Facing rampant poverty and unemployment, the Yurok Tribe of California hopes two small gaming facilities with less than 100 slot machines will provide needed revenues on the reservation.

But the tribe's compact has languished for more than two years. The opponents the first time around were other wealthy tribes who thought the agreement gave up too much sovereignty.

Those tribes came around -- but not until they signed similar compacts that gave them the ability to expand their casinos. The new opponents are now Democrats and labor unions who say the agreements don't provide enough safeguards for employees.

The Yuroks hope to make between $1 million to $3 million on their slot machines. That's a lot of money on a reservation where more than half lack power and phone lines.

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A path out of poverty (The Sacramento Bee 1/29)
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