News Archive: January 4, 2007 Archives

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January 4, 2007
Hate crime suspects set for trial in Farmington
Three white males accused of beating a Navajo man are scheduled to go to trial for a crime that heightened racial tensions in the border town of Farmington, New Mexico. C.L. Carnie, 21, Freddie Brooks, 21, and John Winer, 18,...

Suspect arrested in year-old Navajo Nation homicides
A suspect in a triple homicide on the Navajo Nation was arrested in Mexico more than a year after the brutal slaying shocked the reservation. Michael Johnson, 27, was the last of four suspects to be apprehended for the execution-styole...

Letter: Tribal 'sovereignty' a threat to America
"The Day's editorial on Indian tribes expanding gaming empires was a template opinion: more government. A usual rendition by the Marxist choir, complete with contempt toward the very successful. Motivating the politically correct pretense for giving tribes entitlements is the...

Yakama council member, 79, arrested for DUIs
A 79-year-old council member for the Yakama Nation of Washington has been arrested or cited three times in the past two months for driving under the influence of alcohol. Leo Ernest Aleck was arrested on December 14 and was cited...

Carter Camp: Indian Country is America's waste dump
"Many circumstances within Indian Country make our homelands the target of the purveyers of America’s waste. In my Ponca Tribe we have had to stop a waste well injection system, several toxic waste incinerators, low level radio active waste disposals,...

Hopi chairman's race draws eleven candidates
Eleven candidates have filed to run for chairman of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona to replace former chairman Ivan Sidney. Sidney was removed from office in October after admitting to an alcohol incident off the reservation. Police said they found...

Murder of chairwoman's brother still investigated
The FBI continues to pursue leads in the shooting death of the brother of the chairwoman of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. Gabriel Frias, 32, was shot multiple times early New Year's Day. He was conscious when medics found...

Saginaw Chippewa Tribe opens new community center
The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan will open a new community center for members who live in the Standish area. The Saganing Community Center will replace a doublewide trailer that has been serving as the center. The new building is...

Elders mentor Indian students in Rapid City school
Three tribal elders are being honored today for serving as mentors to at-risk Indian students in Rapid City, South Dakota.. Gertrude Hutchinson, Richard Gerry and Lucille Runsafter are part of the Lakolkiciyapi Room program. Lakolkiciyapi means classroom in Lakota. The...

Two exhibits look at tribal history in Dakotas
Two exhibits that open in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this month provide a glimpse into the histories of two tribes. One exhibit, at the Washington Pavilion, features photos from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, located in North and South...

Tribes off to Schwarzenegger inauguration
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has been at odds with tribes since the start of his political career in 2003 but now he's inviting them to his inaugural celebration. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Pechanga Band...

Sen. Vitter targets tribal campaign contributions
Sen. David Vitter (R-Louisiana) will target tribal campaign contributions during the 110th Congress, The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. Vitter wants to impose limits on the amount tribes can contribute to campaigns. Currently, tribes can contribute up to $2,100 per election...

Delaware Tribe eyes commercial development
The Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma plans to buy 17 acres for a commercial development project. The land is located in the city of Dewey. The city agreed to sell to the tribe for $175,000. The tribe envisions a travel plaza,...

First bill in Congress on lobbying, ethics reform
On their first day in control of Congress, Democrats are introducing a lobbying and ethics reform package. Among other provisions, the bill will ban gifts and trips from lobbyists and restrict privately funded junkets. It will require more disclosure of...

Democrats to repeal oil and gas royalty incentives
As part of an energy package, Democrats plan to introduce a bill to repeal oil and gas incentives that cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. The incentives were given to oil and gas companies, who have repeated record profits from...

Tribes file class action trust accounting lawsuit
The Native American Rights Fund filed a major class action lawsuit against the federal government last week, seeking an accounting of billions of dollars in tribal trust funds. With the suit, the nonprofit law firm seeks to represent over 250...

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