Yvette Shields

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.

CHICAGO - Chicago-based Mesirow Financial Inc. has hired public finance banker and former deputy Chicago comptroller Brian King in part to aid its efforts in winning senior manager work outside of Illinois, sources said.

CHICAGO - Wisconsin will enter the market as soon as Monday with roughly $250 million of general obligation refunding bonds for both traditional economic savings and to restructure debt coming due in November for budgetary relief.

CHICAGO - A union between St. Louis-based Ascension Health and Arlington Heights, Ill.-based Alexian Brothers Health System advanced Thursday with the announcement that the two had signed a definitive agreement for Alexian's acquisition by the nation's largest nonprofit health care system.

CHICAGO - Chicago will hold its first-ever investor conference next month as new Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his chief financial officer, Lois Scott, seek to bolster the city's strained fiscal image with the buyers of its debt.

Chicago will hold its first-ever investor conference next month as new Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his chief financial officer, Lois Scott, seek to bolster the city’s strained fiscal image with the buyers of its debt.

CHICAGO - The Illinois Finance Authority board this week approved Novi, Mich.-based Trinity Health Corp.'s issue of up to $600 million tied to its acquisition of Loyola University Health System in suburban Chicago, and advanced a Midwestern disaster area revenue bond issue for Cargill Inc.

CHICAGO - Illinois wrapped up its election of new underwriting, financial advisory and bond counsel pools this week, significantly expanding to 25 the number of firms qualified to serve in the top spot on the state's negotiated sales while narrowing its bond counsel to one: Mayer Brown.

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency deputy commissioner and chief financial officer Patricia Hippe is moving on to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority next month.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak this week proposed a 2012 budget that cuts spending and jobs to hold the city’s property tax levy steady while increasing debt issuance for street improvements.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the Winterset Community School District’s rating by one notch to A2 due to a narrow but improving financial position. The action affects $18 million of outstanding general obligation debt.

Chicago-based Mercy Hospital is discussing some form of a union with Novi, Mich.-based Trinity Health Corp., according to published reports.

Illinois has selected Mayer Brown from among 18 law firms that submitted proposals to work as the state’s bond and disclosure counsel for the next two years.

CHICAGO - A federal appellate panel in Chicago last week delivered a mixed opinion in a dispute over whether a Wisconsin tribe is on the hook for repayment of $47 million of debt, upholding the district court's voiding of the bond indenture while overturning its refusal to consider other documents in an argument over the tribe's sovereign immunity.

CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday announced plans to shutter seven state facilities and lay off 1,900 employees to save $313 million, blaming the action on lawmakers' failure to approve adequate funding in the $33 billion fiscal 2012 general fund budget to fully support state spending.

CHICAGO - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Thursday introduced to the City Council ordinances seeking approval for up to $500 million of general obligation bonds and the authority to refund up to $250 million of sales tax revenue bonds.