The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees Indians filed suit in federal court on Tuesday to prevent the Indian Health Service from handing control of the W.W. Hastings Indian Hospital to the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokees plan to start running the hospital today under a self-determination contract. The UKBs say they weren't consulted about the decision. The Cherokees are planning to turn the facility into an "Indian Mayo clinic" with major upgrades in the future. Get the Story:
UKB sues government over Hastings Hospital (The Muskogee Phoenix 10/1)
Tribe sues over hospital handover (The Tulsa World 10/1) Related Stories:
Cherokee Nation set for takeover of IHS hospital (8/29)
Cherokee Nation has big plans for IHS takeover (7/29)
Questions over Cherokee Nation IHS takeover (4/24)
Cherokee Nation to manage IHS hospital (4/16)
Editorial: Keep Oklahoma hospital in hands of IHS (1/18)
Cherokee Nation ridicules UKB bid for IHS contract (1/17)
Oklahoma tribes compete for IHS contract (1/16)