Caitlin Devitt

Fitch Ratings has affirmed its AA rating and stable outlook on the Ohio Turnpike Commission ahead of an expected announcement by Gov. John Kasich of his plans to privatize the 241-mile toll road.

Governing magazine last week named Michigan budget director John Nixon as one of seven Public Officials of the Year in recognition of bringing down the state’s chronic deficits and other efforts.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle Thursday unveiled a $2.9 billion spending plan that relies on the new federal health care law as well as a handful of new taxes to cure a $267 million shortfall.

Michigan's Trinity and Pennsylvania's CHE would create one of the nation's largest Catholic health care sytems spanning 21 states if their newly announced plan to merge goes ahead.

Indiana plans to tap a final team to partner on its half of the $2.6 billion Ohio River bridges project by mid-November and close the deal by the end of the year, officials said.

Moody's said Monday it is continuing its review for possible downgrade on Detroit amid uncertainty surrounding the future of the state's emergency management law.

Akron, Ohio, and the Summit County Port Authority plan to issue $3.5 million of tax-exempt debt as part of a lease deal aimed at keeping the city's minor-league baseball team in the downtown stadium.

Moody's Investors Service last week lowered its rating on Omaha's special tax revenue bonds to Aa2 from Aa1 following its downgrade of the city's general obligation rating to Aa1 from Aaa last month.

A report out this week estimates Michigan could save nearly $1 billion if it participates in the Medicaid expansion provision that is part of the new federal health care law.

Standard & Poor's last week revised its outlook to negative from stable on the Henry Ford Health System, one of Michigan's largest providers, while affirming its A rating.

Indiana University expects to hire financial advisors to oversee the privatization of its parking system, a transaction modeled after Ohio State University's precedent-setting deal.

The Nebraska Public Power District, which operates one of the state's two nuclear plants, hits the market Tuesday with $211 million, marking its second deal this year for capital projects at the plant.

Michigan Treasurer Andy Dillon, in New York with Gov. Rick Snyder and Budget Director John Nixon to meet with rating agencies, talks with the Bond Buyer about what it will mean for the state if its controversial emergency management law is overturned.

Milwaukee-based Baird has hired Jeff Fivecoat, a long-time health care banker, for its Columbus office. Fivecoat comes from Red Capital Group and before that, OhioHealth.

Ohio is selling GO bonds this week and Garvee bonds in November. Ohio says the Garvee deal will proceed despite uncertainty over federal transportation funding and the fiscal cliff.

Mark Kvamme stepped down last week as the head of JobsOhio, the newly created nonprofit entity that was set up to take over the state's liquor distribution system for economic development projects.

Moody's Investors Service last week knocked its rating on Michigan's Pinckney Community School District down four notches, to Baa1 from Aa3, and affirmed the negative outlook.

The Michigan state lottery saw record sales in fiscal 2012, contributing $770 million to the school aid fund, officials said last week.

Indiana will use a chunk of its $2.2 billion surplus to make contributions to the state's pension funds, Gov. Mitch Daniels announced last week.

Gov. John Kasich Thursday told local reporters that he expects to unveil a privatization plan for the Ohio Turnpike within the next 30 days, and hopes to leverage at least $1 billion for the state.