The Interior Department has yet to respond to a lawsuit over the Ponca Tribes plans to open a casino in Iowa.
Interior's answer to the suit filed by Nebraska attorney general Jon Bruning is due at the end of this week. But the Department of Justice has asked for a delay that could push the brief out to July, WOWT-TV reported.
Bruning claims the National Indian Gaming Commission got it wrong by approving the tribe's casino plans in Carter Lake, Iowa. The land is already in trust and satisfies an exception in Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, according to a December 31, 2007 ruling.
Carter Lake is in Iowa but is completely surrounded by Nebraska. Officials in Iowa, where all forms of gaming are legal, say Nebraska has no say in the matter.
Get the Story:Carter Lake Mayor tells Nebraska to stay out of casino issue (Radio Iowa 6/3)
Nebraska's Interference To Iowa Casino Plan Criticized (WOWT 6/2)