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Louisiana Tribal Casino Still Looking for Home4 July 2002LOUISIANA – As reported by the Associated Press: "Turned away earlier this year in an attempt to build a casino in southwestern Louisiana, the Jena Band of Choctaws is looking at a possible site in Logansport, closer to the Texas border than five riverboat casinos in Shreveport-Bossier City. "DeSoto Parish officials said they met with members of the tribal council on Tuesday. Logansport Mayor Dennis Freeman said interest among local officials was 'fairly favorable.' "…Freeman said members of the tribal council would meet with residents during a police jury meeting on Monday. "…In March, the federal Interior Department rejected a compact that Gov. Mike Foster signed in secret with the tribe in January for a reservation casino at Vinton, a site closer to the Texas border than four state-licensed riverboat casinos at Lake Charles and a tribal casino run by the Coushattas at Kinder. "Foster said he had no choice but to negotiate with the Jena Choctaws and tried to cut a favorable deal for the state. "…The Jena Choctaws agreed in the compact to pay 15.5 percent of casino profit to the state for teacher pay increases and 6 percent to local governments in Calcasieu Parish. That would have been far less than gambling winnings before expenses are considered, the basis for the state casino tax…" |