U.S. House focusing on Chicago violence
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s handling of criminal prosecutions will be in the national spotlight Tuesday. The Republican-controlled U.S. House Judiciary Committee has planned a “Victims of Violent Crime in Chicago” hearing.
An announcement of the hearing said the panel of congressmen and experts will look into how Foxx’s “pro-crime and anti-victim policies are leading to an increase in violent crime and a dangerous community for Chicago residents.” Panelists will include a family member of a murdered retired detective with the Chicago Police Department.
Gas station owners face tax fraud
Three gas station operators from Illinois face fraud, theft and tax evasion charges for allegedly under-reporting sales figures for nearly three years.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the men, from Peoria and Indianapolis, Indiana, owned and operated more than a dozen gas stations in central and southern Illinois. They allegedly under-reported more than $50 million in sales for three years, from 2019 to 2022, which produced more than $4 million in tax liability.
The gas stations are located in Peoria, Metropolis, Salem, Pinckneyville, Wayne City and Xenia.
Joliet shuts down vape shops
Five Joliet businesses have been shut down after city officials said they were illegally selling vaping devices to underage individuals.
Officials said the Joliet Police Department set up a sting operation after the city received complaints about the selling of electronic cigarettes to minors. Illinois law forbids the sale of e-cigarettes to people under the age of 21.
