Indiana

Refunding opportunities fueled a 36.3% surge in bond issuance among Midwestern borrowers last year as the steadfastly conservative region shied away from adding new debt in favor of shoring up balance sheets.

A House committee last week approved a long-stalled bill that would fund a $1.3 billion mass-transit expansion in central Indiana.

A bill that would expand Indiana's gambling industry is headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee after the Senate Public Policy Committee unanimously approved the measure last week.

Fitch Ratings last week upgraded to BBB from BBB-minus its rating on The Methodist Hospitals, reflecting the northwest Indiana system's improving financial performance.

Indiana would become the lastest state to considering floating bonds to pay off a massive federal unemployment insurance liability if the General Assembly approves a bill introduced last week.

After months of debate, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and leaders of the City-County Council have tentatively agreed to several proposals, including a pair of tax increases, to the city’s $1.1 billion budget.

Lawmakers as soon as Wednesday are set to begin debate on a series of bills to revamp the state's gaming and casinos laws in an effort to boost competitiveness with Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois casinos.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence presented a $29 billion two-year spending plan that features an income-tax cut that totals nearly $800 million and sets aside $347 million in new transportation dollars.

The Illinois Finance Authority board advanced new-money and refunding deals planned by Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and the Franciscan Communities Inc. in the coming months.

Sycamore Advisors LLC, one of Indiana's top financial advisors, hired Courtney Tobin, a Georgia-based former Indiana public finance official, to help expand the firm's footprint in the southeast and Chicago.

Investors who hold some of the $4.5 billion of revenue bonds issued for the controversial Prairie State Energy Project can take heart that the project's long-term economics remain favorable for participating public power agencies despite cost overruns, says Moody's Investors Service.

Kentucky and Indiana settle the 2009 federal lawsuit by two nonprofit groups that could have derailed the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project. A second federal complaint is still pending.

The Indiana Finance Authority finalized its agreement and reached commercial close on a deal with WVB East End Partners to design and build the state's part of the massive bi-state Ohio River Bridges Project.

Indianapolis will start the new year with a $42 million double-A rated bond deal should put the finishing touch on its massive $754 million public safety net hospital replacement.

After months of debate, Carmel, Ind. last week refinanced $186 million of debt for a concert hall and theater. The city's total interest cost was 3.24% on the mix of taxable and tax-exempt bonds, with net present value savings of $55 million.

The Indiana Finance Authority is selling $1.26B of Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds, in the special private activity bond program's largest issuance to date and one of two such deals this week for new fertilizer plants.

The Wayne County, Ind., Council approved the issuance of $50 million of tax-exempt private-activity bonds on behalf of a food-processing company.

Attorney Greg Clark takes over as the manager of the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank after director Deron Kintner left last August.

Indiana floated a request for interest for firms looking to partner with the state on a new section of Interstate 69, which is the latest in a series of P3 transportation projects the state has undertaken.

Kentucky has chosen Walsh Construction Co. to build the so-called “downtown crossing,” Kentucky’s share of the massive Ohio River Bridges Project.