Department Of The Interior Disapproves Habematolel Gaming Compact; Tribe Vows To Continue Effort (CA – Habematolel Compact)
Lake County News (August 23, 2010) In a decision that could have implications for other California gaming tribes, the US Department of the Interior has denied the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake's proposed gaming compact with the state, a move that will push back the tribe's planned casino project. “This is devastating but I don't think we're done,” Tribal Chair Sherry Treppa told Lake County News in a weekend interview.

Cachil Dehe Band Of Wintun Indians Of Colusa Indian Community V. State (CA – Lawsuit)
Legal Eagle (August 20, 2010) This appeal springs from a disagreement between California and plaintiff Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community and plaintiff-intervenor Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians ("Picayune") (collectively, "Colusa")

City's Suit Against Pechanga Could Have Statewide Impact (CA – Lawsuit Against Pechanga)
Press Enterprise (August 21, 2010) In February 2008, California voters approved tribal casino-expansion deals that supporters said would ensure aid for surrounding communities. The agreements for the first time created a process for tribes, Inland cities and counties to negotiate payments to cover off-reservation impacts such as extra police, increased traffic and other expenses.

California Tribes Are Fighting For Legal Online Poker (CA – Online Gaming Legislation)
Casino News Authority (August 21, 2010) The Morongo Band of Indians continue to fight for legal online poker in California and they’ve joined 21 tribes in order to claim the exclusive rights to online poker within state borders. The Morongo Band wants legal online poker in California, but they are against any federal legislation that would make online gambling legal within the United States.

Ruling On Chumash Property Key To Santa Ynez Valley Future (CA – Federal Trust)
Pacific Coast Business Times (August 23, 2010) Bringing land into a federal trust is important because it allows a tribe to tax and develop the land under its own rules instead of state and county rules. The Chumash have developed about 100 acres of their 139-acre reservation.

Way Of The Peaceful Warrior: Fighting Gang Violence With Native American Traditions (CA – Combating Gang Violence)
San Jose Mercury News (August 22, 2010) What does it mean to be a warrior? Surrounded by spiritual leaders in a sweat lodge instead of drug dealers in East Oakland, Juan Segura was learning. He at least knows how urban war looks and feels. It looks like his friend, Eric Toscano, being killed in a drive-by shooting.

FBI Seizes $13.3 Million From Online Poker Processors (US – Online Gaming)
Poker News Daily (August 20, 2010) The owner of two payment processors for online poker sites has agreed to forfeit $13.3 million seized by the FBI in June of last year. Ahmad Khawaja, together with his two firms, Allied Systems and Allied Wallet, reached a civil settlement with the U.S. Government this week in order to keep from getting into further legal trouble.

US, Casino At Odds On Air-Quality Inspection (AZ– Tohono O'odham Nation – Air Quality Standards) 
Arizona Daily Star (August 23, 2010) The U.S. Labor Department has asked a federal judge to allow safety inspectors into a local casino after receiving complaints alleging high ozone levels. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance officer was denied entry on July 29 to Desert Diamond Casino, 7350 S. Nogales Highway, according to documents filed recently in U.S. District Court in Tucson.

Dam Compensation For Tribes Proposed (SD – Compensation for Dams)
Argus Leader (August 23, 2010) Decades after the federal government's damming of the Missouri River flooded prime land on several Native American reservations and forced thousands of families to relocate, a bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to make amends.

Questions Arise On Sovereignty For Casinos (NM – Business Contracts and Tribal Sovereignty)
Santa Fe New Mexican (August 21, 2010) The recent piece by Tim Korte of The Associated Press, entitled "New Mexico casino lawsuit calls tribal sovereignty into question," may be news to New Mexicans but it is old news for many of us who follow the issue of sovereignty as it applies to business contracts as conducted by the tribes with non-Indians.