The new First Fridays Amplified series kicks off with a special lunchtime event at the Peoria County Courthouse's newly renovated plaza on Friday, June 5, 2026. ArtsPartners of Central Illinois executive director Dr. Mae Gilliland Wright and Harmonize Peoria's Kindall Reuschel joined Tim Shelley to explain how the event will both bring people together and boost the arts in Greater Peoria.

On this episode of the Peoria County Distilled podcast, Peoria County Director of Emergency Preparedness Jason Marks chats about his ongoing series of town hall meetings on outdoor warning sirens, and discusses some of the most common things people don't know about the warning system.

On this episode of Peoria County Distilled, Victim Services Coordinator Aimee Shinall tells Tim Shelley about her unique role within the Peoria County Sheriff's Office, and why having this job embedded within a law enforcement agency makes a difference.

On this episode of the Peoria County Distilled podcast, County Engineer Amy McLaren highlights some of the Peoria County Highway Department's current and upcoming projects. Plus, find out who is responsible for maintaining your road, and more about how the Highway Department determines which roads to repair - and when.

On the latest episode of Peoria County Distilled, Peoria City/County Health Department Director of Clinical Services Emily Kelly and epidemiologist Bhavana Huliyar break down the trends of the 2025-26 respiratory virus season in Peoria County, explain the importance of employing multiple strategies to reduce the number of cases, and how prevention is a year-round effort.

On this episode of the Peoria County Distilled podcast, host Tim Shelley speaks to Peoria County Director of Emergency Preparedness Jason Marks about Severe Weather Preparedness Week - including what you should know and what you shouldn't do during a severe weather event.

Peoria County Election Commission Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon explains recent changes to postmarking at the U.S. Postal Service and how that could impact your vote-by-mail ballot if you wait until the last minute. She also offers options to ensure your vote is counted, like dropping off your ballot at a drop box.

On this episode of the Peoria County Distilled podcast, Peoria County EMA Director Jason Marks breaks down the basics of emergency management.

On this episode of the Peoria County Distilled podcast, GIS Manager Josh Thompson explains what his department does, and how residents can use GIS tools to explore data and maps around the county.

On this episode of the Peoria County Distilled podcast, Supervisor of Assessment Chad Jones discusses how to renew or apply for three types of property tax exemptions with host Tim Shelley. Those include a low-income senior freeze, and exemptions for veterans and persons with disabilities.