Minnesota

Moody's Investors Service has upgraded HealthPartners Inc.'s rating one level to A2 in recognition of its improved operating performance.

A tax overhaul in Minnesota -- with infrastructure funding for the Mayo Clinic's plan to makeover its home city and a likely income tax increase to erase a deficit and generate more funding for schools -- is headed to a conference committee.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the city of Hayfield's general obligation rating by three notches to the lowest investment grade level.

Moody's Investors Service issued a report on Wednesday that examined the local governments and school districts that rely on federal employment, procurement, Medicare reimbursement and education grants that would be most affected by sequestration.

Moody's Investors Service has placed the general obligation bond ratings of 29 local governments and school districts including Chicago, Cincinnati, and Minneapolis on review for possible downgrade due to its new methodology for analyzing public pension liabilities.

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Olmsted Medical Center's rating by one notch, pushing it into the A category in recognition of its strong financial profile and increasing liquidity.

Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services and South Dakota-based Sanford Health have canceled discussions over a possible union due to mounting opposition in Minnesota.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled a $750 million capital bonding package Monday that provides funds for infrastructure projects across the state.

Two Minnesota lawmakers plan to introduce legislation next week that would delay any state bond issuance for the new $975 million Minnesota Vikings professional football stadium until a stable revenue source is put in place that can support repayment.

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook to negative on St. Paul’s sewer revenue bond Aa1 credit over a weakening of its financial metrics.

Minnesota Attorney General will hold hearings beginning next week to probe South Dakota-based Sanford Health's possible acquisition of Minnesota-based Fairview Health Services.

Minnesota is banking on electronic bingo games to bolster its pot of expanded gambling revenues needed to repay its $348 million share of borrowing for the new $900 million Minnesota Vikings professional football stadium.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday offered a revised two-year budget proposal that drops changes to broaden the state's sales tax, but leaves intact a proposed income tax increase.

Le Center, Minn.'s rating sunk further into junk bond territory following a downgrade Monday by Moody's Investors Service over is fiscal woes.

Minnesota's economic forecast brightened Thursday with new revenue projections adding $295 million to its surplus this year and chopping $463 million off the $1.1 billion deficit in its next budget.

Standard & Poor's dropped its rating Tuesday on Vadnais Heights to D on $25 million of lease-backed revenue debt issued in 2010 to finance a sports complex that it cut financial support to last year.

Mayo Clinic will return to the taxable market for the second time in six months as low rates coupled with freedom from tax-exempt compliance issues are proving too good of an incentive to resist.

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.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton defended his dramatic and controversial tax overhaul as the most "balanced" means to put the state on a structurally sound fiscal path and called on critics to offer up an alternative.

Minnesota hospitals provided $509 million in uncompensated care in 2011, up from $496 million a year earlier, according to the Minnesota Hospital Association's annual community benefits report.