Yvette Shields

Resolution of Illinois’ budget crisis likely requires new revenue and spending curbs because natural economic growth alone isn’t enough to tackle the state’s massive debts, a Chicago Federal Reserve economist told lawmakers.

Minnesota’s Republican leaders laid out their cards on transportation spending this week, but they remain in conflict with Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposal.

The escalating feud between Illinois’ Republican governor and Democratic comptroller underscores the budget impasse that has undermined the state government’s finances.

Marengo, Illinois took a two-notch rating hit and faces the prospect of another over its pension strains.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton announced a supplemental budget that adds about $150 million in new spending – including $100 million for early childhood education -- to his proposed $46 billion two-year budget.

Threats to St. Louis University’s medical accreditation adds some remote credit risks to the school’s rating if not successfully resolved, Moody’s Investors Service said.

Illinois stands to lose $40 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next 10 years under the current Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act as Moody’s warns that the plan is a negative credit development for states.

One of the only intermodal freight facilities to take advantage of a special 12-year-old federal private activity bond program is readying its fourth round of financing.

Bipartisan efforts to resolve Illinois' nearly two-year-old budget impasse took a backseat at the state capital as Republicans pressed stand-alone pension legislation and a bill giving Gov. Bruce Rauner sweeping emergency budget powers.

Wisconsin voters are looking more favorably on school district’ borrowing requests, signing off on a record $1.35 billion of debt last year, according to a new study.

The sovereign powers and strong general obligation repayment statute supporting Illinois’ investment-grade ratings are being tested by budget gridlock and what one analyst describes as approaching “service level insolvency.”

St. Louis-based Stern Brothers & Co. has hired longtime public finance banker and manager Linda Matkowski to serve as chief operating officer as the investment bank looks to put more teeth into its status as a woman-owned firm heading into its second century of business.

Chicago is a standout as the "worst" among its big city peers in key pension system measurements, according to a new S&P Global Ratings pension report.

Illinois' public colleges and universities remain at risk of further credit damage after 21 months of state budget gridlock, Moody's Investors Service said Thursday.

St. Louis received a downgrade from Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday.

Two Illinois-based not-for-profit healthcare systems dropped their merger plans Tuesday following a court ruling that favored the Federal Trade Commission in its efforts to block the union.

Illinois is awash in red ink and it’s expected to spread, according to series of bleak fiscal reports this week that illustrate the toll of a 21-month-old budget stalemate on state finances.

Kansas City has a market stop planned for Wednesday before moving on to voters who are being asked next month to authorize $800 million in general obligation borrowing for infrastructure work over the next two decades.

St. Paul, Minn.’s new investor relations website is making its debut in tandem with a competitive sale of $43 million of general obligation and revenue-backed green bonds set for Wednesday.

Illinois governments could lose up to $400 million in federal interest rate subsidies on their Build America Bonds under prolonged federal budget sequestration, according to a new academic study that looks at the losses as similar programs are eyed to help fund $1 trillion in infrastructure spending