Ohio

After considering a lease of the Ohio Turnpike to private investors, Gov. John Kasich Thursday said he wants to keep the asset in public hands and hopes to issue $1.5 billion of bonds backed by future toll revenue.

Gov. John Kasich Thursday is expected to unveil his long-awaited plan to wring cash out of the Ohio Turnpike, a 241-mile toll road that is one of the state's most lucrative assets.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded to B3 from Ba3 its rating on Ashland University, Ohio, and kept its outlook negative.

A federal appeals court Monday handed the three major rating agencies a victory by upholding a dismissal of a lawsuit brought by five Ohio pension funds that blamed the agencies for major investment losses.

The Ohio Department of Transportation last week issued a request for qualifications from firms interested in partnering on the state’s first public-private partnership project, a $332 million bridge in downtown Cleveland.

Fitch Ratings last week affirmed its AA-minus on Akron’s limited-tax general obligation bonds and income-tax revenue bonds.

Cuyahoga County, Ohio's most populous county and home of Cleveland, next week plans to price $101 million of bonds, the first general obligation sale under the new executive-style government.

A one-hospital system in northern Ohio with low-investment grade ratings saw its $53 million deal oversubscribed by more than four times, according to the underwriter.

Voters approved a key property tax increase to raise money for Ohio’s Cleveland Metropolitan School District as the district launches a major reform effort.

Indiana's transportation director visited Ohio to tout the Hoosier State's $3.8 billion toll road lease as Ohio Gov. John Kasich nears an announcement on the privatization of the Ohio Turnpike.

Ohio-based bond counsel firm Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLP hired two recent law school graduates for its Cincinnati office, bringing the firm’s number of public finance attorneys to 45 nationally.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed its AA rating and stable outlook on the Ohio Turnpike Commission ahead of an expected announcement by Gov. John Kasich of his plans to privatize the 241-mile toll road.

Akron, Ohio, and the Summit County Port Authority plan to issue $3.5 million of tax-exempt debt as part of a lease deal aimed at keeping the city's minor-league baseball team in the downtown stadium.

Milwaukee-based Baird has hired Jeff Fivecoat, a long-time health care banker, for its Columbus office. Fivecoat comes from Red Capital Group and before that, OhioHealth.

Ohio is selling GO bonds this week and Garvee bonds in November. Ohio says the Garvee deal will proceed despite uncertainty over federal transportation funding and the fiscal cliff.

Mark Kvamme stepped down last week as the head of JobsOhio, the newly created nonprofit entity that was set up to take over the state's liquor distribution system for economic development projects.

Gov. John Kasich Thursday told local reporters that he expects to unveil a privatization plan for the Ohio Turnpike within the next 30 days, and hopes to leverage at least $1 billion for the state.

Moody’s Investors Service Monday downgraded to A2 from A1 $79 million of debt issued by Northeast Ohio Medical University, and placed the rating under review for further possible downgrade.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich last week signed into law five bills reforming the state’s retirement systems.

The Ohio Supreme Court Friday declined to rule on Gov. John Kasich's controversial, bond-financed plan to privatize the state's liquor distribution system, sending the case back to the lower courts.