Yvette was a senior reporter, covering the Midwest. She earned a bachelors in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, began her reporting career at the storied City News Bureau of Chicago, and joined the Bond Buyer in 1997 leading Midwest coverage from her hometown Chicago.
- Minnesota
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled an $842 million bond-financed capital budget, promoting it as a means to create thousands of jobs while improving the state's infrastructure and economy.
April 7 - Illinois
Moody's Investors Service April 6 stripped Illinois' North Chicago School District No. 187 of its investment grade rating as the district struggles with property tax valuation declines and operating deficits.
April 6 -
A San Francisco-based airline's April Fool's joke triggered a disclosure notice on EMMA; the trustee for bonds issued for the airport in Branson, Mo. Wanted to be sure bondholders new that Virgin America was just kidding about its plans to serve Branson.
April 6 - Illinois
Chicago voters head to the polls to pick their next mayor Tuesday after a seven-week runoff contest where the city's fiscal ills have taken center stage in an election in which neither candidate is willing to talk about property tax increases.
April 6 - Illinois
The Chicago Board of Education will return to the market on April 21 with the second phase of a planned borrowing that was delayed by a stinging round of downgrades and headline risks over the mayoral run-off.
April 2 -
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has tapped its chief financial officer Roberta Broeker to serve as interim director of state Transportation Department as a national search continues for a new leader to replace retiring director Dave Nichols.
April 2 -
Struggling Illinois local governments should have the option of municipal bankruptcy, one mayor told lawmakers during the first airing of legislation that would add Chapter 9 to the state's statutes.
April 1 - Illinois
Municipal market observers arent impressed by the Chicago Public Schools move to drop Moodys Investors Service in favor of an agency that assigned a higher rating.
March 31 -
Standard & Poor's raised its rating on Silver Cross Hospital in Illinois by one level to BBB as it prepares to pull its rating at the hospital's request.
March 30 - Illinois
Moodys Investors Service said it considers Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauners appointment of a task force to look at local government consolidation and overhauling unfunded mandates to be a positive credit measure
March 30 -
A Missouri city is asking a state judge to void its contract with the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission in the latest push back from local governments angry over higher energy costs tied to the controversial Prairie State coal plant project.
March 27 - Illinois
The Illinois Municipal Electric Agency heads into the market as soon as Tuesday with a $585 million revenue bond issue that will refund debt sold to help finance its participation in the controversial Prairie State coal-fired project and for an ownership stake in a Kentucky-based coal plant.
March 27 -
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago won an upgrade from Standard & Poors as it fiscal books remain on the upswing.
March 25 - Wisconsin
Wisconsin's tab to repay $220 million in proposed borrowing for a new Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena ranges from $324 million to $488 million, according to a legislative report.
March 25 - Illinois
Chicago received a first time rating of A-minus with a stable outlook from Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
March 24 - Illinois
A one-time fix to close Illinois' current $1.6 billion budget gap largely by draining $1.3 billion from non-general fund special accounts is headed to the Senate after clearing the House.
March 24 - Illinois
Zion, Ill. Park District lost its investment grade rating and faces further credit deterioration as its struggles with a rapidly declining tax base.
March 24 - Missouri
Missouri lawmakers are advancing legislation that makes clear legislative and voter authority over any borrowing, a move prompted by questions over whether Gov. Jay Nixons bonding proposal for a new St. Louis Rams professional football stadium requires a vote.
March 23 - Minnesota
Moodys Investors Service placed Steele County, Minn.s ratings on review for a possible downgrade as several enterprise fund commitments strain its books.
March 23 -
Chicago area transit systems face service cuts or higher fares if state funding is slashed as proposed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in his fiscal 2016 budget now before the General Assembly.
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