Caitlin Devitt

At least eight Midwestern health care providers are set to enter the market over the next two weeks, offering more than $1.3 billion of bonds. Leading the pack this week is a trio that represents the region's largest and most prestigious providers.

A battle over competing international bridge plans in Michigan that has roiled the Legislature for years could find resolution with a public vote later this year.

Michigan said it withheld its April 20 state aid payment to the Pontiac City School District, a move that Moody’s Investors Service warned presents a severe credit challenge to the already troubled system.

Indiana on Monday announced a list of four possible teams for the Ohio River Bridges project.

CHICAGO — The Federal Trade Commission's success so far in challenging two high-profile hospital mergers could signal fresh pressure on the sector, which is in the midst of a transforming consolidation trend.

Fitch Ratings this week upgraded the Oregon Health and Science University to A-plus from A as the school prepares to come to market next week with $268 million of revenue bonds.

CHICAGO — Detroit and Michigan officials today announced their first three appointments to a nine-member financial advisory board that will oversee Detroit as part of the new consent decree between the city and the state.

CHICAGO — The Michigan Senate Wednesday launched the first hearing on Gov. Rick Snyder's controversial measure to eliminate the state's personal property tax, a move that would likely bring more pain for already-struggling local governments.

CHICAGO — Indiana is bracing for the loss of up to $300 million of annual revenue as neighboring Ohio prepares to open four new high-profile casinos in major cities later this year.

Moody’s Investors Service last week upgraded Ohio’s Columbus Regional Airport Authority to A1 from A2 based on its stable financial and operating performance, among other factors.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman last week vetoed a bill that would give cities the option to hold a referendum on a sales tax increase.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder last week determined that a financial emergency exists in Muskegon Heights Schools, a district in a Detroit suburb that has been plagued by years of deficits and falling enrollment.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels last week tapped a new commissioner of the Department of Revenue after the outgoing commissioner and two of his top deputies resigned in the wake of a pair of high-profile accounting errors.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded as many nonprofit health care providers as it upgraded during the first quarter of the year, and its analysts expect the sector’s negative conditions to spark more downgrades in the coming months, analysts said in their quarterly report on the sector.

CHICAGO — A state-crafted consent decree aimed at stabilizing Detroit's finances will likely benefit the city, but problems remain so deep and pervasive that success is far from certain, according to Moody's Investors Service.

CHICAGO — Michigan is touting the strong history and credit quality of its water loan program as it brings $240 million of triple-A rated clean and drinking water revenue bonds to market Tuesday.

CHICAGO — New York City-based M.R. Beal & Co. has hired municipal finance veteran Jonathan Savage to promote its Midwest presence out of the firm's Chicago office.

CHICAGO — Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's office Wednesday presented a $2.5 billion all-funds fiscal 2013 budget that marks the first step in a rigorous new budget process required under the historic consent agreement the struggling city signed with Michigan last week.

CHICAGO — The Michigan Finance Authority is bringing $153.4 million of revenue bonds to market next week on behalf of the Oakwood Obligated Group, a four-hospital system located in the Detroit area.

It's the second high-profile mistake by the Indiana Department of Revenue in the last year, and prompted the resignation of Revenue Department Commissioner John Eckart.