Editorial: BIA must explain reopening of Cayuga Nation casino

When the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York closed its gaming facility in Union Springs eight years ago, the explanation was simple. Due to court decisions, the tribe would need to have its land holdings taken into federal trust in order to operate outside local laws, such as the one in Union Springs that prohibited the gambling business.

The Cayugas said they would apply for trust status, and called the closure temporary until the federal government approved its application.

Eight years later, one thing is clear — the gaming center is back open. But there's plenty of confusion about how that has come to be.