During a September 11 meeting with the Interior Department, the Seminole Tribe of Florida asked for approval to offer slot machines without a compact, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

Tribal officials went to Washington, D.C., to talk about compact negotiations with the state. Both sides have said the talks are going well but the tribe asked DOI to immediately issue secretarial procedures to allow slot machines.

"Despite urgent pleas from tribal representatives for the immediate issuance of [the procedures], the meeting ended with no specific new deadline set for action by the Secretary," Jim Shore, the tribe's general counsel, said in a declaration in a federal court case.

The tribe sued DOI to force the issuance of the procedures. Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has said he will act if a deal can't be reached.

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Seminoles' talks on new slots to resume; suits could freeze any deal (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 9/30)
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