Illinois

Commercial PACE loans facilitated through the Illinois Finance Authority and Cook County supported hotels, a historic theater, an indoor vertical farm, and rental kitchens.

Deep-in-the-red municipal returns are not helping assuage investor concerns, creating a negative feedback loop that has yet to see a pause.

FHN Financial Capital Markets hired Rene Moreno to establish a banking presence in Arizona while Melanie Shaker will launch the firm's new Midwest effort.

Despite compelling yields and ratios, buyers continue to be selective. Even if rates stabilize, municipal investors will likely be cautious for some time, waiting for fund outflows to abate, strategists said.

The Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Authority and many state universities have drawn positive rating actions as the state's ratings improved.

If the deal closes, the two systems say they will evaluate existing debt structures and combine credits where possible and beneficial.

The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority's hotel taxes are on the rebound but Chicago is on the hook for a $28 million debt service gap this year.

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority will take higher ratings linked to the state's recent upgrades when it returns to the market to refinance debt.

S&P followed Fitch and Moody's in raising the state's ratings but the upgrades so far haven't halted the state's spread widening amid market turmoil.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot chose a $1.7 billion proposal from Bally's over two rival plans as the city looks to casino gambling as a new source of revenue.

Illinois' latest upgrade is its fourth over the last year and moves its general obligation rating three notches away from the cusp of junk, where it once sat.

Joliet closed on two federal WIFIA loans that mark a milestone in the the city's plans to overhaul its water infrastructure.

Ammar Rizki, CFO of the nation's most populous county, is leaving for the Obama Foundation, which is building the Obama presidential library on Chicago's South Side.

Moody's upgraded five Illinois public universities after lifting the state government's rating, lifting one to investment grade and putting three others closer.

Illinois expects to sell about $1 billion of new-money general obligation debt but the deal could grow if market conditions permit savings on a refunding piece.

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.