0325a01 main 3/24/2013 10:16 PM Page 1 JOURNAL GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER Gun bill MONDAY could JG-TC 03/25/2013 further SERVING CHARLESTON, MATTOON & SURROUNDING AREAS |||||WWW.JG-TC.COM |||||75 CENTS crowd prisons BY JOHN O’CONNOR AP Political Writer SPRINGFIELD — Chica- go officials, stung by bloody episodes of violence, are seeking new legislation that would make it tougher RELATED on thugs STORY packing ● guns. But Top gun their pro- debate voices posal to appeal to require public. A4 more prison time for possessing illegal weapons is running into opposition based on concerns about prison overcrowding, costs and gun rights. Experts say it could push thousands more convicts into a packed and financial- ly pressed prison system, Kevin Kilhoffer/Staff Photographer costing $100 million more Traffic and the road are barely visible during heavy snowfall Sunday afternoon on Illinois Route 130 south of Charleston. per year. A prison-policy group says it’s largely a Cook County problem that officials there are asking the rest of the state to shoul- der. And gun-rights advo- cates fear it’s a way for Stunned by snow Chicago to discourage lawful gun possession in the city. The measure, which won overwhelming support from Area blanketed by late-season winter blast a House committee days ago and awaits floor action, MATTOON (JG-TC) — Sev- routes as of 7 p.m. ing motorists to stay home the snow were reported across overnight, which would bring would stiffen penalties for eral inches of snow packed a And highway officials due to treacherous road condi- the area throughout Sunday the total snowfall to 8 to 10 several categories of unlaw- wallop for East Central Illi- closed Illinois Route 121 com- tions. The media release, from afternoon, in addition to sev- inches. ful use of weapons, includ- nois on Sunday and promised pletely between Mattoon and ISP District 10 in Pesotum, eral accidents. “The snow will start to ing by felons or street-gang to extend wintertime woes Sullivan about 8:30 p.m. Sun- advised residents to only trav- Today is not expected to dwindle midday Monday and members. It would make into today. day, with no word as of press el Sunday night in the event of bring much of a respite. there is some slight snow probation less likely, in Most area school districts time when it would reopen. A an emergency. Cameron Craig, climatolo- drifting that might make many cases imposing mini- decided before 7 p.m. Sunday Moultrie County spokesman ISP reported that inter- gist with the Eastern Illinois problems for the commute mum prison sentences of that there would be no classes urged area residents to stay states, state roads, and county University weather center in tomorrow morning,” Craig three years behind bars, and today due to the heavy snow- home, noting dozens of vehi- roads were extremely danger- Charleston, said the snowfall said Sunday evening. require that offenders serve fall. Just before 6 p.m. Sun- cles had gone off the snow- ous due to the heavy snowfall, started around 1 p.m. Sunday Craig urged commuters to at least 85 percent of their day, Street Superintendent covered highway. white-out conditions, drifting and by 6 p.m. Coles County use caution while driving. sentences. Quincy Combs advised that About 5 p.m. Sunday, Illi- snow, and wet and icy road was blanketed with 5 inches of the City of Charleston nois State Police (ISP) offi- conditions snow. The area was expected planned to invoke its snow cials issued a statement urg- Numerous vehicles stuck in to receive 3 to 5 more inches See SNOW, A2 See GUN, A2 Court: Can drug firms pay to delay generics? BY JESSE J. HOLLAND from their patented products win, they often reach a com- and LINDA A. JOHNSON in order to recover the bil- promise deal that allows the Associated Press lions they spend developing generic company to sell its WASHINGTON — Federal new drugs. And both the large cheaper copycat drug in a few regulators are pressing the companies and the generic years — but years before the Supreme Court to stop big makers say the marketing of drug’s patent would expire. pharmaceutical corporations generics often is hastened by Often, that settlement comes from paying generic drug these deals. with a sizeable payment from competitors to delay releasing The justices will hear the the brand-name company to their cheaper versions of argument today. the generic drugmaker. brand-name drugs. They Such pay-for-delay deals Numerous brand-name and argue these deals deny Amer- arise when generic compa- generic drugmakers and their ican consumers, usually for nies file a challenge at the respective trade groups say years, steep price declines Food and Drug Administra- the settlements protect their that can top 90 percent. tion to the patents that give interests but also benefit con- The Obama administration, brand-name drugs a 20-year sumers by bringing inexpen- backed by consumer groups monopoly. The generic drug- sive copycat medicines to and the American Medical makers aim to prove the market years earlier than Kevin Kilhoffer/Staff Photographer Association, says these so- patent is flawed or otherwise they would arrive in any case People search for eggs during the Night Light Egg Hunt at Morton Park in Charleston on Saturday. called “pay for delay” deals invalid, so they can launch a generic drugmakers took to profit the drug companies but generic version well before trial and lost. But federal offi- harm consumers by adding the patent ends. cials counter that such deals 3.5 billion annually to their Brand-name drugmakers add billions to the drug bills Adults get in on Easter fun drug bills. then usually sue the generic of American patients and tax- But the pharmaceutical companies, which sets up payers, compared to what companies counter that they what could be years of expen- need to preserve longer the sive litigation. When the two with nighttime egg hunt billions of dollars in revenue sides aren’t certain who will See GENERICS, A2 BY SAMANTHA BILHARZ about 40 residents hunted for pating in the egg hunt was JG-TC Staff Writer the filled eggs using flash- more about a good old-fash- CHARLESTON — The glow lights. ioned family rivalry. Zerbst’s TOP THIS! of flashlights could be seen Diane Ratliff, city tourism husband, mom and sister all throughout Morton Park as director, said she didn’t were pitted against each community members braved expect so many people to other to see who could collect Chicken coop tale swoops in to take odd title prize cold temperatures to hunt for attend the egg hunt because the most eggs and win the Easter eggs on Saturday of the chilly weather. most prizes. LONDON (AP) — A supernaturally tinged “Goblinproofing” editor Clint Marsh said he night. “It’s freezing tonight and “We are really competitive barnyard manual has won an award for the and the author were honored to receive a The event was part of the I’m surprised at how cold it is in our family and this event year’s oddest book title. prize that “celebrates the playfulness that is Charleston Parks and Recre- that this many people showed became an outlet for that,” “Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop” by at the heart of much of the world’s best book ation Department’s annual up,” Ratliff said. Miranda said. Reginald Bakeley was awarded the Diagram publishing.” Night Light Egg Hunt, which The Night Light Egg Hunt This was the second time Prize on Friday by trade magazine, The Book- The prize was founded in 1978. Its rules say is open to residents 18 and allows area adults to be kids Miranda and her family seller. the books must be serious and their titles not older. again for a night and just run attended the Night Light Egg The book took 38 percent of the votes in a merely a gimmick. Around 300 eggs were hid- around and have fun, Ratliff Hunt, and she said the family public ballot, beating finalists including “How Previous winners include “Bombproof Your den throughout half of the said. Tea Cosies Changed the World” and “Was Horse” and “Managing a Dental Practice: The park, with either candy or For Miranda Zerbst, a Hitler Ill?” Genghis Khan Way.” gift certificates inside, and Charleston resident, partici- See HUNT, A2 INSIDE TODAY TODAY’S WEATHER LOCAL LOCAL SPORTS Advice . A7 Classifieds . B6-7 House No. 31 CHS team takes Eastern Illinois Comics . B8 35/25 now in the works No. 7 at state faces Illinois Community . A6 Cloudy. Chance of snow. Horoscopes . A2 See page A4 for the Snow didn’t stop Charleston speech team Assembly Hall hosts Local . A2-3 four-day outlook. groundbreaking for new members to showcase tal- Eastern Illinois versus Lottery . A4 Habitat home. A3 ents Tuesday, too. A3 Illinois tonight. B1 My Amish Home . A7 Obituaries . A8 Opinions . .A5 COME BACK TOMORROW: Local residents learn more about the business side of art. WORLD: Syrian opposition struggles to stay together. A8 136th Year, Number 53 ● BREAKING NEWS, COMMENTARY, MULTIMEDIA AND MORE: WWW.JG-TC.COM ● CONTACT THE NEWSROOM: 217-235-5656 0325a02 3/24/2013 9:59 PM Page 1 A2 NATION & FROM PAGE ONE ● MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2013 JG-TC | www.jg-tc.com is safe to com- UPDATES: SNOW mute. Lake JG-TC.COM Midwest sees spring transform into winter From page A1 Land College officials had made no BY HEATHER day as far east as Pennsylva- planned for Monday because they leave after Sunday’s “Roads are still a major announcement about classes HOLLINGSWORTH nia.