The Week in Review
ending February 17
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Key ring Presidents.
Vicente Fox, George W. Bush.
Photo © AP. |
Missed our stories? All the headlines for the week can be found
here.
Trust fund battle continues
Its been five years since the billion dollar trust fund
lawsuit against the federal government was filed but
it looks like it might not end any time soon.
The plaintiffs in the case, representing 300,000
Native Americans throughout the country, spent the week
laying new charges of document destruction and employee intimidation
against the Department of Interior. The court-appointed
special master also stepped into the battle and decried
what he called an attempt to undermine his authority.
According to the plaintiffs, he also saved some
precious documents from being sent to the Great
Paper Shredder in the Sky.
Its still unclear how Secretary Gale Norton will help
resolve the matter, if at all. She promised to
do what she could to fix the mismanaged system. Judging
from the week's allegations, she may need a major miracle.
Get the Story:
Norton's
trust fund office to be investigated (2/13)
Intimidation
alleged at Interior (2/14)
Ex-employee
says harassment started at top (2/15)
Who is Gale Norton?
Speaking of the new Secretary of Interior, just who is she?
The question was presented to Indian Country nearly two
months ago but no clear answer has emerged.
Poised to be a savior to Western politicians
fed up with her predecessor, Norton has yet to
make any major decisions. But she has promised, repeatedly,
to open up the Arctic and parts of
the Rocky Mountains to oil and gas
development, reach out
to local decision-makers, and cooperate with
lots of people.
She may need to repeat those promises when
her Department comes out with its new budget.
Will tribal school funding survive the cuts?
Tune in and find out.
Get the Story:
Arctic
drilling won't be easy battle (2/12)
Norton's
commitment still untested (2/13)
Norton
makes case for Arctic drilling (2/13)
Norton
asked to rescind Sandia Pueblo ruling (2/14)
Norton
targets Rockies for drilling (2/15)
Norton:
Key positions won't yet be filled (2/16)
Norton
warns of Interior budget cuts (2/16)
Tribal
Schools on Priority List (2/16)
more stories
There's still more to read in the recap
of the top stories.
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