Alva Review-Courier -

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois House on Wednesday elected its first Black speaker to replace the longest-serving legislative leader in modern U.S. history, picking Democratic Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch for the job and pushing aside Michael Madigan due to an ongoing bribery investigation.

Madigan had served as speaker for 36 of the past 38 years, but a vote Sunday by members of the Democratic caucus signaled he lacked enough support to keep the gavel. He suspended his speaker campaign the next day.

Welch, an eight-year House veteran from the Chicago suburb of Hillside, garnered 70 votes...