Illinois quick hits: Record hotel tax revenues reported; grocer sentenced for SNAP, WIC fraud

Illinois quick hits: Record hotel tax revenues reported; grocer sentenced for SNAP, WIC fraud

August 26, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Record hotel tax revenues reported

Illinois tourism numbers for 2024 saw an all-time high for hotel tax revenue.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism announced the state welcomed 113 million domestic and international visitors who spent more than $48 billion.

Total hotel tax revenue came in at $367 million, a 14% increase from the previous year.

Grocer sentenced for SNAP, WIC fraud

The owner of a Chicago grocery store has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently redeeming millions of dollars in benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Yousef Abu Alhawa, 50, of Lockport was also ordered to pay $8.9 million in restitution to the U.S. Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, and the state of Illinois.

Alhawa pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax charges last year.

Meth dealers sentenced

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois has announced sentences for eight methamphetamine dealers in Effingham County and indictments for three other individuals accused of drug distribution.

Prison sentences of those convicted range from 60 to 144 months.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

washington township graphic.2

Washington Township Board Stands Firm in Opposition to 2,400-Acre Earthrise Energy Solar Farm

Washington Township Board of Trustees Meeting | March 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Washington Township Board of Trustees strongly reiterated its opposition to a proposed 2,400-acre solar energy facility during...
FTC takes action against ad giants for avoiding certain sites

FTC takes action against ad giants for avoiding certain sites

By Jay Brown | Legal NewslineThe Center Square WASHINGTON - The Federal Trade Commission and eight states have sued three of the country’s largest advertising agencies for allegedly conspiring not...
Illinois Quick Hits: Feds put card swipe fees prohibition on hold

Illinois Quick Hits: Feds put card swipe fees prohibition on hold

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has released notice of a pending...
Calif. climate change lawsuits paused during SCOTUS review

Calif. climate change lawsuits paused during SCOTUS review

By John O’Brien | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Lawsuits over climate change in California will be on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether they can be pursued. San...
U.S. will strike Iran infrastructure with no deal, Hegseth warns

U.S. will strike Iran infrastructure with no deal, Hegseth warns

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. military is prepared to strike Iran's energy infrastructure if it does not agree to a peace deal, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on...
Beecher Village Graphic.1

Will County, IDOT to Install Four-Way Stop at Route 1 Intersection Ahead of Roundabout Project

Village of Beecher Meeting | April 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Village of Beecher announced that a temporary four-way stop and flashing red light will be installed at the intersection...
New North Carolina law, question on facts pivotal to Mosley appeal

New North Carolina law, question on facts pivotal to Mosley appeal

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Action by North Carolina’s General Assembly has changed the timing for medical malpractice, and enough evidence to ask a jury to resolve contested facts favor...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for April 7, 2026

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 The Will County Board Legislative Committee met on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to review a packed agenda of state and...

Illinois lawmakers grill diversity commission over lack of progress

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) -- State lawmakers expressed public, bipartisan concern again Wednesday over an Illinois commission's efforts to increase access to...
U.S. House vote on spy powers extension delayed due to bipartisan pushback

U.S. House vote on spy powers extension delayed due to bipartisan pushback

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is postponing a vote on a clean extension of the federal government’s electronic surveillance powers due to member pushback....
Auditors praise Trump anti-fraud healthcare proposal

Auditors praise Trump anti-fraud healthcare proposal

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A coalition of 14 state financial leaders across the country backed a Trump administration policy to reduce fraud in health-care systems. The group of state...

WATCH: Gun owners rally at Illinois Statehouse against more gun regulations

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois gun owners are pressing their legislators to oppose gun regulations and some elected officials are on...
GOP seeks probe of $180B in fraud with taxpayers' money

GOP seeks probe of $180B in fraud with taxpayers’ money

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California’s Assembly Republican Caucus on Wednesday called for a special legislative session to investigate an estimated $180 billion in fraud in taxpayer-funded programs. “Fraud absolutely...
Bill advances to prevent local governments from clearing homeless camps

Bill advances to prevent local governments from clearing homeless camps

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State law may soon restrict local governments from clearing homeless encampments from parks and other public spaces....
Bonta’s anti-Exxon emails may have run afoul of CA corruption law: Claim

Bonta’s anti-Exxon emails may have run afoul of CA corruption law: Claim

By Michael Carroll | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A Texas federal judge’s decision to allow ExxonMobil’s defamation lawsuit against California Attorney General Rob Bonta to move forward could ensnare Bonta...