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Thomson Leader: Bring on Gitmo Detainees
CHICAGO (AP) -- The president of the western Illinois village of Thomson says he welcomes word that the Obama administration may buy a nearby prison to house Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Jerry Hebeler said Saturday that fully using the prison would generate desperately needed revenue for the town of about 450-500 near the Mississippi River. The 1,600-cell prison was built by the state in 2001, but so far holds fewer than 200 minimum-security prisoners.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin says there would be fewer than 100 Guantanamo detainees and the rest of the prison would be used as a federal prison. He says that would generate about 3,000 jobs.

Hebeler will join Gov. Pat Quinn at a news conference on Sunday.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
11 14 09 by Newsroom
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