Midwest

Chicago Public Schools and its teachers’ fund have ended negotiations over the district’s request to defer $500 million of its fiscal 2016 contribution, the two announced in a joint statement.

Most local governments in Missouri face new restrictions on the use of municipal court fines to prop up their budgetary operations, under legislation signed by Gov. Jay Nixon.

Chicago's top lawyer and attorneys for unions and pension fund members laid out their arguments before the court Thursday.

Michigan's Oakland University has become the second school in the state to forgo state aid in favor of a large tuition hike.

Ohio now has more than $2 billion in its rainy-day fund, the highest in the state's history, officials said.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law an eight-bill package boosting the state treasurer's power over distressed school districts and creating an early-warning system for districts that could face a deficit.

With no end to a budget stalemate in sight, Illinois House Democrats pushed through a $2.3 billion one-month spending plan Thursday after adding a provision that would allow the state to meet its payroll for the next 30 days.

An Illinois judge will rule July 24 on whether Chicago’s 2014 overhaul of its laborers and municipal funds pass state constitutional muster. Either way, the case will land on the Illinois Supreme Court’s docket.

The Michigan Treasurer and Detroit officials warned Detroit City Council members that their rejection of a water and sewer rate increase could spark additional state oversight.

Chicago intends to bring nearly $1.1 billion of general obligation bonds to market next week in a deal that allows it to discard remaining general fund liquidity risks tied to its credit deterioration by jettisoning expenses on to its long-term debt load.