Midwest

Wisconsin could win an upgrade if recent budgetary and liquidity strides remain on course and result in a stronger balance sheet and reserves, Moody's Investors Service said in shifting the state's general obligation outlook to positive.

The state of Michigan may come to market in the next several weeks with a $450 million bond deal to finance a controversial new hockey stadium in Detroit.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon tasked a newly formed commission with advising him on social and economic policy changes in the aftermath of violent protests in Ferguson Missouri sparked by the police shooting of an unarmed civilian.

The Chicago Transit Authority's $1.4 billion 2015 budget won the endorsement of the Civic Federation of Chicago in recognition of the agency's fiscal strides.

Annual income taxes Wisconsin receives from Milwaukee Bucks basketball players and team employees would cover repayment of $150 million of 20-year state general obligation backed bonds for a new stadium, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

The Chicago City Council approved new rules that require underwriting, advisory, and legal firms that work on Chicago bond deals to report the racial, ethnic and gender makeup of the teams on their transactions.

A federal judge wants more information on bond firms involved in a $31 million borrowing by Allen Park, Mich. that was the target of a recent SEC probe.

The Chicago City Council adopted Mayor Rahm Emanuel's $7.3 billion 2015 budget that pushes off a fix for a pension-related fiscal cliff until after next year's municipal elections.

Some Chicago aldermen want the SEC and city inspector general to investigate campaign contributions to Mayor Rahm Emanuel from executives at firms with city pension business.

Underwriting, advisory, and legal firms that work on Chicago bond deals would face heightened disclosure rules about the diversity of their teams working on a transaction under a proposed ordinance.