Midwest

The Chicago Board of Education unanimously approved a $6.6 billion budget for fiscal 2014 that dips deeply into reserves — including a first time draw on a debt service account — to help erase nearly $1 billion in red ink.

Moody's assigned a negative outlook to the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago's A1 rating, citing fiscal pressures that include sexual misconduct settlements and rising cemetery maintenance liabilities.

Judge Steven Rhodes, the federal judge overseeing Detroit’s bankruptcy case, ruled this morning that Detroit can continue to access crucial casino revenues while a dispute over a settlement on the city’s interest rate swaps is settled.

The Michigan Senate late Tuesday narrowly approved an expansion of the Medicaid program under the new federal health care law, which could bolster Detroit's bankruptcy reorganization plan.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago lost its top rating from Moody's over its growing unfunded pension burden, the latest in a series of downgrades to hit Chicago area governments.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has finalized Chicago's $288 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act loan to help fund an $817 million intermodal facility at O'Hare International Airport.

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook to negative from positive on Edward Health Services Corp.'s A2 rating due to challenges posed by its new affiliation with Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare.

Progress on a controversial bond-financed new hockey arena in downtown Detroit hit an obstacle this week when a state development board delayed a vote on the deal.

The Ohio Supreme Court has set Sept. 9 as the date to hear oral arguments in a case related to the constitutionality of JobsOhio, a private entity that leased the state's liquor distribution system last year.

A fiscal watchdog group warned that Chicago Public Schools faces serious long-term problems -- led by pensions -- despite implementing more than 2,000 layoffs and 50 school closings last year.