Yvette was a senior reporter, covering the Midwest. She earned a bachelors in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, began her reporting career at the storied City News Bureau of Chicago, and joined the Bond Buyer in 1997 leading Midwest coverage from her hometown Chicago.
- Illinois
CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday announced that $270 million from recent bond sales will go to 18 school districts, including $54 million for the Chicago Public Schools, for projects approved as part of the state’s multi-year, $31 billion capital program.
October 20 -
WisconsinCHICAGO — Dane County — home to Wisconsin’s capital city of Madison — lost its AAA general obligation rating from Fitch Ratings as it grapples with operating deficits that city officials hope to reverse next year.
October 19 - Minnesota
CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week signed legislation providing $80.3 million in aid to designated federal disaster areas rocked by floods in late September and storms and tornadoes in June.
October 19 - Minnesota
The Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency won a one-notch upgrade to A1 from Moody’s Investors Service ahead of its sale this month of $75 million of revenue bonds. The upgrade also affected $600 million of outstanding debt.
October 19 - Minnesota
Standard & Poor’s raised its issuer credit rating on Rockford Independent School District No. 883 by one notch to AA-minus in recognition of its growing reserve levels and increased state aid levels that have followed the stabilization of its enrollment.
October 19 -
Moody’s Investors Service has pushed Keokuk Area Hospital’s rating on $5.4 million of debt further into junk bond territory due to its weak operating performance.
October 19 - Illinois
Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Champaign County one notch to Aa2 due to its declining financial position.
October 19 -
CHICAGO — The St. Paul Port Authority and lawyers for a group of investors who hold some of its 876 Fund economic development bonds will return to court Nov. 1 as litigation over the fate of $51 million of defaulted outstanding debt moves towards a trial date.
October 18 -
IllinoisCHICAGO — The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is conducting its first request for proposal process for underwriters as it prepares to sell $500 million of mostly Build America Bonds before the end of the year to help finance a long-term capital program of more than $2.5 billion.
October 15 - Illinois
CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools said it was pleased with the final 1.2% rate the district will pay on its $257 million sale Thursday of qualified school construction bonds, given a round of negative rating actions and market conditions.
October 15 -
CHICAGO — The Illinois Finance Authority board this week advanced deals to help fund projects for the University of Chicago Medical Center and DePaul University and announced the successful pooling of federal recovery zone facility bond allocations from at least 15 cities and counties for Navistar International Corp.
October 14 -
IllinoisCHICAGO — Retiring Chicago Mayor Richard Daley unveiled a $6.15 billion 2011 budget Wednesday that relies heavily on a series of one-time revenues from reserves, surplus tax-increment financing funds, and debt restructuring to close a record $654 million shortfall without the need for tax, fee, or fine increases.
October 13 -
CHICAGO — The St. Louis Metro will complete a refunding Wednesday of its $150 million floating-rate revenue bond issue from 2005, using a structure that provides a short-term salve for its fiscal challenges while the transit agency awaits a bump in sales tax dollars from a voter-approved increase.
October 12 - Iowa
CHICAGO — Iowa expects to collect nearly $300 million more in revenue during the current fiscal year than previously anticipated and projects a 3.3% increase in revenues in fiscal 2011, its revenue estimating committee announced Monday.
October 12 -
Fitch Ratings dropped a Lee’s Summit Industrial Development Authority issue for John Knox Village to BBB-minus — the last rung of investment-grade — due to ongoing fiscal strains.
October 12 -
Central DuPage Health and Delnor Health System have reached a memorandum of understanding that is expected to lead to a merger that will yield one system serving Chicago’s western suburbs.
October 12 -
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn last week announced the formation of an advisory council to help with the planning and building of the Elgin-O’Hare West Bypass to expand access to O’Hare International Airport.
October 12 -
CHICAGO — Chicago enters the market this week with $251 million of second-lien Midway International Airport bonds to refund outstanding commercial paper and wrap up financing for a new consolidated rental car facility.
October 8 - Illinois
CHICAGO — Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s have revised their outlooks on the Chicago Board of Education’s bonds to negative. They cited escalating financial challenges as the district prepares to sell $418 million of new money on Wednesday and a $243 million refunding to restructure debt next week.
October 8 - Illinois
Fitch Ratings dropped the Chicago Board of Education's general obligation rating one level to A-plus Thursday due to mounting fiscal challenges from state aid delays and the looming expiration of federal aid and pension relief that helped close a fiscal 2011 deficit.
October 7
