Artist's rendering of the proposed West Valley Resort. Image from Tohono O'odham Nation
City council members in Glendale, Arizona, are meeting today and are expected to discuss detail of a casino deal with the Tohono O'odham Nation. The city and the tribe have been negotiating over the $500 million West Valley Resort. A vote on an agreement could come as early as next Tuesday, The Arizona Republic reported. The tribe acquired 135 acres near Glendale in connection with the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Act of 1986. The law allows the tribe to have up to 10,000 acres placed in trust to replace lands that were flooded by the federal government. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, generally, bars gaming on land acquired after 1988. But Section 20 of the law creates an exception for land acquired in connection with a land claim settlement. The tribe has not received official approval from any federal agency to engage in gaming at the site. A facility license from the National Indian Gaming Commission might require an Indian lands determination. Get the Story:
Tribe may not need to wait on Glendale casino (The Arizona Republic 8/5)
Talk to Tina: West Valley residents weigh in on casino (The Glendale Daily News-Sun 8/5) An Opinion:
Doug MacEachern: Gila River and Salt River tribes: What are they? Chopped liver? (The Arizona Republic 8/5) Related Stories:
Column: Sen. McCain breaks promise on Tohono O'odham casino (7/31)
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