Illinois

The Illinois Finance Authority board signed off Rush University Medical Center $600 million refunding and issues that will help finance Chicago Navy Pier's big overhaul and finance construction of a compressed natural gas station for Pace suburban bus service.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, admired across party lines for her blunt nature and down-to-earth style, died early Wednesday after suffering a stroke. She was 70.

A profound shift in debt management and the control of a handful of state related agencies with bonding powers may lay ahead for Illinois as the state ushers in its first Republican governor in 12 years.

Moody's Investors Service has shifted its outlook to positive from stable on Illinois-based Blessing Hospital's A3 rating in recognition of strong growth on its investments.

The city of Harvey, Ill., has agreed to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that it misled bond investors by diverting proceeds away from the projects for which they were intended.

Strong double-digit investment returns in fiscal 2013 couldn’t stave off funding deterioration for some of the 11 pension funds that cover Chicago area governments and local government employees throughout the state.

Moody's Investors Service Monday revised its outlook to stable from negative on two Illinois-based health systems in recognition of the benefits of their year-old move to join forces.

The Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority signed off a $564 million contract to design and build a new convention center hotel and events center that will house an arena for DePaul University's Blue Demons basketball team.

Illinois-based Advocate Health Care Network is planning a refunding in the coming weeks of up to $365 million.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority returns to the market Tuesday with a $270 million senior lien revenue bond sale for savings.

A lower court ruling throwing out Illinois' pension reforms isn't expected to trigger any immediate negative credit action or legislative moves, as all eyes turn to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Illinois' landmark pension reform law is headed to the Illinois Supreme Court following a lower court decision Friday that the benefit cuts violate the state constitution.

Calling the state's fiscal condition "stunningly bad," Illinois Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner called on Gov. Pat Quinn to freeze hiring and not move political appointees into union protected jobs.

Local county officials in Illinois will be offered special financial training on how to protect their coffers from corrupt fiscal practices similar to what happened in Dixon, Ill. where the comptroller stole more than $50 million in public money.

The Chicago Transit Authority's $1.4 billion 2015 budget won the endorsement of the Civic Federation of Chicago in recognition of the agency's fiscal strides.

The Chicago City Council approved new rules that require underwriting, advisory, and legal firms that work on Chicago bond deals to report the racial, ethnic and gender makeup of the teams on their transactions.

The Chicago City Council adopted Mayor Rahm Emanuel's $7.3 billion 2015 budget that pushes off a fix for a pension-related fiscal cliff until after next year's municipal elections.

Some Chicago aldermen want the SEC and city inspector general to investigate campaign contributions to Mayor Rahm Emanuel from executives at firms with city pension business.

Underwriting, advisory, and legal firms that work on Chicago bond deals would face heightened disclosure rules about the diversity of their teams working on a transaction under a proposed ordinance.

Cincinnati-based Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has hired public finance attorney Matthew Miller to bolster its Chicago office.