postpone the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act until Congress passes the SAVE AMERICA ACT, a measure aimed at election integrity. The ROAD bill, already cleared by the...
FINRA Settled Actions for MSRB Rule Violations in 2026 so Far Down Year-over-Year
FINRA’s online database shows five settled disciplinary actions for Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) violations through June 19, 2026—half the count for the same period in 2025. Four of those actions occurred in January‑February, with the fifth on June 18. Overall FINRA disciplinary...
University of Oklahoma OKs $420 Million of Revenue Bonds
The University of Oklahoma’s board of regents approved a plan to sell roughly $420 million in revenue bonds, slated for issuance later this year or early next year. Proceeds will finance a suite of capital projects, notably a major renovation of...
How State Budgets Are Addressing Constraint with Restraint
State budgets are entering a tighter fiscal environment as COVID‑era stimulus funds disappear and federal policy shifts more costs onto states. The NASBO Spring 2026 Fiscal Survey shows general‑fund spending for FY2027 is essentially flat, with a median growth of just...
Virginia Putting $28.5 Billion in Transportation
Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a six‑year, $28.5 billion transportation plan that will fund more than 4,300 projects across roads, bridges, rail, transit, and active‑transport corridors. Public‑transportation programs, including the Virginia Railway Express, receive a dedicated $930 million allocation. The budget also...
Munis Face Manageable Supply Amid Ongoing Peace Talks
Municipal bond issuance this week is projected at $11 billion, a level analysts deem manageable despite lingering geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East. A tentative U.S.–Iran peace memorandum is expected to temper Treasury yields, while the Federal Open Market Committee’s hawkish...
California Lawmakers Partner on Pair of AI Regulation Bills
California lawmakers Sen. Jerry McNerney and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer‑Kahan introduced two bills to set safety standards for artificial‑intelligence systems. SB 813 would create a voluntary AI Standards and Safety Commission to draft industry‑wide guidelines, while AB 1405 would launch a...
After Three-Year Absence, Georgia Returns to Market with GOs
Georgia's Finance and Investment Commission will issue $1.57 billion of general‑obligation bonds in a three‑series sale slated for late June, marking the state's first GO issuance since 2023. The $620.5 million 2026A, $160.5 million 2026B, and $790.1 million 2026C series fund education, public safety,...
Fed Sparks UST Selloff, but Munis Hold Steady
The Federal Open Market Committee’s June meeting delivered a hawkish tone, holding the fed funds rate at 3.5‑3.75% and hinting at future hikes, while omitting the dot‑plot from its statement. Treasury yields, especially the two‑year, dropped as much as 17...
How to Capture High-Yield Muni Returns without Overlooking the Risks
High‑yield municipal bonds, though only about 3% the size of the investment‑grade muni market, can deliver tax‑exempt yields that exceed broader muni returns. Institutional investors dominate the space, using sophisticated credit analysis and covenant negotiations, while ETFs provide a pathway...
Vanderbilt University Announces Plan to Sell Bonds
Vanderford University announced a plan to issue up to $430 million of tax‑exempt bonds to fund capital projects, with the sale slated for July through Nashville’s Health and Educational Facilities Board. Bank of America will act as book‑running senior manager. The...
Pricing System Plays a Role in the 'Build versus Buy' Debate
Municipal bond traders are grappling with a "build versus buy" dilemma as pricing data becomes richer and AI tools proliferate. AllianceBernstein and BlackRock have each constructed in‑house pricing engines to fuse trace prints, dealer runs and customer bids, seeking customization...
Kansas City May Issue Bonds to Expand Women's Soccer Stadium
Kansas City officials are considering issuing $235 million in special‑obligation bonds to fund a major expansion of the CPKF Stadium, home of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current. The expansion is part of a $1.4 billion mixed‑use development plan that would add parking,...
Munis Stick with 'Wait-and-See' Approach
Municipal bond yields were largely unchanged on Tuesday, slipping up to two basis points as U.S. Treasury yields fell three basis points, especially at the long end. Analysts see a potential upside for munis from the emerging Iran peace deal...