Illinois

The upgrade is driven by realized and expected improvement in the state's financial metrics, the rating agency said.

Brandon Johnson released his $16.6 billion 2026 budget last week. The budget calls for new revenue sources, but avoids property tax hikes.

The city council of Harvey voted to declare the city financially distressed in a bid for state oversight, as the mayor warned of a city government shutdown.

Metra announced fare hikes in its 2026 budget, part of a broader regional policy requiring the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace to raise fares.

Legislators and transit groups are pushing to get transit reform across the finish line this month, lawmakers and stakeholders said Friday.

Public finance careers require flexibility and relationship-building, said speakers a University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy event.

Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland will face economic costs from the Trump administration's showy deployments of National Guard troops and immigration agents.

Illinois school districts face worsening credit pressure due rising personnel and special education costs and slower home price growth, S&P Global Ratings said.

Chicago has selected its new senior manager and co-manager pools to underwrite future bond deals, five months after it released its request for qualifications.

Raymond James has added four senior public finance professionals — two to its Chicago office, and two to a new office it is opening in Naperville.

Two months after property tax payments would normally be due, Cook County, Illinois, is still struggling to send out accurate bills for the second part of 2024.

A lawsuit filed in federal court by 17 states against the Trump administration targets a presidential memorandum ending federal approvals for wind energy.

Chicago is returning to market with a $375 million deal for O'Hare Airport, according to multiple rating reports, with more on the way.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's Financial Future Task Force released an interim report this week on Chicago's structurally imbalanced budget.

Cook County, Illinois, plans to go to market Oct. 1 with $150 million of sales tax revenue bonds. The deal comes on the heels of a Moody's upgrade to Aa3.

The Civic Federation and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago co-hosted an event on Wednesday titled "Taxing Times, Smarter Strategies."

The Westin Chicago Lombard's owner is returning to market with unrated bonds designed to cure payment defaults on debt issued to exit bankruptcy in 2018.

The Chicago Board of Education passed a balanced $10.26 billion budget that leaves the city government to pick up non-teacher pension contributions.

Paul Chatalas, director of capital markets for the state, said the six series of bonds drew "aggressive bids."

Two Midwest nonprofit healthcare organizations that have run into financial difficulty this month illustrate the role of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.