January 28, 2026/

Illinois Quick Hits: Water rates could rise

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By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois American Water has filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission to raise customer rates in January 2027.

The company says the typical residential water customer would see an increase of about $14 per month, and the typical customer served by sanitary wastewater systems would see an increase of about $28 per month.

The Citizens Utility Board promised to challenge the request.

DARK WEB CONVICTION

A Virginia man who co-created and operated a dark web marketplace that enabled users to anonymously buy and sell illegal goods and services pleaded guilty on Monday to a federal drug conspiracy charge.

Prosectors say Raheim Hamilton, 30, and Thomas Pavey, 40, of Florida facilitated Empire Market transactions valued at more than $430 million from 2018 to 2020. Pavey pleaded guilty last year.

Both men agreed to forfeit ill-gotten proceeds and also face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

WHEELING TOWNSHIP GOP VANDALIZED

Arlington Heights police are investigating after vandalism was reported at the Republicans of Wheeling Township headquarters.

Video images showed two alleged offenders outside the GOP offices Sunday night, with graffiti scrawled on windows.

The images also showed profanities written over a poster of late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was born in Arlington Heights and attended Wheeling High School.

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