Federal government to buy closed Ill. prison for $165M, vows will not house Gitmo detainees Article by: SOPHIA TAREEN , Associated Press Updated: October 2, 2012 - 1:23 PM CHICAGO - The federal government has agreed to buy the closed Thomson Correctional Center in western Illinois for $165 million after the sale was held up for three years, state leaders announced Tuesday. Many Illinois leaders — including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Gov. Pat Quinn who spoke to The Associated Press ahead of a news conference to announce the sale — supported the purchase because they said it would bring...