Illinois

Robert Poole, a leading expert in the U.S. public-private partnership transportation sector, joins infrastructure reporter Caitlin Devitt to talk about upcoming deals including toll lanes and bridges in the Southeast and high speed rail in the West as well as states that are advancing P3s and action on the federal front. (37 minutes)

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved three ordinances laying the groundwork for up to $37 million new money bonds and a tender.

Nearly half of America's private colleges and universities reported negative operating margins in fiscal year 2023, and the trend was even worse in the Midwest.

As Texas' governor starts busing migrants to Illinois suburbs, social services agency and public safety budgets are likely to see some strain.

Ex-IFS Securities head of fixed income Keith Wakefield committed criminal securities and wire fraud from 2017 to 2019, a federal jury in Illinois found.

The city of Aurora, Illinois, is issuing an upfront loan to developer Penn Entertainment using bonds backed by tax increment financing district revenue.

Illinois' Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability last week released its Special Pension Briefing on state-funded retirement systems in 2023.

Brandon Comer and his firm Comer Capital Group have to pay the sum as part of a final judgment reached in federal court in Illinois.

The consolidation upheld by the state Supreme Court promises efficiencies, but the hundreds of local funds involved still face structural challenges.

Providing care for thousands of migrants is contributing to the system's escalating uncompensated care costs.

Moody's Investors Service bumped Chicago's outlook to positive from stable, while affirming the city's Baa3 issuer and general obligation bond ratings.

The Illinois Supreme Court upheld pension reform legislation championed by Gov. JB Pritzker that was challenged in court by first responder pension funds.

The top five bond financings have an average dollar volume of more than $917 million.

The Investment Company Institute Wednesday reported large inflows into municipal bond mutual funds, with investors adding $2.066 billion to funds, while exchange-traded funds saw $1.082 billion of outflows for the week ending Jan. 10.

The University of Chicago Harris School's Center for Municipal Finance is joining forces with Investortools to help advance municipal finance knowledge.

The tax-exempt market could also see pressure due to "heavy issuance, anemic flows, and rate volatility," according to Barclays PLC.

The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday saw its issuer rating and debt ratings from Moody's Investors Service elevated a notch to Ba1 from Ba2.

The Fed, financial markets, the upcoming election and AI took center stage on at the Executives' Club of Chicago's Annual Economic Outlook panel.

Since November, 10-year munis have fallen 130 basis points, according to Refinitiv MMD. This has pushed ratios to near-record lows, said Jason Wong, vice president of municipals at AmeriVet Securities.

The state of Illinois is preparing to issue $600 million in new Build Illinois junior sales tax revenue bonds next week.