Yvette Shields

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.

CHICAGO — The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District got mixed signals from rating agencies this week, winning an upgrade to AAA from Standard & Poor's while losing its top mark from Fitch Ratings ahead of a $53 million revenue bond sale next week.

CHICAGO — As market participants digested the news of American Airlines' Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy filing Tuesday, airports stressed their ability to withstand any potential impact while tax-exempt investors reached out to bankruptcy attorneys to gauge the strength of their holdings.

CHICAGO — As market participants digested the news of American Airlines' Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy filing Tuesday, airports stressed their ability to withstand any potential impact while tax-exempt investors reached out to bankruptcy attorneys to gauge the strength of their holdings.

CHICAGO — Six months after a devastating tornado destroyed its competitor's facility, Freeman Health System in Joplin, Mo., will come to market next week with $25 million of bonds, primarily to fund additional beds needed to meet a surge in demand for its services.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the Kenosha Unified School District's general obligation rating by one notch to A1 and warned of further action by assigning a negative outlook due to the Wisconsin district's fiscal strains.

The 20-day partial shutdown of Minnesota state government that occurred in July as a result of a budget stalemate had little impact on state finances, according to a report released last week.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Hospital Sisters Services Inc.'s rating by one notch to A1 due to sizeable operating losses at the Springfield, Ill.-based system.

The Milwaukee County Board last week overrode many of County Executive Chris Abele’s vetoes in the $1.2 billion 2012 budget.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority said it would use proceeds of its recent sale of $33.4 million of tax-exempt housing revenue bonds to finance four affordable multifamily developments.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel last week took action to put his stamp on the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority board, appointing three new members from the financial services industry who are charged with undertaking reforms and streamlining operations at the city-state agency.