More than 150 people attended a hearing on the off-reservation casino sought by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan.

According to The Muskegon Chronicle, the overwhelming majority of speakers and attendees support the casino in Fruitport Township. The turnout prompted the chairman of the Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee to promise to push the proposal forward.

"You have my word it will be in front of the people who run this caucus," Rep. Bert Johnson (D) told the crowd, the paper reported.

The casino site is about 80 miles from tribal headquarters. But the town is considered a part of the tribe's nine-county service area.

The tribe negotiated amendments to its Class III gaming compact to authorize the casino. The tribe submitted a land-into-trust application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Get the Story:
Michigan lawmaker's Fruitport casino public hearing draws nearly 150 (The Muskegon Chronicle 7/10)
Gambling addiction among concerns voiced by opponents of Fruitport Township casino proposal (The Muskegon Chronicle 7/10)

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