Midwest

CHICAGO — The ratings of joint power agencies with an ownership interest in the Illinois-based Prairie State coal-fired plant are expected to withstand the burden of incurring an additional $1 billion for cost overruns, but further problems could have a negative impact, Fitch Ratings writes in a report due out today on the project.

CHICAGO — Branson Airport LLC in Missouri has proposed borrowing up to $17 million of unrated tax-exempt revenue bonds to cover final construction costs and bolster reserve funds tapped to help cover interest payments on $113 million of debt issued in 2007 to finance the privately built and operated airport.

CHICAGO — Michigan lawmakers Wednesday were expected to wrap up the final $46.7 billion all-funds budget for 2011 as the state heads into a new fiscal year Friday.

CHICAGO — The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority of Illinois will enter the market next week with nearly $1.2 billion of mostly refunding revenue bonds in the first phase of a debt portfolio restructuring intended to provide near-term fiscal relief and long-term financial stability.

CHICAGO — Michigan’s largest charity-care provider, already junk-rated, saw its outlook revised to negative by Moody’s Investors Service Monday.

WASHINGTON — Cook County, Ill., officials say while they are striving to improve the timeliness of their secondary market disclosures, the process of coordinating financial information among different offices and departments is both challenging and time consuming.

CHICAGO — Ohio Tuesday will take retail orders for $582 million of refunding bonds to achieve lower interest costs over the next eight years.

CHICAGO — Illinois has picked Public Financial Management Inc. to serve as financial adviser and Citi and Barclays Capital to lead a team of 11 broker-dealers on its sale of up to $1.75 billion of tobacco bonds planned for later this year to provide budgetary relief, sources said.

CHICAGO — Illinois hospitals pump more than $75.1 billion into the state’s economy annually and provide about $4.9 billion in community benefits, including $500 million in charity care, a new report from the Illinois Hospitals Association asserts.

CHICAGO — The Nebraska Public Power District will enter the market Monday with $270 million of bonds as part of its annual borrowing to finance capital projects.