Yvette Shields

Several Kansas City Missouri business owners behind a lawsuit challenging the legality of the funding mechanism for the city's proposed $102 million downtown streetcar filed an appeal of the district court's dismissal.

Indiana lawmakers were poised Friday to approve a two-year, $30 billion budget that provides $1.1 billion in tax relief over the next four years through a series of tax cuts that includes a 5% drop in the income tax.

The Iowa Fertilizer Co. expects to offer next week nearly $1.2 billion of tax-exempt, junk-rated Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds to finance a new nitrogen fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa.

After scaling back on capital projects, Chicago Public Schools reversed course to bolster spending by $364 million in part to finance investments in schools slated to take students from more than 50 set to close.

At least 11 small Wisconsin cities -- who approached the federal government's Build America Bond program with a skeptical eye and stuck with flexible redemption provisions – may act on their options due to federal subsidy cuts.

Standard & Poor's raised DePaul University's issuer credit rating by one notch to A in recognition of its strong operating performance and overall growth.

Perri Irmer, the former executive director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, is accusing the former board chairman and the Chicago White Sox owner of improperly ousting her from the position in a federal lawsuit.

Milwaukee will take competitive bids on $200 million of notes and bonds Tuesday to raise funds to smooth out cash flow and finance capital projects.

CHICAGO – The St. Paul Port Authority, Minn. expects roughly 20% in present value savings on Tuesday’s planned $117 million current refunding of lease revenue bonds supported by a state appropriation pledge.

The trustee for $113 million of bonds issued for a privately owned and operated airport at Branson, Mo. are negotiating possible modifications to a forbearance agreement for the struggling airport.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn outlined plans to spend $12.6 billion over the next six fiscal years on transportation and said more spending and borrowing for capital projects is needed.

Wisconsin will test a new bidding requirement in its $435 million competitive sale next week by setting a minimum coupon on the final five maturities of the 20-year paper.

Gov. Jay Nixon last week signed a $219 million supplement to the fiscal 2013 budget that provides funding for education and other services.

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Olmsted Medical Center's rating by one notch, pushing it into the A category in recognition of its strong financial profile and increasing liquidity.

Chicago officials reported that hotel occupancy last month hit a record level for a March, helping bring first quarter results to levels not seen in five years.

Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs would privately fund an overhaul of the 99-year-old Wrigley Field and construction of an adjacent hotel and plaza under a tentative $500 million plan.

Iowa Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald called Gov. Terry Branstad's alterative to the federal government's Medicaid expansion a bad deal for the state.

Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. LLC has hired the Chicago Transit Authority's former chief financial officer Karen Walker to lead its Chicago office.

The Illinois Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear a direct appeal of a Circuit Court decision leaving intact a state overhaul of retiree health care benefits.

Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services and South Dakota-based Sanford Health have canceled discussions over a possible union due to mounting opposition in Minnesota.