Midwest

The Michigan Finance Authority closed on $79.5 million of distributable state aid fifth lien and LTGO financial recovery refunding bonds issued for Detroit.

The correction to the municipal market has improved muni to UST ratios while uncertainty hangs over ahead of the election. J.P. Morgan's Peter DeGroot said the firm expects the end of next week "will mark the end of the difficult technical period in 2024 and believe that net supply in November will lead to better valuations broadly in the municipal market."

The Chicago City Council this week approved a plan to refinance $1.5 billion of the city's debt. The city expects to issue the bonds in the fourth quarter.

More project finance deals are part of FHN Financial's plans to grow its municipal finance business.

Three of the six conservation referendums on Midwest ballots are for bond authorizations; one in Illinois and two in Iowa.

Public pension benefit improvements could put credit pressure on states that enact them, the rating agency said this week.

As federal funding dries up, cites are searching for new funding sources.

After the school board resigned, the rating agency put Chicago Public Schools on notice that it will watch how its tricky financial situation is handled.

After Minnesota's second-largest healthcare employer was downgraded by rating agencies, the Minnesota Nurses Association took aim at Allina Health's board.

A little-noticed program in Ohio's capital budget is drawing attention after a nonprofit advocacy group called its grants to religious groups unconstitutional.