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.
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Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook to negative from stable on the A-minus rating held by Bethesda Health Group due to the balance sheet strains from low occupancy levels and flat revenue growth which heightens concerns over its aggressive debt profile.
February 19 - Missouri
Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook on Kansas City, Missouri's general obligation, lease, and special obligations ratings to stable from negative in recognition of its advances in pension funding and decision to scale back on an ambitious capital plan.
February 19 - Illinois
Local governments in Illinois would face tougher disclosure requirements on their debt and retiree costs under proposals announced by House Republicans designed to improve public access to the information.
February 19 -
The former comptroller of a small Illinois city faces nearly 20 years in prison under the sentence handed down by a federal judge following her conviction for stealing more than $53 million from city coffers over two decades.
February 15 - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Friday his next two-year budget will provide an $824 million boost in transportation infrastructure funding.
February 15 -
Municipal buyers gave their blessing to bankrupt AMR Corp. and US Airways Group Inc.'s $11 billion marriage by ascribing near to full value to American's unsecured tax-exempt debt traded Thursday.
February 14 -
Chicago's plans to enter the market later this year with up to $900 million of O'Hare International Airport revenue debt to raise about $300 million for the airport's capital improvement program and ongoing $8 billion runway expansion program.
February 13 -
Chicago has struck a tentative collective bargaining agreement with one of its smaller unions that includes pension benefit and retiree healthcare reforms that Mayor Rahm Emanuel characterized Tuesday as a possible roadmap to help solve the city's pension crisis.
February 12 - Missouri
A bipartisan group of lawmakers announced legislation last week that would raise the state sales tax by one cent with the aim of raising $8 billion over the next decade for transportation projects.
February 12 - Illinois
Illinois will provide $250 million in low-interest loans to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago as part of its expanded $1 billion state revolving fund, Gov. Pat Quinn announced Monday.
February 12 - Missouri
The public agency that owns the Edward Jones Dome — home of the National Football League's St. Louis Rams — has tapped Goldman Sachs to advise it on stadium finance issues.
February 12 - Illinois
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed supplemental fiscal 2013 budget legislation that authorizes $1.5 billion in spending for transportation, group health insurance payments, and for an array of other areas.
February 8 - Minnesota
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton defended his dramatic and controversial tax overhaul as the most "balanced" means to put the state on a structurally sound fiscal path and called on critics to offer up an alternative.
February 7 -
Minnesota hospitals provided $509 million in uncompensated care in 2011, up from $496 million a year earlier, according to the Minnesota Hospital Association's annual community benefits report.
February 7 - Illinois
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn pressed lawmakers Wednesday to act on a pension reform package that merges House and Senate proposals with the goal of improving the legislation's chances of withstanding a legal challenge by unions.
February 6 -
The trustee for bankrupt American Airlines Inc.'s $1.4 billion of New York City airport revenue bonds hopes to submit a final settlement agreement after a majority of bondholders endorsed the terms.
February 6 -
Moody's affirmed Midway International Airport's single-A level ratings and said it should not see a significant credit impact from Chicago's effort to privatize the airfield.
February 5 -
Fitch Ratings has placed Springfield, Mo,-based CoxHealth's A rating on Rating Watch Negative due to the system's impending new debt issuance.
February 5 - Iowa
Standard & Poor's has lowered its rating on Davenport, Iowa' general obligation debt by three notches to A from AA over the city's liquidity woes as it prepares to enter the casino business.
February 5 -
Fitch Ratings downgraded Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, Ill. – which is preparing to merge with the higher rated Edward Hospital and Health Services -- one notch to BBB due to its weak operating performance.
February 5