Illinois quick hits: Marijuana sales top $1 billion so far this year
Lawmakers oppose water rate hike proposal
A bipartisan group of state legislators joined with the Citizens Utility Board to oppose proposed water rate hike requests totaling more than $170 million.
The group said Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois’ increase would impact 1.5 million private water customers and are encouraging people to attend upcoming public forums about the issue with the first being July 22 at DuPage Township in Bolingbrook.
Marijuana sales top $1 billion so far this year
Illinois legal cannabis retailers sold more than $1 billion so far this calendar year, achieving the number two weeks faster than the year before.
When looking at the fiscal year that ended July 1, Illinois sold more than $2 billion, more than the $1.9 billion sold in fiscal 2023. Cannabis taxes collected and remitted to the comptroller for fiscal 2024 was more than $457 million.
McCann sentence
A former Republican state senator and new party candidate for governor has been sentenced for fraud.
Sam McCann was sentenced this week to 42 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering and tax evasion during a federal bench trial in February. The 54-year-old was also ordered to pay more than $680,000 in restitution.
