Illinois

Gov. J.B. Priztker touted the state's fiscal progress in his combined budget and state of the state speech.

Fitch Ratings received enough inquiries over S&P's action — slashing a Chicago suburb's GO rating by seven notches — that it put out a special commentary outlining differences between the two agencies' analytical approach even though Fitch does not rate the village under scrutiny.

Midwest borrowing last year went from 11% year-over-year growth in the first quarter to a 48% plunge in the fourth quarter.

Changes to the district's pension code now enshrined in state law put it on a path to full funding in 30 years after voters approved a property tax levy hike.

Plaintiffs who challenged the legislation plan to ask the Illinois Supreme Court to hear the case. Meanwhile, the consolidation process has moved forward and the majority of funds have transferred their assets.

Citigroup's cuts included veteran public finance banker Thomas Coomes, who had co-led the bank's Midwest region.

Laurence Msall who built the Chicago Civic Federation into a fiscal research powerhouse over the last two decades, died Saturday at 61.

Illinois' net position for governmental activities remains deep in the red but after years of falling further behind, it trimmed the gap in fiscal 2022.

Bolingbrook called the GO cut to BBB-plus from AA an attempt "to cause a de facto conversion" of a special sales tax district's debt to a general obligation.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, in a reelection fight, highlights first-term progress including lifting the city's bond ratings and bringing new investors to debt sales.