State Moves to Dismiss Ottawa Land Claims
January 11, 2006

An article in the U.S. State News reported a press release from Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro announcing that the state has moved to dismiss the land claims of the Ottawa Tribe. The Tribe claims that it is entitled to all of North Bass Island in Lake Erie, as well as unlimited hunting and fishing rights in the state. The press release states that the Tribe's claims are unsupported by the relevant treaties, that the Tribe has already received compensation for any claims they may have from the Indiana Claims Commission, that the lawsuit is being filed too late under the statute of limitations, and that it would be inequitable for a court to grant the claim.

According to the Toledo Blade, the Tribe had originally sought only the Northern half of the island, but has recently expanded its claim to encompass the Southern parts, as well. The change is the result of research conducted by a Kent State University geography professor, Ute Dymon, who contends that the island was on the Canadian side of the U.S./Canada border when control was relinquished to the United States by the tribe in the early 1800's. The tribe urges that if the island was actually subject to British control at the time, the treaty between the Tribe and the United States is ineffective.

Morton O'Kelly, chairman of the department of geography at Ohio State University disagrees with Dymon's study. O'Kelly claims that the island was never divided by the international border, and that it has always been considered part of the United States.

Petro has maintained that the land claim is a veiled attempt to force the state into negotiations over allowing casino gaming in the state, though Dick Rogavin, the Tribe's local counsel, denies that assertion.

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Racing Commission Considers Minimum Jockey Age
January 11, 2006

In the wake of the death of Josh Radosevich, a 16-year old jockey who was killed while racing at Beulah Park in November, Ohio Racing Commissioners are considering a regulation that would impose a minimum age for jockeys. According to an article in the Lexington Hearald-Leader, the proposal would set the minimum age at eighteen in the hopes that the restriction would give would-be jockeys extra time to develop skills necessary for both on and off-track success. If passed, the regulation wouldn't take effect for at least four months.

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Police Close Gambling Operation
January 11, 2006

An alleged gambling operation, purportedly owned by a member of the Morrow Village Council, was closed by law enforcement officers last month according to an article in the Dayton Daily News. Sheriff's deputies raided Papa's Restaurant and seized four video slot machines and cash from the establishment. Yorky Bryant, the owner of Papa's claims that he has not broken any laws because he does not own the machines and because an employee paid the winnings to undercover agents, not Bryant himself. Charges had not been filed as of the date of the article.

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Kentucky Considers Casinos
January 11, 2006

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the state's largest business group, wants to see a casino gaming proposal on the next ballot. An article in the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the group estimates up to $400 million annually could help fund the state's public services, such as health care and education. Additionally, the added income could help support Kentucky's horse racing industry by adding incentives to breeders and increasing race purses. According to the article, the move could help the Kentucky horse racing industry compete against neighboring Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia and Missouri, where gaming is legal.

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Cleveland Mayor Conditions Casino Support
January 11, 2006

Frank Jackson, the newly-elected mayor of Cleveland has announced that he will support casinos in Ohio only if they guarantee jobs for Ohioans and support economic development for the city. Additionally, Jackson has indicated that if Cleveland gets a casino, the money should be used to fund economic development, not the general operating budget of the city. Jackson hopes that such a move would help Cleveland avoid becoming dependant on gaming revenues for its survival.  

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