The state can't stop the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians from building a new casino, according to attorney general Jim Hood.

Gov. Haley Barbour (R) has threatened legal action against the casino. But Hood said that won't be possible.

"After thorough review, staff has found no viable legal cause of action which would halt the proposed development, either by challenging the validity of the 1992 Gaming Compact between the State of Mississippi and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, or by otherwise challenging the proposed development itself," Hood wrote in the memo, which was obtained by The Neshoba Democrat.

.The casino would be located near Sandersville, in Jones County. The site is considered part of the reservation although it is not contiguous to the main reservation.

The site is about 80 miles from tribal headquarters in Philadelphia, where the tribe operates two casinos.

Get the Story:
AG: no reason to halt Choctaw casino (The Neshoba Democrat 7/17)
Barbour again writes letter opposing casino (The Hattiesburg American 7/17)
Casino foes want to stop Choctaw site (The Laurel Leader-Call 7/17)

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