Midwest

An auction is set for next month of the assets of the bond-financed, half-built artificial sweetener plant in Moberly, Missouri that was abandoned by its developer last year.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools' leaders shed little light Wednesday on how the cash-strapped district will afford the estimated $300 million price tag for a new four-year teachers' contract that ended the system's first strike in 25 years.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Wednesday launched a campaign targeting six November ballot measures, including one that could overturn the state's emergency management law.

Lawrence Nines, longtime leader of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, is retiring after wrapping up several deals, including bonds for Marquette University and Froedtert Health.

Alleging theft and securities fraud, local and state prosecutors in Missouri and federal regulators took aim Tuesday at the former head of the company that last year abandoned a half-built artificial sweetener plant financed with $39 million of debt backed by the city of Moberly.

A Dane County judge last week struck down portions of Wisconsin's law limiting collective bargaining rights, finding that it violated the rights of union members.

New Ohio State University housing will be financed in part through bonds.

Minnesota last week awarded $25 million in state bond grant funding to help build a new $54 million ballpark in St. Paul's Lowertown for the Saint Paul Saints baseball team.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last week filed a federal lawsuit to halt a new $245 million American Indian-owned casino set to open in downtown Lansing later this year.

Detroit has hammered out a tentative lease agreement with Michigan to turn the city's popular Belle Isle park into a state park for at least the next 30 years.