Illinois

The suit by local police pension funds slowed the consolidation process that Gov. J.B. Pritzker touted as helping local governments manage rising pension costs.

Chicago must navigate council concerns over crime, traffic, gambling addiction, and labor demands as it moves closer to choosing a casino development proposal expected to generate $200 million in annual revenue.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago now has $600 million of pension obligation bond authority as it aims for a 100% funded ratio by 2050.

Moody's lifted Illinois one notch to Baa1, marking the state's third rating upgrade over the last year and first since lawmakers passed a state budget.

Steven Washington joined Chapman and Cutler this week as a partner.

Legislative backers of the fiscal 2023 budget approved over the weekend with Gov. J.B. Pritzker's blessing believe it will draw more positive rating actions.

The public agency that owns and operates Chicago's convention center says operating revenues and tax collections are doing better than forecast in the fiscal 2022 budget but lag pre-pandemic levels.

Illinois' current budget surpluses offer an opportunity to help bolster the state's fiscal foundation as it navigates persistent pension strains and economic threats, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability said.

Joliet is embarking on a $784 million project to replace old water mains and design and engineering work for a new transmission line from Lake Michigan.

Illinois lawmakers are advancing a bill that allocates $2.7 billion of the state's ARPA relief to pay down a $4.5 billion federal unemployment insurance loan.