$stalker Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne hasn't made any major Indian gaming decisions since taking office last May but he first could come on an off-reservation casino project in Wisconsin.

The Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the St. Croix Chippewa Indians have received regional approval to build a $200 million casino in Beloit, near the Illinois border. Local support helped the tribe, the director of the Midwest regional office for the Bureau of Indian Affairs said.

Now it's up to the BIA in Washington, D.C., to make a recommendation for Kempthorne. If he approves, then the decision will be sent to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) for his consideration.

Doyle hasn't stated his views on the project. But other wealthy tribes in the state have been lobbying him to reject off-reservation gaming.

Get the Story:
Beloit's casino backers making their case in D.C. (Gannett News Service 1/10)
Beloit casino supporters "all-in" after regional approval (Wisconsin Radio Network 1/9)