Midwest

Chicago returns to the market in January with a $1.14 billion general obligation deal that should benefit from the stabilization of three of its bond ratings.

An Illinois school district under federal scrutiny for its past misuse of bond proceeds saw its rating fall to junk as Moody’s Investors Service lowered the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 one notch to Ba1.

A new revenue forecast for Indiana says the state will collect about $300 million less in general fund revenues than had previously been anticipated next year, though the projection for the following two years is up $1 billion.

Lured by opinions and ratings endorsing its bankruptcy-remote structure and a still steep yield penalty, investors snapped up Chicago Public Schools’ A-rated capital improvement tax bonds.

Healthcare and education finance will be key areas of growth as Huntington Capital Markets looks to expand its public finance footprint in Ohio, Chicago and Wisconsin.

The Quicken Loans Arena – home of the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers – will receive a partially bond-financed $140 million makeover.

Plans to upgrade Chicago’s streetlamp system are advancing with the launch of a public lighting demonstration ahead of a deadline early next year for final submissions from shortlisted private partners.

The Michigan Department of Education said the the number of school districts reporting a deficit was down 30%.

The Illinois Regional Transportation Authority Thursday will consider a $3 billion operating budget and $5.1 billion five-year capital plan that boosts spending next year but still falls far short of its needs as a new state capital program languishes amid the ongoing budget impasse.

Minneapolis-based investment bank Dougherty & Co. LLC will extend its trading and sales reach with the acquisition of fellow Minneapolis-based municipal broker-dealer Cronin & Co. Inc.