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.
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Fitch says the bond-financed settlement provides certainty and leaves the state's reserves intact, which puts the state on sound footing to manage the uncertainties with the coronavirus.
December 2 -
Modest revenue growth is projected over the course of the biennium that begins July 1, but “unprecedented volatility” because of the pandemic remains a concern.
December 1 -
Illinois will borrow $2 billion through the Federal Reserve's Municipal Liquidity Facility to help manage its 2021 budget gap. The state previously borrowed $1.2 billion from the MLF for its fiscal 2020 pandemic hole.
November 25 -
The budget cleared the Chicago City Council Tuesday. Rating agency and buy side reviews on the final plan will come next.
November 25 -
The budget closes a $400 million general fund and health care system gap and rising structural costs without a tax hike
November 24 -
Without more federal relief, the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority's service boards warn of devastating service cuts, layoffs and fare hikes.
November 24 -
The Michigan Strategic Fund would issue bonds to fund a loan that would go to cover claims stemming from contamination of the city's water system.
November 19 -
The Finance Committee signed off on new money, refunding, and scoop-and-toss debt restructuring deals and finance teams to assemble and sell the bonds.
November 18 -
The state's backlog of unpaid bills will grow to $35 billion by 2026 if it doesn't make any structural budget fixes, according to a new forecast.
November 17 -
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is promoting a $950 million restructuring that adds three years to the city's debt service schedule as present value neutral when factoring in savings from a more traditional $750 million refunding.
November 17 -
Mayor Lori Lightfoot's budget plan strikes the right balance between structural and one-time measures amid the coronavirus, says Jennie Huang Bennett.
November 13 -
Illinois General Assembly leaders canceled the annual veto session amid rising COVID-19 cases, which means lawmakers won't act on the state budget before January.
November 11 -
The rating agency cited higher leverage from borrowing plans to fund expansions and renovations and passenger traffic losses from the coronavirus pandemic.
November 11 -
The IFA is hoping to capitalize on growing investor interest in green and sustainable bonds.
November 10 -
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the Henry Ford Village continuing care retirement community over the fiscal cliff and into a Chapter 11 filing.
November 9 -
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says preservation of the investment-grade status is "very important;" Illinois bonds traded wider after the income tax referendum failed.
November 5 -
Traffic is recovering at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, which is planning $600 million of new borrowing for its 2021 capital plan.
November 3 -
The fate of the state budget and ratings may depend on the progressive income tax ballot measure. Midwest voters also face $2.3 billion of bond measures Tuesday.
November 2 -
Moody’s on Thursday joined Fitch and S&P Global Ratings in moving the city’s rating outlook to negative. It has rated Chicago at speculative grade since 2015.
October 29 -
Harvey has failed to fully implement an independent consultant's recommendations in violation of a 2014 settlement that resolved securities charges, the SEC says.
October 29
