Followup - Fort Sill Apache Tribe fights for New Mexico casino

From the Silver City (NM) Sun-News:  "The Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma filed a motion in federal court Wednesday to counter a recent federal order that told the tribe to stop gaming at an Akela casino.

Also Wednesday, the tribe planned to launch a TV advertisement in the Albuquerque and Washington, D.C., markets, which asks President Barack Obama to keep the casino from being shut down.

Jeff Houser, chairman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, said the tribe's motion, filed in federal court in Oklahoma City, is aimed at forcing the gaming commission to recognize the terms of a 2007 legal settlement that the tribe believes gives it a legal basis for gaming.

Houser said the action is different from one take last fall that also referred to the settlement.

Philip Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, issued a notice of violation to the tribe for paper bingo it has been conducting since April. But the tribe has continued its bingo operation.

Houser said in addition to the legal action filed Wednesday, the tribe plans to appeal Hogen's decision before the full three-member commission. Houser contended that because Hogen is an outgoing, Bush-appointed member, he shouldn't be making such a significant decision before the Obama appointee takes over."

See the full story HERE.

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