News Around Illinois - January 21, 2020

Today's headlines come from Illinois Newsroom, WCBU, and the Associated Press. Get news from around Illinois 24/7 at illinoisnewsroom.org.

Peoria Bidding To Keep High School Basketball Tournaments

PEORIA - The Peoria Civic Center placed bids to host both the IHSA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments for the next three years. Peoria has some competition. Champaign wants the boys tournament, and Normal is bidding to keep the girls tournament. Peoria has played host to the boys tournament for the last 25 years. The IHSA board will make its final decision in April. - Tim Shelley, WCBU News

U Of I Professor Speaking In Davos This Week

A University of Illinois professor will give a speech in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday. Professor Ming Kuo is with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, and will speak about her research into the effects of nature on mental health. The World Economic Forum draws thousands of attendees each year, including global business leaders and heads of state. Professor Kuo is the first University of Illinois faculty member from the Urbana-Champaign campus to speak at the forum. She’ll speak again on Thursday. - Dana Cronin, Illinois Newsroom

Suburban Police Officer Charged With DUI After Fatal Crash

JOLIET - A suburban Chicago police officer faces a drunken driving charge after she was involved in a traffic collision in which an officer from another department riding with her was killed. Illinois State Police say Joliet Police Officer Erin Zilka was driving in Will County on Interstate 55 early Sunday when her vehicle slammed into a truck that had been involved in a crash a short time earlier. Berwyn Police Officer Charles Schauer, a passenger in Zilka's vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Joliet Police, where Zilka has been an officer for 12 years, says it has launched an internal investigation. - Associated Press

Law Eliminates License Suspension For Non-Moving Violations

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a law that eliminates driver's license suspensions for most non-moving violations. The Democrat signed the measure last week. He says it will allow tens of thousands of motorists to have driving privileges reinstated. That means more people will be able to work. "Suspending licenses for having too many unpaid tickets, fines, and fees doesn’t necessarily make a person pay the bill, but it does mean that people don’t have a way to pay,” Pritzker said. According to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a study showed that 42% of those who had their licenses suspended lost their jobs. - Associated Press

Museum Program On African Americans' Work Marks 50th Year

CHICAGO  — The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is marking the 50th anniversary of a program honoring the achievements of African Americans in science, technology, engineering, art and medicine and encouraging young people to consider those fields. The Black Creativity program began in 1970. This year's event is focused on innovation. The program begins Monday and runs through March 1. The program includes hands-on activities for school groups and a museum exhibit featuring more than 200 works by black artists. The museum also has scheduled a career event on Feb. 29 highlighting black artists, scientists and engineers working in Chicago. - Associated Press