News and Information from Bond Buyer

Two Illinois-based not-for-profit healthcare systems dropped their merger plans Tuesday following a court ruling that favored the Federal Trade Commission in its efforts to block the union.

Illinois is awash in red ink and it’s expected to spread, according to series of bleak fiscal reports this week that illustrate the toll of a 21-month-old budget stalemate on state finances.

A guilty plea from Aaron Troodler, the former executive director of the Ramapo Local Development Corp., for criminal securities fraud means he could face a maximum of 25 years in prison.

We bring you February DIVER Geo scores for overall economic health of states, counties, and cities and – in case you missed it – some interesting news and a quote around the Labor Department's Fiduciary Rule.

Kansas City has a market stop planned for Wednesday before moving on to voters who are being asked next month to authorize $800 million in general obligation borrowing for infrastructure work over the next two decades.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual ADP Jan.: +261,000 Feb.: +190,000 Feb.: +298,000 Productivity Q3: +3.3% Q4: +1.5% Q4: +1.3% Unit Labor Costs Q3: +0.7% Q4: +1.6% Q4: +1.7% Wholesale Inventories Dec.: +1.0% Jan.: -0.1% Jan.: -0.2% Wholesale Sales Dec.: +2.4% Jan.: +0.3% Jan.: -0.1%

About 4,537,600 online job postings appeared on leading internet job boards in February, a decrease of 360,200 from January, the Conference Board reported Wednesday.

OppenheimerFunds will acquire Seattle fund manager SNW Asset Management to expand its high-quality municipal bond offerings.

Municipal bond traders will be looking at three top-rated deals totaling more than $1 billion from the state of Maryland that go out for competitive bid on Wednesday.

Private-sector employment increased by 298,000 in February, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ADP estimated Wednesday.

Mar. 8, 2017 Midwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Illinois Baa2/BBB/BBB 1.81 3.62 4.55 5.14 Indiana Aaa/AAA/AA+ 0.8 1.64 2.54 3.3 Iowa Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.8 1.63 2.52 3.28 Michigan Aa1/AA-/AA 0.85 1.71 2.64 3.42 Minnesota Aa1/AA+/AAA 0.81 1.61 2.46 3.19 Missouri Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.8 1.58 2.43 3.19 Nebraska NR/AAA/NR 0.8 1.66 2.59 3.38 North Dakota Aa1/AA+/NR 0.83 1.69 2.62 3.38 Ohio Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.82 1.65 2.57 3.36 South Dakota Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.82 1.66 2.62 3.4 Wisconsin Aa2/AA/AA 0.82 1.67 2.58 3.36

3/7/2017 2/28/2017 State # Iss Amount ($000) # Iss Amount ($000) Chg in Amt ($000s) Illinois 6 $63,385 1 $11,845 $51,540 Indiana 7 119,210 6 115,570 3,640 Iowa 6 24,295 4 13,825 10,470 Michigan 14 64,360 10 54,760 9,600 Minnesota 21 148,175 18 139,285 8,890 Missouri 9 247,860 2 11,415 236,445 Nebraska 2 23,380 2 104,695 -81,315 North Dakota 0 0 0 0 0 Ohio 7 773,605 12 212,424 561,181 South Dakota 1 3,965 1 3,965 0 Wisconsin 31 660,400 25 626,980 33,420

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual International Trade Dec.: -$44.3B Jan.: -$48.0B Jan.: -$48.5B Consumer Credit Dec.: +$14.2B Jan.: +$17.0B Jan.: +$8.8B

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The American Health Care Act proposed by House Republicans could cause major budgetary problems for state and local governments, credit rating agencies say.