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

Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism

Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The head of the embattled Illinois diversity commission has moved to a different state job after a...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago committee approves infrastructure funding around soccer stadium

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago committee approves infrastructure funding around soccer stadium

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council’s finance committee has approved $424.9 million for public access, road improvements, a river...
Retired judge urges federal court to reject key talc researcher's testing

Retired judge urges federal court to reject key talc researcher’s testing

By Daniel Fisher | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A special master hearing evidence behind tens of thousands of lawsuits over Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder has urged the court to...
U.S. inflation cools to 3.5% in better than expected June report

U.S. inflation cools to 3.5% in better than expected June report

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. inflation decreased by 0.4% in June, for a seasonally adjusted total of 3.5% over the year, driven by rapidly falling energy costs, according to...
Court: Parents can’t sue teachers unions over illegal strikes

Court: Parents can’t sue teachers unions over illegal strikes

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square (Legal Newsline) - Parents do not have legal rights to sue teachers unions for calling illegal strikes, which allegedly lead to learning...
Extreme heat, wildfires sweep the Southwest

Extreme heat, wildfires sweep the Southwest

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Extreme heat and wildfires have defined this summer in the Southwest. Meteorologists are warning residents to be aware of air quality alerts and high temperatures....
U.S. House to vote on bill making daylight savings time permanent

U.S. House to vote on bill making daylight savings time permanent

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House will vote this week on a bill making daylight savings time permanent, despite warnings from medical, education and safety organizations. The Sunshine...
Trump: Iran to be 'hit hard' as blockade back on

Trump: Iran to be ‘hit hard’ as blockade back on

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Another round of strikes is hitting Iran, with President Donald Trump indicating the Islamic Republic will be “hit hard.” The president announced Monday that the...
U.S. House passes election campaign financing bill

U.S. House passes election campaign financing bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House passed a bill Monday that would restrict funding of state and local political races and ballot proposals to American citizens only. The...
Will Graham, McConnell absences affect confirmation hearings this week?

Will Graham, McConnell absences affect confirmation hearings this week?

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The death of longtime South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and the ongoing illness and recovery of Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell may affect...
Senate panel sits on AI jobs-data bill 8 months on

Senate panel sits on AI jobs-data bill 8 months on

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A bipartisan U.S. Senate push to make the federal government track AI's effect on jobs has gone unanswered for four months, and the bill meant...
Nordone will fulfill remainder of brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate term

Nordone will fulfill remainder of brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate term

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Darline Graham Nordone, sister of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, has been chosen to fulfill the remainder of his term this calendar year by South Carolina...
Federal regulators narrow scope of endangered species rule

Federal regulators narrow scope of endangered species rule

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The Interior and Commerce departments finalized a rule Friday changing enforcement of the Endangered Species Act to allow habitat damage if animals are not directly...
12 states sue to stop Warner Bros.-Paramount merger

12 states sue to stop Warner Bros.-Paramount merger

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading 12 states suing to block the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance. The lawsuit was filed...
Election 2026: Cooper poll lead tightened to 4 points

Election 2026: Cooper poll lead tightened to 4 points

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Republican Michael Whatley’s latest ad campaign paints Democrat Roy Cooper in the same light as other national figures in his party just as a new...