Yvette Shields

S&P Global Ratings cautioned Chicago's leaders about issuing pension obligation bonds and avoiding a backslide on budget progress.

Rahm Emanuel, who is not seeking re-election, offered a budget with no tax increases or answers to long-term pension funding questions.

Bids were plentiful on the competitive deals but spreads were higher in the wake of two downgrades.

School districts are asking voters for more than a billion dollars while the major candidates pledge more K-12 funding.

The state is ready to go with a $362 million forward refunding of appropriation-backed debt.

The $112 million GO sale Tuesday includes $97 million of green bonds, supported an opinion from an accredited verifier.

Added debt drove one-notch downgrade but long-term benefits seen.

Moody's cut the rating of Oak Lawn, Illinois, to the lowest investment grade level.

Pension obligation bonds won't be in the mayor's budget plan, and rising rates are making it harder for a deal to pencil out.

The Build Illinois bonds still carry single-A to double-A ratings, even after rating cuts tied to the state's overall fiscal woes.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle unveiled a $5.92 billion spending plan for fiscal 2019.

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare's long-stalled acquisition of Centegra was finalized last month.

Officials say St. Louis must spend $175 million to stay competitive in a convention center arms race.

The not-for-profit university closed on a $195 million privately placed refunding that eases debt service demands.

S&P cut Raytown's appropriation-backed TIF/sales tax bonds four notches

Director, UBS

Managing Director, Stifel

Illinois-based OSF Healthcare System will refund $470 of debt this week and next.

Moody's boosted its outlook for the University of Illinois to stable from negative ahead of the deal.

The state Supreme Court upheld a law that safeguards local property tax exemptions for the hospitals.