Yvette Shields

CHICAGO — Should the municipal market embrace a new national conduit finance authority as a welcome addition to the arsenal of financing options, or does it threaten state imposition of legislative priorities and policies on tax-exempt bond issuance?

CHICAGO — The financial toll of the tornado that ripped through Joplin, Mo., on Sunday, killing more than 100 and destroying a local hospital, remains unknown, but Moody’s Investors Service expects the health care system’s rating will weather the impact and Missouri said it stands ready with aid.

CHICAGO — A Wisconsin judge on Thursday struck down the state’s controversial law that curtailed the collective bargaining powers of most public unions and raised pension contributions and health care premiums, concluding that lawmakers violated state open-meetings rules in their haste to pass the legislation.

CHICAGO — The political standoff in Minnesota over taxes between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican lawmakers showed no sign of easing this week after the governor vetoed the two-year budget approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature and officials on Wednesday started planning for a possible shutdown.

CHICAGO — Milwaukee will competitively sell about $250 million of general obligation debt Wednesday as it grapples with the impact of looming state revenue cuts proposed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

CHICAGO — Illinois lawmakers entered the homestretch of their annual regular session this week facing a crowded agenda topped by budget questions, including whether to use borrowing to pay down bills — a debate that prompted a threat from the treasurer to call investors and warn them against buying state bonds.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is opposed to extending a 0.1% Miller Park baseball stadium sales tax to fund a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, according to published reports.

Gov. Pat Quinn last week named former Illinois Finance Authority executive director Kym Hubbard as the new chairwoman of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

New Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel last week signed an executive order creating a long-term budget and financial planning process.

The Illinois General Assembly recently passed legislation to establish a commission charged with recommending the best way to implement a public-private partnership to aid in financing, construction and operation of a high-speed rail system.

CHICAGO — Minneapolis has tapped its police department finance director, Kevin Carpenter, to serve as the city’s chief financial officer following the departure of Patrick Born earlier this year to lead the Metropolitan Council.

CHICAGO — A third financial advisory professional from Scott Balice Strategies LLC has opted to join Acacia Financial Group Inc. over Public Finance Management Inc., following PFM’s acquisition of Chicago-based Scott Balice last week.

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday named a task force led by public finance banker Carole Brown to recommend tax-increment financing reforms.

CHICAGO — San Francisco-based Grigsby & Associates has added two public finance bankers to its Chicago staff and opened a St. Louis office to bolster its issuer relationships and technical prowess as it aims for more senior-manager work.

CHICAGO — At its first meeting presided over by new Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved his first major piece of legislation: a council reorganization.

CHICAGO — The Illinois attorney general’s office and lawyers for a liquor distributor squared off before the state Supreme Court this week over whether the state’s 2009 $31 billion public works program — and the funding streams approved to repay bonding for it — are legal.

CHICAGO — The Chicago Public Schools’ chief financial officer, Diana Ferguson, has resigned her position effective next week, but will continue to work on a pro bono basis until a replacement is named, officials said this week.

CHICAGO — New Jersey-based Acacia Financial Group Inc. announced Tuesday the expansion of its Chicago office and a new Alaska outpost with the hiring of two former Scott Balice Strategies LLC financial advisers, Phoebe Selden and Debbie Schnebel.

The East St. Louis School District 189 board last week voted to support a state takeover of the fiscally and academically ailing system, and canceled its contract with superintendent Theresa Saunders.

After his swearing-in Monday, new Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel signed a series of executive orders aimed at strengthening the city’s ethics rules.