Illinois

From disclosure to issuance labels, the Chicago finance team is shaping ESG practices that are top of mind for municipal market.

Cook County projects a surplus this year and a $18.2 million gap for fiscal 2023 while it readies two bond sales.

S&P raised the outlook to positive for St. Louis Lambert's general credit and Chicago O'Hare's customer facility charge credit.

Loop Capital Markets has hired veteran managers to lead its transportation and housing groups while adding to its Texas banking presence.

Talks between original holders and a law firm over potential securities fraud litigation did not pan out, and trustee UMB NA has canceled all the bonds.

Phil Culpepper brings his experience as a public finance banker and Illinois' former debt manager to the table at the fully veteran-owned firm.

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza will renew a push for legislation to set automatic triggers for a $200 million annual deposit into the rainy day fund.

CPS' federal windfall aided the district's fiscal progress with plans to use $700 million in the next budget before exhausting the pot in fiscal 2025.

Cook County and the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund reported improving pension health, while the unfunded liabilities of Chicago funds worsened in 2020.

As summer beckons, it's time for a reporters' roundtable with some of the Bond Buyer's senior staff. Yvette Shields, Karen Pierog, Keeley Webster and Thomas Nocera talk with Chip Barnett about what's hot in their regions and what municipal bond market participants should expect to see in the months ahead. (25 minutes)

Local police funds challenging the suburban and downstate police and firefighter pension fund consolidation appealed a court decision that upheld it.

Chicago's decades-long casino chase has moved closer to reality with Mayor Lori Lightfoot banking on the fiscal jackpot to help fund the city's pensions.

An Illinois judge upheld the constitutionality of the state's consolidation of downstate public safety pension funds; an appeal is expected.

Goodman's colleagues and friends called her death a loss for the public finance industry. The Canadian native embraced Chicago and her role aiding local and state governments.

Chicago hasn't shied away from using its relationships with investment banks to pursuit of larger social goals, but it hasn't always gone the city's way.

Chicago's preliminary projected gap in the next budget, when Mayor Lori Lightfoot has vowed to reach structural balance, is down from an $867 million estimate.

Illinois' spread penalties widened sharply from the state's last deal, but they landed in lockstep with current trading levels as the state saw healthy demand for its $1.6 billion GO issue.

Investors pulled $7.270 billion from muni bond mutual funds in the week ending May 11, per ICI data, while exchange-traded funds saw $1.756 billion of inflows, the fourth week of record inflows.

SWS has launched a specialty higher education sector group that will be led by Julia Harris from the firm's Chicago office.

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