Illinois quick hits: United Center preparing for DNC; Pritzker to sign child care bill

United Center preparing for DNC

Construction workers are transforming the United Center from a sports and concert venue into the Democratic National Convention Hall.

Beginning Aug. 19, Chicago will host more than 50,000 visitors, including 5,000 delegates, 12,000 volunteers and 15,000 members of the media. The Windy City will host the DNC for the first time since 1996.

During a news conference Monday, United Center officials presented the committee with a giant commemorative key to represent handing over the keys to the building.

Pritzker to sign child care bill

The state of Illinois is creating a new department that will house all child care and early childhood education programs.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker will sign a bill into law Tuesday that would allow the Department of Early Childhood to begin work July 1. The measure asks the Illinois General Assembly to allocate over $13 million to support operations and staffing.

Chicago man undergoes transplant while awake

A Chicago man became Northwestern Medicine's first patient to ever receive a kidney transplant while being awake.

John Nicholas, 28, underwent the historic kidney transplantation in May. He was awake during the entire surgery. Doctors used a spinal anesthetic to numb Nicholas from the chest down, which eliminated the use of narcotics and general anesthesia and cut down Nicholas’ recovery time.