Yvette Shields

Illinois lawmakers set a 2016 special election to fill the final two years of the late Judy Baar Topinka's upcoming term as comptroller, in a move attacked by Republicans as a political jab at incoming Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner.

Standard & Poor's has revised Illinois-based Carle Foundation's outlook to positive in recognition of its strong financial performance and improved balance sheet.

Lombard, Ill.'s refusal to cover a debt service shortfall on $190 million of bonds issued for a struggling hotel and conference center has triggered a new payment default.

Illinois and Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner face a sea of red ink because shrinking income tax revenue will fail to keep pace with rising pension and health insurance costs, according to outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn's latest three-year budget forecast.

Illinois Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner named Leslie Geissler Munger to serve the new term of Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, who died last month after her re-election.

More questions over whether the National Football League's Rams will remain in St. Louis were raised Monday by reports that the team's owner is planning to construct an 80,000-seat stadium in southern California as part of a larger development project.

New Trier Township High School District 203 will soon offer nearly $90 million of voter approved bonds to finance an overhaul of its New Trier High School that serves the affluent north suburbs of Chicago.

Chicago faces a second lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of reforms adopted last year that overhauled two of its four pension funds.

Wisconsin faces an $824 million shortfall to meet baseline costs anticipated in the next two year budget, according to a report from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Unsustainable and unaffordable pension obligations that crowd out funding for essential services and infrastructure necessary for the health, safety and welfare of Illinois' citizens shouldn't override constitutional mandates on a government's purpose, said municipal restructuring veteran James Spiotto.

Missouri has lowered by more than $300 million the level of revenues expected in the current fiscal year, Gov. Jay Nixon announced.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling and upheld Milwaukee County's 2010 cuts to nurses' pension benefits.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority will head into its fourth year of a $12 billion, 15-year infrastructure program with record capital spending planned.

The Minnesota Orchestral Association's low investment grade credit has stabilized as the organization recovers from its past lockout, Standard & Poor's said.

The Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois heads into the new year with a $2.9 billion operating budget and $3.8 billion five-year capital program that relies on federal funds and loans, and borrowings including inaugural issues from two of its service boards.

Missouri hospitals reported providing $588 million in charity care and another $512 million in uncompensated care last year, the Missouri Hospital Association said in a report.

The Iowa Fertilizer Co. plant under construction needs an additional $100 million, the company reported in a recently posted bond disclosure.

The Chicago suburb of Rosemont plans to sell $37.5 million of taxable general obligation bonds next month to bring its public safety pensions up to near full funded status.

Standard & Poor's gave an investment-grade A-minus rating to a series of bonds Detroit recently sold as part of its exit from bankruptcy.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn tapped his longtime friend, aide, and acting budget director Jerry Stermer to serve out the waning weeks of the late Judy Baar Topinka's term as comptroller.