7am News, Sports and Obits

Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
Kirk Not Opposed to Selling Thomson Prision
(IRN)--U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) says he is not opposed to the sale of vacant Thomson prison to the federal government. Kirk toured the Thomson Prison in Thomson, Ill. on Wednesday afternoon.

Speaking with reporters outside of the facility, Kirk said that he approves of the possible deal if the Obama administration guarantees that terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will not be transferred to Thomson. Kirk says it's a win for job creation.

"Opening up Thompson Prison to federal inmates would bring more than 1,000 jobs and millions of dollars in new investments to this area," Kirk said. "As long as suspected terrorists aren't moved here, I fully endorse the move to use Thomson to house federal inmates."

Kirk believes he will get those assurances.

The prison is owned by the state. The state brokered a deal last year with the federal government to sell the facility but the deal hit a roadblock as opposition to transferring Guantanamo detainees to Illinois grew with members of Congess from both parties.

The maximum-security prison built in 2001, has 1,600 beds. It was nevEr fully opened.

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
03 24 11 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.