Yvette Shields

CHICAGO - Wisconsin plans to take competitive bids July 6 on $800 million of operating notes that will help the state smooth out its cash-flow needs.

CHICAGO — The Illinois General Assembly during a special session Wednesday approved an $18 billion fiscal 2012 capital bill, reauthorizing spending for billions of dollars in projects now underway or in the works, and putting to rest concerns over a threatened suspension issued by Gov. Pat Quinn earlier this month.

CHICAGO - The University of Illinois Thursday will refund outstanding debt and raise new money for the ongoing makeover of a major student housing complex that comes as Illinois' flagship public university has scaled back on capital plans amid ongoing delinquencies in state support.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the city of Burlington's sewer revenue bonds one notch to A1 ahead of a planned sale this week of $5.3 million.

Moody's Investors Service has upgraded by one notch to Aa2 its rating on Mettawa's general obligation debt due to the village's healthy financial position. The action comes ahead of a planned sale this week of $1.9 million of bonds.

The Chicago Board of Education last week voted to rescind a planned 4% teachers’ raise in the district’s next $6.5 billion budget as it struggles with a looming $712 million deficit.

CHICAGO - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will spend the next week or so reviewing the $66 billion, two-year budget approved by lawmakers before signing the spending plan, which closely resembles his original proposal by dealing with a $3 billion deficit primarily with cuts.

CHICAGO - Legislative gridlock and political discord in the Midwest have put Minnesota on the path towards a partial government shutdown, stalled action on a new budget in Iowa, and threatened Illinois' summer construction season.

CHICAGO — A New York State court judge has ordered Assured Guaranty Corp. to honor coverage of $83.3 million of Iowa's Xenia Rural Water District bonds as part of its 2009 reinsurance agreement with CIFG Assurance North America Inc.

CHICAGO — Washington University in St. Louis will enter the market Thursday with nearly $200 million of new-money and refunding revenue bonds that will help finance projects and introduce taxable bonds into the top-rated school's debt portfolio.

CHICAGO - Debate was expected to began Wednesday in the Wisconsin Assembly on a new budget, one day after the state's high court reinstated Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill that raised employee pension payments and health care premiums and curbed most public unions' collective bargaining rights.

CHICAGO — A New York State court judge has ruled that Assured Guaranty Corp. is on the hook to cover $83.3 million of Iowa’s Xenia Rural Water District bonds as part of its reinsurance agreement with CIFG Assurance North America Inc.

CHICAGO - While its issuance levels recently have reflected the national slowdown, the Illinois Finance Authority is seeing some pickup in health-care deal flow with four issues for nearly $800 million in the works, including $533 million for the state's largest health care system and three direct bank purchases.

Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded Lake Geneva’s rating a notch to Aa2, citing its solid financial position.

Standard & Poor’s last week lowered its rating on the Nevada Regional Medical Center into junk bond territory due to ongoing strains on the balance sheet.

Minnesota issued layoff notices late last week to 36,000 employees ahead of a partial government shutdown on July 1 if state leaders cannot resolve an impasse over a new two-year budget.

Gov. Pat Quinn last week named Gery Chico to serve as chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka on Monday announced a revamped state website with new features aimed at easing public access to financial records and reports.

Chicago and Cook County, collectively facing nearly $1 billion of red ink in their next budgets, could save up to $140 million in coming years by consolidating their purchasing power and some services and collaborating on their capital programs, according to a report released Monday.

CHICAGO - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Friday signed into law a $23 billion fiscal 2012 budget after cutting $172 million from the plan approved by lawmakers in order to keep spending in line with expected revenue and to set aside $50 million for recent weather-related disasters.