Midwest

Lawmakers convened this week at the state’s capital to negotiate a stop-gap spending plan to fund schools and other services for the state of Illinois before the fiscal year starts July 1.

Mesirow Financial is venturing into Indiana with the opening of a n office in downtown Indianapolis, and it’s hired Greg Clark to lead the effort.

In Michigan it's not just Detroit Public Schools that have fallen victim to the state's population decline. Statewide shrinking enrollment coupled with the expansion of charter schools has stretched state aid dollars and damaged school credit.

Detroit got the all clear from the city's Financial Review Commission to move ahead with a refunding of $660 million of general obligation debt.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is requesting authority from the city council to buy, among other things, junk rated Chicago Public Schools debt.

Locke Lord LLP is pushing into Ohio with the opening of an office in Cincinnati as part of an expansion of its public finance practice in the Midwest.

The pleas from Illinois’ local governments, schools, and state agencies for at least a stop-gap spending plan are growing louder, as the state careens toward the start of a second fiscal year without a budget.

Columbus, Ohio selected as national testing ground for smart transportation technology.

Wayne County, Mich. took a big leap toward leaving junk territory, winning a four notch upgrade from Fitch Ratings 10 months after entering into a state consent agreement to turn around its finances.

Detroit’s proposed refunding of $660 million of general obligation debt now moves to the city’s fiscal oversight commission for review after winning City Council approval.