Yvette Shields

CHICAGO - The Securities and Exchange Commission is among the list of regulators now probing the failed Mamtek US Inc. artificial sweetener factory in Moberly, Mo., that received local and state financing support, including recovery zone facility bonds backed by an appropriation pledge from the city that it refused to honor last month.

CHICAGO - The Illinois Supreme Court this week left intact a lower court ruling that keeps alive efforts to resurrect litigation that resulted in a $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris USA Inc. in a case over the company's marketing of "light" cigarettes.

CHICAGO - Rating pressures on the financially strapped Chicago Public Schools eased a bit Thursday when Standard & Poor's revised its outlook to stable from negative on the district's AA-minus rating in recognition of its move to trim costs to help eliminate a $700 million gap in its fiscal 2012 budget.

CHICAGO - With the unveiling of his first budget two weeks away, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ruled out several ideas offered up this week in a special report from the city's inspector general to help erase $636 million of red ink.

RBC Capital Markets LLC will pay $30.4 million to settle charges filed Tuesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission accusing the firm of misconduct for its role in the sale of unsuitably risky investment products to five Wisconsin school districts.

CHICAGO — RBC Capital Markets LLC will pay $30.4 million to settle charges filed Tuesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission accusing the firm of misconduct for its role in the sale of unsuitably risky investment products to five Wisconsin school districts.

Moody's Investor Service has revised its outlook to positive from stable on Aspirus Wausau Hospital's A2 rating in recognition of strong operating profitability for a third consecutive year.

The Illinois Department of Revenue will hold off on any further actions that strip nonprofit hospitals of their property tax exemption for failing to provide sufficient charity care, while state officials and hospitals engage in talks that could lead to legislation setting minimum charity thresholds.

CHICAGO - Illinois is gearing up to issue $1 billion of new-money debt before the end of the year to support its $31 billion capital budget, deals that are taking shape amid a fiscal picture that is more stable than a year ago after an income tax increase but facing renewed headwinds.

CHICAGO - Minnesota lost its final triple-A rating Friday when Standard & Poor's lowered its rating one notch to AA-plus as it chided the state for its continued reliance on one-time financial maneuvers to deal with its budget deficit.

CHICAGO - Moberly, Mo., lost its investment-grade rating last week after it declined to make good on its appropriation pledge on $39 million of revenue bonds issued for a Chinese company's troubled artificial sweetener factory.

CHICAGO — After investors agreed to take a haircut in a restructuring last year, an upscale retirement facility in downtown Chicago is again asking bondholders for more breathing room.

CHICAGO - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday turned to outside the state's borders to tap Charlotte, N.C., housing official Charles Woodyard as the new chief executive officer of the Chicago Housing Authority.

CHICAGO — A taxpayers organization on Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging the steep rate hike recently approved by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to fund a new $12 billion capital program.

CHICAGO - The St. Paul Port Authority and a group of investors holding a portion of $51.7 million of defaulted industrial revenue bonds will ask a judge Thursday to preliminarily approve a proposed class-action settlement that could end five years of litigation over the fate of the long-troubled 876 Bond Fund.

CHICAGO - Minnesota will take bids Tuesday on $920 million of general obligation debt in a long-planned deal that grew as refunding opportunities arose and lawmakers approved additional public works spending as part of the budget deal that ended a partial government shutdown.

Moody’s Investors Service has revised its outlook to positive from stable on the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics’ A1 rating due to its improved fiscal performance.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Monmouth College by one notch to Baa3, the lowest investment-grade level, and assigned a negative outlook as the school grapples with a weakening market position and operating pressures.

Chicago has struck a labor agreement that calls for employees to participate in a wellness program with an estimated savings of $20 million in its first year. The pact was announced last week by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Federation of Labor president Jorge Ramirez.

CHICAGO - The Chicago Park District will enter the market this week with about $178 million of general obligation bonds to raise new money for its annual capital program and to refund debt.