The Nick Riordan family poses for a family portrait. Nick, upper right, has cancer, and a fundraiser to help the family with expenses will be held April 7 at the Knights of Columbus, 7403 N. Radnor Road, Peoria. For more information, call 309-264-5909.

STATE

Prepaid property taxes ruled tax-deductible

Illinois residents who prepaid property taxes last year should be able to deduct them, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The department issued this clarification last week in a letter to Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The new tax law, enacted in December, caps the state and local tax deduction at $10,000 starting for the 2018 tax year. As a result, taxpayers in many high-tax states scrambled to prepay their property taxes before the end of 2017 so they could deduct the full amount.

The IRS issued an advisory shortly after the tax law was signed that said people could deduct prepaid 2018 property taxes only if the taxes were both assessed and paid in 2017. 

Roskam wrote a letter to the Treasury Department seeking clarification that the IRS advisory did not pertain to prepayments of 2017 property taxes, and the Treasury Department agreed.

PEORIA

Police investigate use of fake pot

The Peoria Police Department is investigating incidents that may involve a dangerous synthetic cannabinoid commonly known as K2/Spice.

Designer synthetic cannabinoids are intended to mimic THC, the main active ingredient of marijuana. K2, Spice, Potpourri are a few of the commonly associated trade names. The dangerous substance may cause severe bleeding from multiple locations on the body and back pain. Consumption of this synthetic cannabinoid is deadly.

The Peoria City/County Health Department is warning people about the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids, often called fake weed, K2, and spice, after seeing multiple cases in Peoria of people suffering from severe bleeding after using synthetic cannabinoids.

Synthetic cannabinoids are not one drug, but hundreds of different chemicals manufactured and sold. These chemicals are called cannabinoids because they act on the same brain cell receptors as the main active ingredient in marijuana. Synthetic cannabinoid products are unsafe. It is difficult to know what is in them or what a reaction to them will be. The health effects from using synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable and harmful—even life threatening.

Anyone who has a serious reaction to synthetic cannabinoids should call 911 or have someone take them to the emergency department immediately.

Students will perform in annual arts education program

The Gerald M. Brookhart Arts in Education Spring Celebration will once again begin five weeks of performances on April 16, as it has for the last 33 years. The performance location is the Peoria Courthouse Plaza, 324 Main St., Peoria. 

The students from the following schools led by their art staff who will participate in this project are: 

• Lindbergh Middle School, Peoria; teacher Molly Lynd 
• Peoria Heights High School, Peoria Heights; teacher Lindsay Coquit 
• Peoria Notre Dame High School; Peoria, teacher Maggie Off 
• Elmwood High School, Elmwood; teacher Karen Mottaz 
• St. Mark School, Peoria; teacher Judy Placko 
• St. Vincent DePaul School, Peoria; teacher Pamela Gargiulo 
• Dunlap High School, Dunlap; teacher Jody Hale

Sweeping program to keep debris out of waterways

Peoria’s Department of Public Works is sweeping streets to keep litter and debris out of sewers and the storm water system.

Peoria has 150 miles of underground storm water pipelines and inlets that flow directly into local creeks, streams and river. City officials say that regular sweeping will significantly decrease the amount of litter and debris entering the storm water system which, in turn, will prevent streets flooding from pollution-clogged inlets.

All city streets will be swept once a month, from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. For more information, contact Public Works at 309-494-8800.

ICC students host international fair

The international students at Illinois Central College ICC-invite the public to the 14^th annual International Fair, 12-3 p.m. April 21, in the Student Center on the Peoria Campus, 5407 N. University St., Peoria. The event will offer an opportunity to get to know international students and celebrate their cultures through music, entertainment, food samples and dancing.  A fashion show of traditional costumes will be modeled by ICC students. Other entertainment will include dancing and a martial arts demonstration. A few of the countries providing informational booths and food samples are: Tanzania, China, Senegal and the Philippines.

Global Village of Peoria Heights will sell a selection of coffees, chocolates, clothing and gifts from developing countries for purchase.

There is an admission donation of $3, and children under 10 will be admitted free. Proceeds will go toward an International F-1 student scholarship fund. 

For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Burton at Barbara.burton@icc.edu or 309-694-8817.

Public may comment on proposed Western Avenue design

Peoria city officials will hold a public hearing for the Western Avenue Improvement Project at 6 p.m. April 12, at the Peoria Public Library Lincoln Branch, 1312 W. Lincoln Ave.

The public is invited to learn about the preliminary design, including partial right-of-way acquisitions needed for the proposed improvement. A brief presentation on the status of the project and the concept design will begin at 6:15 p.m.  After the presentation, representatives will answer individual questions and record comments offered by those in attendance.

The project limits along Western Avenue run from Adams Street to Howett Street. The purpose of the project is to increase public safety and have a good impact on the surrounding natural environment. Street improvements will include reconstruction to make room for three lanes, with bicyclist accommodations, pedestrian accommodations, green infrastructure, storm water drainage and improved lighting.

Fundraiser to help family dealing with cancer

A group, Team Riordan: Nick’s Crew, is urging the public to support its efforts to raise money for the Riordan family as father and husband Nick, a former Peoria firefighter, battles cancer. The fundraiser will be held April 7 at the Knights of Columbus, 7403 N. Radnor Road, Peoria. A local DJ will play music from 5-6:30 p.m.; the Cusack Brothers will follow, performing until 9:30 p.m. Donation is $15, which will include dinner, cash bar and a silent auction with a fire arms raffle. For more information, call Josh Martin at 309-264-5909.

–Peoria County News Briefs–