Midwest

Chicago is conducting a full court press with investors this week to promote a $1.16 billion general obligation bond sale.

An overhaul meant to save Chicago's municipal employees' and laborers' pension funds from looming insolvency won state Senate approval Monday but faces veto threat.

Illinois Senate leaders said they will work to pass by Feb. 1 their so-called "grand bargain" plan aimed at breaking the year-and-a-half old budget logjam that's driven the state's unpaid bill backlog to $11 billion and dragged its ratings down to the lowest among states.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts will deliver his State of the State address Thursday, which will focus on the release of a new two-year budget and his plan to deal with a $276 million deficit in the current budget.

Chicago receives $1.1 billion of federal rail grants in final days of Obama administration.

Indiana’s Gov.-elect Eric Holcomb is eyeing the state’s existing $500 million Next Generation Trust Fund -- set up years ago from proceeds of the Indiana Toll Road Lease – to fund investments in entrepreneurship and to support early-stage and mid-size Indiana companies.

Wisconsin hits the market with its first sale of the New Year to refund $523.6 million of appropriation- backed bonds with hopes of hitting double digit savings even with the post-election rise in rates.

Ohio will take competitive bids on $350 million of general obligation bonds Thursday in a deal to benefit schools.

Illinois’ third consecutive annual population loss poses a credit negative that underscores weak economic growth, Moody’s Investors Service said Wednesday.

The University of Michigan heads into the New Year with a triple-A rated $450 million general revenue bond deal.