Midwest

CHICAGO - The Illinois Finance Authority board Tuesday signed off on Advocate Health Care Network's sale of up to $533 million of new-money and refunding bonds, and the newly merged Central DuPage Health-Delnor Health System's $190 million direct-purchase issue.

CHICAGO - With a selection process underway to update its underwriting pools, Wisconsin on Wednesday will take bids on $338 million of bonds in its first general obligation sale following the adoption of a $66 billion budget that moves the state closer to structural balance.

Moody's Investors Service last week affirmed Fairfield Medical Center's Baa2 rating and revised its outlook to stable from negative, citing its sustained operating improvements. The action affects $34.2 million of rated debt.

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook on Saint Luke's Health System's A1 rating to stable from negative due to its improved operating performance. The action affects $532 million of debt issued through the Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

Former Chicago corporation counsel Mara Georges has followed her boss, former Mayor Richard Daley, to the law firm of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP as a partner.

Construction of a western bypass expressway around O'Hare International Airport would create at least 78,000 jobs and strengthen the regional economy, but financing the $3 billion project likely would have to come from tolls, according to an advisory council report announced by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn last week.

Moody's Investors Service changed its outlook on Decatur Memorial Hospital's A2 rating to negative from stable due to a downturn in its operating performance. The action applies to nearly $40 million of debt.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel last week announced a series of work rule changes, beginning the process that could lead to 625 layoffs to help erase red ink in the current city budget.

CHICAGO - The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will debut expanded pension disclosure and hold its first retail-order period this week when it sells of $400 million of general obligation bonds to finance projects in its $2.6 billion capital program.

CHICAGO - Minnesota lawmakers are expected to approve a new two-year budget in the coming days after Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders agreed to delay school aid payments and issue tobacco bonds to end a stalemate over $1.4 billion in spending that shut down state government July 1.