Prison-closure hearing on hold indefinitely

VIENNA -- A hearing in a lawsuit that seeks to stop the state from closing a central Illinois prison has been delayed indefinitely, and the lockup could remain open for some time.

Spokesmen for the Illinois Department of Corrections and the union that represents prison workers say Monday's hearing in Vienna was pointless. That's because an injunction issued in another lawsuit over the plan to close the Pontiac Correctional Center is keeping the prison open.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has filed three lawsuits over the prison.

Corrections spokesman Derrick Schnapp says the prison-closure plan is at a standstill.

Union spokesman Anders Lindall says the two sides will next try to agree on an arbitrator to consider union grievances about the prison plan.