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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2002

The Department of Interior still hasn't received permission to reconnect a computer system that processes payments to individual Indians, more than a month into a court-ordered shutdown.

Dennis Gingold, an attorney representing 300,000 Indian beneficiaries, described the situation as inexcusable during a status update in federal court yesterday. Attorneys for Secretary Gale Norton described the process as slow moving but said they were hopeful a resolution could be found soon.

As a result of the shutdown, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho have sued the Interior for failing to distribute $5.5 million to individual tribal members who are landowners. The tribes said the money was supposed to be have been sent on December 1.

Get the Story:
Judge accepts report before Norton contempt trial recess (The Lincoln Journal Star 1/16)
Ruling deals setback to Norton (The Denver Post 1/16)
Judge sets stage for Norton testimony (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 1/16)
Interior's Internet Said Not Fixed (AP 1/15)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton effort 'too little, too late' (1/16)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Norton notes 'challenge' of daily work (1/15)
McCaleb tries to explain computer shutdown (1/11)
Interior waited weeks on trust fund shutdown (1/9)
Order on trust fund payments sought (1/8)
Debate continues over trust fund shutdown (1/7)
Speedy trust fund payments sought (1/7)
Interior says working on shutdown (1/7)
Little hope for trust fund payments (1/4)
Computer security charge stands as checks delayed (12/21)
Checks to Great Lakes region delayed (12/20)
For BIA, a working holiday (12/19)
Taking lead on trust reform proves tough (12/19)
Baucus: Delay in checks 'unacceptable' (12/19)
Judge orders Interior reconnect (12/18)
Interior shutdown was 'overreaction' (12/18)
'Not be a very bright Christmas' (12/18)
Cost of Interior shutdown not known (12/17)
Interior computer agreement dropped (12/14)
Interior computer order finalized (12/13)
Editorial: Still ripping off Indians (12/12)
Griles in charge of IT reform (12/11)
Floods more important than Indians (12/10)
Judge holds security hearing (12/8)
DOI Shutdown: 'We're Hurting Tribes' (12/7)
From the top, a gamble in trust (12/7)
Norton acknowledges Internet problems (12/7)
'We're in the Dark' (12/7)
Judge orders Interior to cut Internet access (12/6)
Security contempt charge added (12/6)
Transcript of Dec. 5 trust fund hearing (12/6)
Interior doesn't understand court order (12/6)
Judge cuts trust fund access(12/5)
Report reveals attacks on tribal, Indian trust (12/5)
No Trust: Hacking the Department of Interior (12/5)
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New: Security report released (12/4)