Yvette Shields

Moody's Investor's Service has downgraded $4.6 billion of Detroit sewer and water system revenue bonds citing a decline in debt service coverage, looming capital needs, and the risks associated with derivatives.

The Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois board last week approved a $2.3 billion operating budget for 2011 that taps capital funds to cover operating costs as the agency waits for its share of local sales tax revenue to recover from the recession.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Sleepy Eye's $12.8 million of general obligation debt one notch to A1 due to its declining financial position.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has approved a $680 million budget for 2011 that marks the first drop in annual spending in the agency's history.

Illinois nonprofit hospitals provided nearly $4.9 billion in community benefits through various programs and services during their 2008-2009 fiscal years, according to Illinois Hospital Association's fourth annual report.

Illinois' Department of Human Services expects to expand a pilot program early next year that links state vendors with private investors willing to purchase overdue vouchers as the state's liquidity and budget crisis shows few signs of easing.

CHICAGO — The Bank of Montreal announced Friday its acquisition of the Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Corp. in a $4.1 billion stock deal.

CHICAGO — The Chicago-based Women in Public Finance will recognize the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Martha Mahan Haines, a public finance banker and Los Angeles’ debt manager, at its fifth annual founders awards reception next month.

CHICAGO — Goldman, Sachs & Co. has named Kathleen Brown, its western region municipal banking manager, to a newly created post as chairman of investment banking for the Midwest.

Oral arguments are expected to take place early next year on CIFG Assurance North America Inc.'s request that a New York State court judge order Assured Guaranty Corp. to cover the policy on $83.3 million of Xenia Iowa Rural Water District bonds as part of its reinsurance agreement.

The Illinois Finance Authority on Tuesday advanced bond deals for two privately developed state university student housing projects and financings for a handful of borrowers rushing to tap federal stimulus bond programs ahead of their expiration.

St. Louis County may ask voters to approve $100 million of borrowing on the April ballot to finance construction of a new family courts building and renovations to its circuit courts building, according to published reports.

The Chicago City Council last week lobbied Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn through a letter to veto public safety pension reform legislation recently approved by the General Assembly.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said Monday that he will allow his Put Illinois to Work temporary jobs program to expire early next year.

CHICAGO — The top-rated Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago aims to enter the market Wednesday with $500 million of mostly taxable Build America Bonds — but it may reduce, restructure, or postpone the sale depending on interest rates.

Fighting insolvency, the Xenia Rural Water District of Iowa made a partial debt-service payment due last week on $83 million of water revenue bonds — with CIFG Assurance North America Inc. covering the remainder — as the struggling utility prepares to release a restructuring plan later this month.

The Minnesota Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party's Mark Dayton officially became the governor-elect Wednesday after Republican challenger Tom Emmer conceded the race.

Chicago-based Loop Capital Markets LLC has hired James C. Johnson as its general counsel.

With an upgrade in hand, the University of Missouri System will enter the market Wednesday with up to $265 million of Build America Bonds to fund improvements at various campuses and its health care facilities.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Milwaukee County's AA-plus general obligation rating but the agency revised its outlook to negative from stable due to the county's budget struggles.