Midwest

Ohio-based American Municipal Power Inc. – the largest public owner of the bond-financed Prairie State Energy Campus – plans to refund up to $646 million of debt tied to the controversial project that has angered some local municipal participants over its higher energy costs.

The city of Hammond, Ind. is selling $36.2 million of junk-rated, moral obligation bonds this week backed by payments from a water supply contract with a Chicago suburb that is looking to exit the agreement.

Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich last week announced guidelines for his planned audit of 10 municipal court systems that includes Ferguson amid growing public and legislative concerns over abuses.

Operating gains prompted Moody's Investors Service to revise Iowa's UnityPoint health system's outlook to stable from negative.

Moody's Investors Service has revised Ohio-based Kenyon College's outlook to stable from negative on its A1 rating as the school's stronger performance in fiscal 2014 is expected to continue.

Illinois Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner has the legal authority to appoint a replacement to serve out the upcoming term of the late Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, but Illinois lawmakers should hand the decision over to voters in 2016, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said.

Detroit has just under two weeks to submit and disclose the final tab of its 17-month bankruptcy after attorneys and advisors agreed in mediation to reduce their fees.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said the city has tapped an international consortium led by Meridiam Infrastructure and Walsh Investors LLC to partner on a $400 million new criminal justice center that will the largest public-private project of its kind in the U.S.

The federal government has given Illinois and Indiana the go ahead to advance plans for a more than $1 billion bistate toll road both states hope to build with financing from a public-private partnership.

A federal judge in Chicago has signed off on Harvey, Ill.'s settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission over charges it misled investors by diverting bond proceeds from their intended use.