Yvette Shields

Moody's Investors Service has lowered its rating to Baa3 from Baa2 on Anderson Hospital due to its weakened financial performance. The action affects $33.9 million of rated debt sold through the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said city departments have exceeded the $75 million budgetary savings goal he set for 2011 after taking office in May.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority board has adopted a $609 million budget for 2012 that anticipates $200 million in toll-backed borrowing as the agency embarks on its $12 billion, 15-year capital program to maintain and expand the 286-mile system.

One day after Illinois lawmakers passed more than $300 million in tax relief to keep several companies from moving jobs out of the state, the top House Republican on Wednesday proposed legislation that would speed up the expiration of the corporate income tax hike driving company threats to flee.

The Illinois Finance Authority board advanced about $600 million of borrowing planned by the University of Chicago, Children's Memorial Hospital, and others before the end of the year and into 2012.

Moody’s Investors Service affirmed Agnesian Health Care’s A3 rating while revising its outlook to positive from stable in recognition of its favorable operating margins.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has appointed a task force charged with reviewing the city’s existing ethics ordinance and recommending changes aimed at strengthening it and giving it teeth.

Standard & Poor’s downgraded the underlying rating of the Chicago Housing Authority’s 2006 capital revenue refunding bonds one notch to AA-minus because of lower debt service coverage ratios from federal funds.

The Chicago organization Women in Public Finance will recognize three women — Chicago's chief financial officer, Columbus' assistant auditor, and a public finance banker and financial advisor — at its sixth annual founders awards next month.

With trading active on much of bankrupt American Airlines' $3.2 billion of special facilities revenue bonds, some market participants are sounding a cautionary tone in assessing their value, as bargain hunters eye the airline's discounted bonds secured by collateral.

Low borrowing rates, high unemployment in the construction trades, and an expiring lease at its current home give urgency to the Minnesota Vikings' desire for a new home, team officials told lawmakers at a Minnesota Senate committee hearing this week.

A federal court judge in Chicago handed down a 14-year prison sentence to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted in June of corruption charges of using his office to enrich his campaign coffers and to try to profit from his pick to fill the Senate seat of President Obama.

CHICAGO — The bondholder-owned St. Louis convention center hotel complex is back on the selling block with consultants lining up potential bidders in hopes of closing on a deal next year, the bond trustee reported in an investor notice.

Standard & Poor’s revised its outlook to stable from negative on the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees’ A-plus due to improved operations.

In response to Fitch Ratings’ revision of its outlook on O’Hare International Airport’s general airport revenue bonds to negative, Chicago aviation officials said they are confident the airport’s position as a key hub for bankrupt American Airlines will limit any service cuts as the carrier reorganizes.

CHICAGO - Wisconsin will take competitive bids Tuesday on $138.3 million of general obligation bonds, the first half of a new-money sale to fund capital and infrastructure projects, with the remaining $130 million piece planned for early next year.

CHICAGO — A federal judge in Indiana last week gave final approval to Menasha, Wis.'s $17.5 million settlement with bondholders that resolves litigation over the city's default on $23 million of appropriation-backed notes for its failed steam plant.

CHICAGO — New members of a revamped Illinois Sports Facilities Authority board took their seats late last week, tasked with the challenge of easing the pressure on Chicago taxpayers to make up for potential shortfalls in hotel tax revenues used to repay $400 million of Soldier Field renovation bonds.

CHICAGO — Minnesota now expects an $876 million surplus in its current two-year budget, news welcomed by lawmakers five months after an impasse over how to fully erase $5 billion in red ink that partially shut down the state government for 20 days.

CHICAGO — The Illinois General Assembly wrapped up a special, one-day veto session this week after approving budget changes that will allow seven state facilities to remain open while shooting down a $200 million to $250 million tax relief package that included breaks for companies threatening to leave the state.