The shutdown of the federal government has halted work on the casino land-into-trust application submitted by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has furloughed most of its employees. Included are the ones that were reviewing the tribe's application. "We have very limited staff and we're responding to emergency situations only," spokesperson Nedra Darling told The Cape Cod Times. The tribe filed the initial application in August 2007 after its federal recognition was finalized in May of that year. After changing casino sites twice, the tribe settled on a 146-acre location in Taunton. The BIA originally promised a decision this spring. But the tribe now expects an answer in early 2014. The tribe's Class III gaming compact also needs to be reviewed by the BIA. The agreement is set for a vote in the Massachusetts House tomorrow. Get the Story:
Tribal land bid back-burnered (The Cape Cod Times 10/8)
House advances tribal gambling compact for Taunton casino (State House News Service 10/7)
Applicants for the only Mass. slots parlor make pitches to gaming commission (AP 10/7)
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Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's gaming compact
due for vote (10/7)
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