Yvette Shields

As Illinois brings a $550 million bond deal to market, its prolonged political gridlock is fueling debate over the market’s role as a disciplinarian.

Mesirow Financial has appointed Blake Anderson to a newly-created position leading client portfolio strategy in its institutional sales and trading group.

Seven of Illinois’ public universities face a review for downgrade from Moody’s Investors Service.

Political gridlock in Illinois spurred two downgrades and a watch for the state’s already tarnished bond ratings as its bill backlog balloons and red ink swells with no end in sight to a year-old budget stalemate.

Former Illinois capital markets director John Sinsheimer has launched a financial consulting business geared toward helping organizations align their financial resources with their strategic plans.

Chicago-based Presence Health received a Moody’s Investors Service downgrade that leaves it on the lowest rung of investment grade..

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago sold $427 million high grade paper at what a local bond trader described as a “fair” market penalty given the tarnished names of Chicago and Illinois.

Illinois will take competitive bids on $550 million of new money general obligation bonds next week as the state barrels toward its second fiscal year without a budget.

With construction crews ready to get to work this summer, Wisconsin-based issuers will sell $235 million of debt this week to cover most of the public's price tag for a new $524 million arena for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.

Cook County, Illinois heads into the market next week with positive news from two rating agencies and a downgrade from another.

Chicago’s restructuring of its public safety pension payments will initially drive up unfunded liabilities and cost the city more in the long run, Moody’s Investors Service said.

Chicago’s general obligation rating will remain on shaky ground until its resolves the looming insolvency of its laborers’ and municipal employees pension funds, S&P Global Ratings warned.

St. Louis’ issuer default and Municipal Finance Corp. ratings took a three notch tumble over negative trends and Fitch Ratings application of new criteria in assessing tax-supported debt.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders are shifting away from efforts to reach a two-year budget deal to focus instead on a six-month stopgap spending plan.

While Chicago general obligation paper faces steep trading penalties and rating challenges, the city’s airport paper is faring much better.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel heralded public safety pension relief granted by state lawmakers who are winding down a regular session that is unlikely to provide similar clarity for the troubled Chicago public schools.

Chicago will get more time to phase in higher public safety pension contributions after state lawmakers overrode a veto by Gov. Bruce Rauner, but no end is in sight to the state’s budget stalemate.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago lost a triple-A rating because of the financial woes of governments like Chicago that share its tax base.

Minnesota-based HealthEast Care System lost its Fitch Ratings investment grade rating over its lack of progress in improving profitability.

Rating agencies offered modestly positive comments on Chicago's proposal to save its laborers' pension fund from insolvency.