News in brief: Pritzker blames FEMA for last minute United Center change; Chicago Medical Society urges Pritzker to veto bill 

Screenshots of members of the House Personnel & Pensions Committee on Friday, March 5.

Last week, the Illinois House of Representatives made history, holding the chamber’s first-ever virtual hearings.

On March 1, the House held seven committee hearings, with Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) noting the milestone on Twitter. “First bill voted out of remote committee in the House EVER!!” he wrote.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza testified before the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee on Thursday.

For the second time in three weeks, members of the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee listened to witnesses on Thursday calling for the state to begin planning how to restart the state’s hospitality industry, which has been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This time, state Comptroller Susana Mendoza was among those issuing the call.

News in brief: State partnering with safety net hospitals, FQHCs; New mass vaccination sites announced; Hastings outlines campaign

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly addressed members of the Democratic Party of Illinois on Wednesday before being elected the next chair.

Members of the Democratic Party of Illinois selected their next chair on Wednesday, narrowly electing U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) despite questions about her ability to raise money due to federal laws.

Kelly bested Chicago Ald. Michelle Harris (8) during a nearly two-hour virtual committee meeting Wednesday, as Kelly secured 51 percent of the weighted votes from the 36-member State Central Committee.

News in brief: State partnering with safety net hospitals, FQHCs; New mass vaccination sites announced; Hastings outlines campaign 

News in brief: Hastings to run for Secretary of State; Cook County Cannabis Commission to meet Wednesday; Johnson & Johnson vaccine headed to state.

Chicago Ald. Michelle Harris and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly are vying to be the next chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Like the state House of Representatives did in early January, the Democratic Party of Illinois is set to enter a new era Wednesday, when members of the party select a replacement for former chair Mike Madigan.

Madigan, who was first elected chair in 1998, resigned last month, causing a mad dash to replace him as head of the state party.

News in brief: Hastings to run for Secretary of State; Cook County Cannabis Commission to meet Wednesday; Johnson & Johnson vaccine headed to state 

News in brief: House virtual hearings begin; transportation bills advance to House floor; Lausch ‘grateful’ for being retained as US attorney