Midwest

CHICAGO — Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is resuming a push to install 17,500 slot machines at horseracing tracks to generate millions in new money for the state budget.

CHICAGO — Illinois and the Regional Transportation Authority of Illinois were able to overcome a steady stream of bad fiscal news as they entered the market this week with deals that drew strong-enough investor interest to keep the risk premium on interest rates down.

CHICAGO — With an expanded PACE program now in place, some Ohio issuers are saying they will continue to pursue commercial PACE financing despite greater federal scrutiny of the program’s residential side.

CHICAGO — Top-rated Minnesota plans to enter the market twice this summer, beginning early next month with the competitive sale of $865 million of new-money general obligation bonds and then in September with the negotiated sale of between $500 million and $1 billion of refunding GOs.

CHICAGO — New procurement rules aimed at curbing pay to play in contracts awarded by Illinois, its agencies, and its public universities could dampen the flow of creative financing ideas from the public finance community, some market participants believe.

CHICAGO — The Detroit City Council heard testimony but did not vote Tuesday on a measure that would ask voters whether they want to abolish the Detroit Public School Board and place the troubled school system under mayoral control.

CHICAGO — The Illinois Finance Authority has expanded conduit powers to issue debt on behalf of nonprofits for projects outside state borders under legislation signed this week by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.

CHICAGO — Indianapolis’ Capital Improvement Board will vote Friday on a plan to pay the Indiana Pacers $33.5 million over the next three years to keep the professional basketball team in town.

CHICAGO — Cincinnati today will take institutional orders on $70 million of general obligation, unlimited-tax debt that is part of the city’s regular borrowing to finance capital projects.

CHICAGO — A developer’s default on $14.1 million of special assessment bonds in Wood County, Ohio, has sparked a dispute between the bond trustee and the county treasurer over the tax-lien sale of the property.