Gov. Haley Barbour (R) and six other state officials sent a letter to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in opposition to the tribe's casino.

Barbour, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, State Auditor Stacey Pickering, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, Treasurer Tate Reeves, Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney and Commissioner of Agriculture Lester Spell said they are concerned about "legal, health and safety" issues. They said the project doesn't fit in with the state's desire to create "destination" gaming facilities.

The tribe is moving forward with the casino near Sandersville, in Jones County. The site is about 80 miles from tribal headquarters in Philadelphia, where the tribe operates two casinos, but the land is still considered part of the reservation.

Get the Story:
Officials against casino project (The Hattiesburg American 7/14)
Choctaws meet with Jones County leaders about casino (WDAM-TV 7/13)

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