Caitlin Devitt

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.

Sanford Health, in South Dakota, is bringing $130 million of bonds to market next week to finance an ambitious $1.5 billion capital plan that credit analyst warn could strain the system's otherwise-strong balance sheet.

Gov. Rick Snyder Tuesday formally declared the Detroit suburb of Allen Park to be in a state of fiscal emergency after denying the city's appeal two weeks ago. The city's problems are tied largely to a $31 million 2009 bond issue floated for a now-failed film studio.

Moody’s Investors Service Monday downgraded to A2 from A1 $79 million of debt issued by Northeast Ohio Medical University, and placed the rating under review for further possible downgrade.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich last week signed into law five bills reforming the state’s retirement systems.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Monday signed the final, supplemental spending pieces of the fiscal 2013 budget.

A group of high-profile Detroit-area supporters from the business and political communities urged lawmakers last week to advance a bill that would create a regional transit authority.

A new report from Indiana shows that local governments in the Hoosier State carry a total of $34 billion of debt, about half of which is backed by lease payments. School districts have issued the most debt of all political subdivisions.

Lawmakers last week approved legislation that allows local governments to issue bonds to cover the costs of shifting to a 401-k style pension plan, as well as to cover their other-post employment benefits liability. Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to sign the measure.

The Ohio Supreme Court Friday declined to rule on Gov. John Kasich's controversial, bond-financed plan to privatize the state's liquor distribution system, sending the case back to the lower courts.

A ballot referendum that would require a two-thirds legislative majority on any tax increases could negatively impact Michigan's bond rating by restricting its ability to cope with tough economic times, warns an independent research group in a report.