Midwest

Mark Kvamme stepped down last week as the head of JobsOhio, the newly created nonprofit entity that was set up to take over the state's liquor distribution system for economic development projects.

Moody's Investors Service last week knocked its rating on Michigan's Pinckney Community School District down four notches, to Baa1 from Aa3, and affirmed the negative outlook.

The Michigan state lottery saw record sales in fiscal 2012, contributing $770 million to the school aid fund, officials said last week.

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook to negative on Des Moines' Aa2 sewer enterprise bond rating.

Indiana will use a chunk of its $2.2 billion surplus to make contributions to the state's pension funds, Gov. Mitch Daniels announced last week.

A dispute between Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel over who should lead the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority escalated this week when the governor accused the mayor of tarnishing the reputation of his pick.

After a teacher strike, Chicago Public Schools will cover this year's $103 million price tag for the labor contract in part with debt restructuring and capitalized interest bond proceeds.

The Art Institute of Chicago plans to enter the market as soon as Wednesday to sell a mix of taxable new-money and tax-exempt refunding bonds that will reduce the museum's floating-rate risks and allow it to accelerate its pension funding plans.

Quick contract ratifications by orchestra musicians in Atlanta and Chicago after short labor stoppages bolster both credits and cast a favorable light on the sector in general, Moody’s said.

Gov. John Kasich Thursday told local reporters that he expects to unveil a privatization plan for the Ohio Turnpike within the next 30 days, and hopes to leverage at least $1 billion for the state.