Midwest

WATERLOO, Iowa -- A national bond ratings firm gave Black Hawk County's government high marks for fiscal management.

The Chicago Business Barometer rose to 58.3 in April from 57.7 in March.

The seasonally adjusted Milwaukee Report on Business declined to 57.87 in April from 61.77 in March, the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee reported Friday.

The Midwest Economy Index improved to 0.60 in March from 0.28 in February, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said Friday.

Indiana passed a law to respond to S&P's critique of its school bond intercept program.

Clark-Shawnee Local Schools, Ohio, are back on the ballot asking residents to approve the same school bond issue voters denied in November.

Illinois public university presidents sounded alarms about the historic state budget impasse.

The Illinois Tollway's board of directors will consider adding $1.3 billion to its bond issuance plans.

Indiana and its private partner on the troubled Interstate 69 road project face new fiscal hurdles.

A new state budget is headed to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's desk.