Yvette Shields

The Chicago Transit Authority board signed off on a $1.3 billion contract for its rail that counts on a low-cost federal loan and approved the appointment of city debt manager Jeremy Fine as chief financial officer.

From a threatened teacher strike to an escalating state-level attack on its governance and borrowing powers, the barrage of bad news has not let up for junk-rated Chicago Public Schools.

Genesee County, Mich., and the Karegnondi Water Authority’s A2 Moody's ratings remain intact despite the risk associated with Flint’s support for the new water system.

Water contamination-related lawsuits filed in Chicago and Flint, Mich. stand to influence the sector nationally as the cases draw more scrutiny to the dangers associated with older lead pipe-based systems, Fitch Rating says in a new report.

Bondholders banking on the Chicago Public Schools’ ability to stabilize its rocky finances lost ground this week as the district’s labor woes intensified and lawmakers advanced an attack on its governance structure.

Chicago-based Cabrera Capital Markets LLC has hired back Brian King, a former Chicago deputy comptroller, to lead a rebuilding and expansion of its public finance business after a fresh infusion of capital.

The Illinois General Assembly’s Democratic majority failed Wednesday to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a $721 million bill that would have provided aid for cash-starved community colleges and low income student grants.

Financial and legal firms that do bond work for Chicago’s sister agencies would face greater diversity disclosure requirements under a bill introduced last month to the Illinois General Assembly.

Illinois’ latest tax revenue projections add another degree of difficulty to its already intractable budget deadlock.

Chicago-based Roosevelt University lost one of its investment grade ratings as it struggles with operating deficits driven by the strains of enrollment losses and a hefty debt load.

Ferguson, Mo.’s already junk-level rating was placed on review for downgrade because of threats to the city's solvency after it rejected a negotiated consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department for the tactics of its police department.

The Chicago Teachers Union threatened to strike as soon as next month over Chicago Public Schools' plan to phase out its coverage of teachers' pension payments.

The College of DuPage in suburban Chicago lost its remaining triple-A rating over its governance turmoil and instability.

Economic strains are denting Minnesota’s rosy revenue picture, giving state lawmakers less wiggle room on new spending, borrowing plans, and tax relief.

As two new bankers take their seat on Fifth Third Securities’ public finance team, the firm says it’s on the lookout to add to its ranks.

Three of Illinois' public universities were downgraded, one to junk, as impacts from the state's almost eight-month overdue budget continue to ripple.

The Missouri House intends to restore the $12 million appropriation – recently stripped from the state’s pending fiscal 2017 budget -- that goes to repay its share of debt issued for the St. Louis Rams’ stadium.

The University of Chicago took a hit from Standard & Poor’s, which downgraded the school to AA-minus from AA amid balance-sheet pressure and planned deficits.

Moberly, Missouri, which fell to junk-bond status after reneging on an appropriation pledge, inched closer to an investment grade with a two-notch upgrade from Standard & Poor's to BB-minus.

The Midwest lagged the national uptick in issuance last year as the conservative region did take advantage of low interest rates to refund debt but held tight the purse strings on new money borrowing.