Caitlin Devitt

CHICAGO - Ohio hopes to issue a request for proposals by the end of the year to privatize its highway rest areas, one of several public-private partnerships being eyed by Gov. John Kasich's administration.

CHICAGO - As the market continues to cope with the near-disappearance of bond insurance, one effect is clear: the growing need for issuers to tout their stories to entice investors, panelists at the Bond Buyer's Transportation/P3 conference here said Tuesday.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said the "people had spoken" last Tuesday when voters defeated by 63% a new law that would have curtailed collective bargaining for public employees.

Ohio State University announced last week that it has selected seven possible partners for the school's plan to become the first public university to privatize its parking system.

Detroit voters approved a new city charter that imposes a set of ethical rules for public officials.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard won a second term last week, defeating public finance attorney Melinda Kennedy.

CHICAGO - The Wayne County, Mich., Airport Authority, which runs Detroit Metropolitan Airport, will come to market Thursday with $127 million of refunding bonds.

CHICAGO - Promedica Health System will hold a retail order period Wednesday followed by institutional pricing Thursday for $145 million of refunding bonds.

Michigan would issue $3.2 billion or more of bonds to repay federal loans for unemployment benefits under a pair of bills that the Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved Wednesday.

CHICAGO - Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has declared that Flint is in a state of financial emergency, setting up the long-struggling city for a state takeover.

CHICAGO - The Omaha Public Power District, one of the nation's highest-rated utilities, comes to market next week with $300 million of electric system revenue bonds.

Regional Health, the dominant health care provider in western South Dakota, will enter the market Thursday with $181 million of bonds.

Fitch Ratings last week downgraded to BB-plus from BBB-minus its rating on junior-lien tax-increment financing bonds issued by the Detroit Downtown Development Authority.

A judge last week approved a restructuring plan for the troubled Detroit Water and Sewerage Department that allows the city to maintain ownership but gives the seven-member board more authority over certain matters, including labor negotiations.

CHICAGO - A prominent fiscal watchdog group in Chicago is praising Cook County, Ill.'s proposed $2.9 billion 2012 budget for closing a $315 million deficit but warns that a chronic structural gap will continue to mount without more action.

CHICAGO - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing on Thursday publicly raised the specter that perhaps only a state-appointed emergency manager will have the tools necessary to solve the long-troubled city's financial woes. He left the door open to the possibility of taking on the role.

CHICAGO - One troubled local school district in Michigan has seen its ratings sink into junk territory while another could be heading toward a state-mandated takeover.

CHICAGO - Two large Chicago-area health care systems announced Wednesday they have finalized a merger that will create the largest Catholic health care network in Illinois.

The Michigan state treasurer last week said Three Oaks, located in Berrien County, is out of state receivership.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels last week appointed public finance veteran Jennifer Alvey to the State Lottery Commission.