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Menominee Nation leader cried after governor killed casino bid

Wednesday, February 4, 2015


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Laurie Boivin, the chairwoman of the Menominee Nation, said she cried for "days" after Gov. Scott Walker (R) rejected the tribe's off-reservation casino.

Boivin was hopeful for approval of the $800 million casino in Kenosha when some legal and policy issue appeared to have been resolved in the tribe's favor. But Walker shocked project supporters when he said he would not concur with a two-part determination issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t (cry) for days. I mean, I had to stop reading emails. It kind of felt like someone went in a ripped the heart out. How I would characterize this? Everybody lost in this,” Boivin told WITI.

The tribe and its supporters have urged Walker to reconsider amid complaints that his decision was influenced by his presidential aspirations. But he has refused to do so.

Get the Story:
“Everybody lost:” On heels of Walker’s decision on Kenosha casino, Menominee Tribal chairwoman speaks out (WITI 2/3)
Menominee tribe extends purchase option for Dairyland Greyhound Park (The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2/4)

Some Opinions:
JJ Steinhoff: Bring back the greyhounds, add snowmobiles at Dairyland (The Kenosha News 2/4)
Chris Rickert: Downsides of gambling get short shrift in casino decision (The Chippewa Herald 2/2) $P Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: Menominee Nation Decision | Section 20 Determination: Menominee Nation Off-Reservation Casino Related Stories:
Menominee Nation won't give up on off-reservation gaming plan (1/30)