News in brief: Madigan successor resigns; Pritzker anticipates Illinois getting 100,000 daily COVID-19 vaccines; Ezike testifies before Congress 

Deaths plummet in Illinois’ long-term care facilities as vaccinations ramp up 

Despite an initially slow vaccine rollout, the deadliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic for Illinois’ long-term care facilities may be over, according to data maintained by the state.  

Last week, Illinois’ roughly 1,400 long-term care facilities, which include nursing homes, veterans’ homes, assisted living centers, retirement communities and skilled-nursing facilities, recorded 59 deaths, the lowest weekly total in months.  

Pritzker looks to assist municipalities facing unprecedented natural gas bills 

Responding to this month’s winter storm that resulted in utility prices surging in some parts of Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced an effort to create a low-interest loan program aimed at helping affected municipalities.  

Speaking at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in Springfield, Pritzker announced the forthcoming program, which is set to be considered at a special gathering of the Illinois Finance Authority on Thursday.  

News in brief: Pandemic food program expanded; lawmakers call for more equity, transparency in transportation projects; Lausch to remain US attorney until successor confirmed; McCormick Place teaming up with Fight2Feed 

News in brief: Madigan resigns as party chair; Bailey announces run for governor 

Pritzker signs criminal justice and police reform bill hailed by Democrats, criticized by Republicans 

Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law a comprehensive criminal justice and police reform bill on Monday that was hailed by Democrats as a step toward making the state more equitable and blasted by Republicans and law enforcement agencies as dangerous.  

Surrounded by members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus at Chicago State University, Pritzker broadcasted his signing of HB 3653, saying it would improve the state while implementing ideas he’s long supported.  

Quinn, Madigan staffer tapped to fill vacancy left by former House speaker 

Southwest Side Democratic Party officials on Sunday appointed Edward Guerra Kodatt, a 26-year-old staff assistant to Chicago Ald. Marty Quinn (13) and an employee of former House Speaker Mike Madigan’s political committee, to fill the  legislative seat left vacant by Madigan’s retirement.  

Kodatt was picked by a five-member committee, which included Madigan, from a field of 10 candidates that included eight Latinos and former Sen. Bob Raica, a Republican who served in the legislature between 1987 and 1997. Although Madigan was just one member of the selection committee, he wielded more than 50 percent of the weighted vote in the process, giving him unilateral power to name his successor. 

Hospitality industry calls for clarity, raised capacity limits as part of pandemic recovery effort 

Representatives from Illinois’ hospitality industry urged Gov. JB Pritzker's administration and state lawmakers on Thursday to provide more clarity, expand vaccine eligibility and loosen COVID-19 restrictions so their members can begin the long process of recovering from the global pandemic.  

Cara Bader, chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, told members of the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee Thursday the pandemic has had an “unprecedented” impact on the state’s convention centers, hotels, cultural institutions and restaurants, upending a “thriving tourism industry.”  

Madigan resigns, capping 50 years in public office 

Former House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) announced his resignation Thursday, marking the end of 50 years in public office. 

In a lengthy statement, Madigan said he would resign at the end of February, a little more than a month after the House elected Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside) to be his successor as the chamber’s leader.  

Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his third State of the State address Wednesday in a virtual speech recorded at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Reflecting the unusual circumstances facing the state and the nation as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Gov. JB Pritzker delivered a virtual State of the State address Wednesday, calling for lawmakers to approve his $41.6 billion budget and pass laws to expand renewable energy, tighten ethics rules and close corporate loopholes.

Speaking from the Illinois State Fairgounds in Springfield, Pritzker began his speech by reflecting on the 1918 Spanish Flu, which led to the creation of a 100-bed makeshift hospital on the spot where he was standing. Noting a recent memorial he participated in to honor those who died during the current pandemic, Pritzker shared a story about an intensive care nurse who died earlier this year.