Yvette Shields

J.B. Pritzker signed legislation to move the Chicago Board of Education to an elected 21-member board from the seven-member panel now appointed by the mayor.

The district hopes to win back investment grade ratings by raising fund balances, a task that becomes harder after federal coronavirus relief is exhausted.

Municipal issuers are missing the low-borrowing-cost opportunity to finance repairs and modernize infrastructure, says Merritt Research Services.

The hiring of an underwriter moves the city closer to a debt restructuring that is called for in a legal agreement with holders of defaulted bonds.

Federal relief and rising revenues drew a change in outlook from Moody's to stable from negative, but Moody's remains the only agency to rate Chicago at junk.

Michael Pagano, a "dean" of government finance with a national reputation, will hand the mantle as director of the university's Government Finance Research Center next month to Deborah Carroll.

Cyberattacks pose rising operational costs and can hinder revenue generation for hospitals and health systems eventually leading to rating hits, Fitch warns.

FirstEnergy will pay $230 million under a deferred prosecution agreement with federal authorities in the alleged pay-to-play that benefitted its former subsidiary FirstEnergy Solutions.

The Great Lakes Senior Living Communities is working with holders of its $380 million of debt to raise funds for needed capital expenses

SWS Capital Management, which manages the Clear Vision Impact Fund, has hired a Detroit-based analyst/investor.

The first motor fuel tax increase in decades could eventually raise more than $450 million annually.

The prominent Chicago health system's refunding will simplify its debt structure, cut interest rates, and provide longer-term fixed financing.

Chicago is looking for a financial advisor to help it assess casino development proposals due next month.

Spreads for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which manages Chicago's convention center, narrowed in an $811 million deal that priced Thursday.

Hospital consolidation continued though the coronavirus pandemic; how the Biden administration's pro-competition executive order will play out remains unknown.

Federal aid boosts Chicago Public Schools as a sea change in governance looms with elected school board legislation awaiting the governor's signature.

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority are heading into the bond market, buoyed by state rating upgrades.

The public transit agenices are benefitting from sales taxes that fared better than expected through the pandemic and the state's stronger fiscal footing

Moody's Investors Service upgraded the county — home to Detroit — A3 from Baa1 while also elevating its rating outlook to positive.

S&P followed Moody's in raising Illinois' general obligation rating, moving it to BBB as the state's fiscal picture brightens.