Illinois

After a long wait, legislation to reduce Chicago's contribution this year to its public safety pension funds was sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk.

Illinois community colleges face downward rating pressure from delays in state aid payments and likely future state aid cuts.

Illinois’ net financial position based on governmental activities worsened in fiscal 2015, reaching a negative $125.3 billion, according to the state auditor general.

Kroll Bond Rating Agency downgraded Chicago’s general obligation bond rating one notch to BBB-plus in response to the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision tossing its 2014 overhaul of two of its four pension funds.

A massive hike in Illinois’ gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees could generate $2.7 billion in new annual revenue to fix the state’s deficient transportation infrastructure, said a Chicago-based planning think tank.

The Chicago Board of Education is not subject to rules that allow the State Board of Education to curb the borrowing powers of financially distressed districts, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a special opinion.

Legal and political processes must lead to pension fixes in Chicago, California, and around the country, said leaders of an advocacy group dedicated to public sector pension reform.

Standard & Poor’s downgraded Presence Health two notches to BBB-minus and put the rating on CreditWatch with negative implications.

Chicago will return to the bargaining table with its unions to take a second stab at reforms aimed at passing state constitutional muster, said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Chicago can’t afford much of a delay in outlining a “clear plan” to stabilize its municipal and laborers’ pension funds after the Illinois Supreme Court ruling nixed its 2014 reforms, Moody’s Investors Service said Tuesday.

The impact a Chapter 9 bankruptcy would have on Chicago Public Schools and its investors is cloudy, market participants say.

Fitch Ratings slapped Chicago with a two-notch downgrade to BBB-minus, citing last week’s state Supreme Court ruling that tossed out city pension reforms.

Chicago must go back to the drawing board after the Illinois Supreme Court voided legislation that overhauled two city pension funds with the aim of keeping them solvent.

Chicago Transit Authority will use a $255 million federal TIFIA loan to replace more than 800 rail cars.

Standard & Poor’s put five of the seven Illinois public universities it rates on CreditWatch, citing the Illinois budget impasse.

Fitch Ratings says that California school general obligation bonds meet its “high bar” to determine if the revenue backing bonds would be considered special revenues in a bankruptcy, and therefore more secure.

The risky underpinnings of Chicago’s efforts to solve its $20 billion pension mess are taking center stage this week.

A higher-than-expected 2015 operating loss at Illinois-based Presence Health is expected to trigger a technical default that would allow bondholders and banks to accelerate some debt repayments.

DePaul University in Chicago will sell $70 million Tuesday primarily to finance a new music school building.

Approval of tax measures on local ballots in Illinois’ primary election represents a credit positive for the five local governments that won over voters, Moody’s Investors Service said.