Southwest

Legislation to create an education savings account program that would cost an initial $1 billion and serve nearly 100,000 students advanced out of a committee.

The high court agreed to review a June Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that found state funding for a Catholic virtual charter school violates the constitution.

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 state House and Senate announced their spending plans for the upcoming biennium, including funding to continue and increase 2023's state-funded tax cut.

The county would hold a special election for a sales tax to provide more funds to build and operate a bond-financed jail project that faces rising costs.

"Stan, as a former CFO and controller within the school system, has considerable insight into the needs of our education clients, and can leverage the full breadth of Stephens' resources to help them realize their goals," Stephens' Leigh Ann Biernat said in a statement.

Public school districts sought bond authorizations in January totaling $469 million, which topped an available state cap of $293.4 million.

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.

Fieldman, Rolapp & Co. has acquired Orem, Utah-based municipal advisor G.L. Hicks, a healthcare finance specialist.

The Goldwater Institute took aim at another Arizona municipality, filing a lawsuit against tax rate hikes approved by the Gilbert Town Council in October.