Yvette Shields

This week's oral arguments at the Illinois Supreme Court about the constitutionality of the state's pension overhaul legislation left few hints about how the judges will rule.

Fitch Ratings knocked Chicago-based Roosevelt University's rating down to the lowest investment grade level due to ongoing negative operations.

Illinois' need to protect the public welfare in the face of a fiscal emergency by cutting pension benefits trumps their state constitutional protections, Solicitor General Carolyn Shapiro told the state's high court Wednesday.

Illinois squares off against opponents of its 2013 pension reform legislation Wednesday afternoon before the Illinois Supreme Court in arguments that will be shown live on the Internet.

The Missouri Supreme Court took control of Ferguson’s municipal court system Monday in a move that follows a stinging federal report that accused the officials there of abusive practices designed to generate revenue for the court and city coffers.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District would like to ask voters next year to support $919 million in new borrowing for wastewater projects and to revamp its stormwater fee structure.

Chicago is almost $400 million underwater on 24 swaps tied to $2.4 billion of floating-rate general obligation and revenue-backed paper, the city reports in a new disclosure.

The Chicago school district fell to the last rung above junk bond status after a two-notch downgrade from Moody's Investors Service.

The roots of Joplin, Mo. School District’s current fiscal struggles lie in the district’s post-2011 tornado recovery, according to a new state audit that took the district to task for using the same firm as advisor and underwriter on its borrowings.

The Chicago Park District's tight governance link to Chicago is taking a toll on the district's credit rating hit with a Moody's downgrade this week.

Standard & Poor's has revised its outlook to positive on University of Central Missouri's A rating.

Standard & Poor’s upgraded Johnson County, Mo. To A-minus.

Ferguson police engaged in unlawful and discriminatory practices partially driven by the city's reliance on court fine revenue to support its budget, according to a stinging report by the federal government prompted by the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

The task force leading Missouri’s efforts to keep the St. Louis has hired Columbia Capital Management LLC for advice on stadium financing issues.

Chicago is making headway on gaining relief from $60 million in swap termination payments owed to banks after Moody's Investors Service downgraded its general obligation credit last week, according to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration.

JPMorgan, ranked second among senior managers last year, is losing about six mid- and senior level public finance bankers through a mix of departures, retirements, and one cut, according to industry sources.

Unions have weighed in with their brief as the Illinois Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments March 11 in the state's appeal of a lower court ruling voiding the legislative package that cut benefits for four of the state's five pension funds.

Minnesota's latest revenue forecast added another $800 million to a projected surplus, more than doubling the extra revenue expected in the next biennium.

Standard & Poor's revised its outlook to positive on Moberly, Missouri’s B issuer credit rating in the city's first good rating news since the sucralose factory debacle that cost it investment-grade ratings.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon named aide John Watson Friday to temporarily serve as state auditor following the suicide of Tom Schweich.