Funding to support oral histories in boarding school era
April 26, 2023 GMTFLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. government is embarking on an effort to record the oral histories of survivors and descendants of boarding schools that sought to “civilize” Indigenous students, often through abusive practices.
Groups push US land managers for lasting Chaco protections
April 20, 2023 GMTALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Native American activists and environmentalists are pushing the U.S. Interior Department to move ahead with its promise to include tribal perspectives when making management decisions that could affect culturally significant areas beyond the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
In rift with Biden, Manchin vows to block oil, gas nominee
March 10, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — In a sign of a deepening rift among Democrats on energy issues, conservative Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says he will not move forward on President Joe Biden’s nominee to oversee oil and gas leasing at the Interior Department.
Interior secretary hires Native American as policy adviser
February 15, 2023 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Native American attorney who oversaw New Mexico’s Indian Affairs Department has been tapped to serve as a top policy adviser to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
US renames 5 places that used racist slur for a Native woman
January 13, 2023 GMTThe U.S. Department of the Interior announced Thursday that it has given new names to five places that previously included a racist term for a Native American woman.
The renamed sites are in California, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas, completing a yearlong process to remove the historically offensive word “squaw” from geographic names across the country.
US extends mining ban at Lewis and Clark historic site
November 17, 2022 GMTBOISE, Idaho (AP) — Mining claims will be prohibited for at least another 20 years on land in east-central Idaho and western Montana where Lewis and Clark crossed the Continental Divide in 1805, U.S.
Hoopa Valley Tribe sues US over California water contracts
November 1, 2022 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Hoopa Valley Tribe alleged in a lawsuit Monday that the federal government is violating its sovereignty and failing to collect money from California farms that rely on federally supplied water to pay for damages to tribal fisheries.
Arizona’s Sen Kelly slams California on Colorado River use
October 26, 2022 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — California communities exposed to hazardous dust by a drying lake bed have found themselves at the center of tensions between Arizona and California over how to conserve water along the overtaxed Colorado River.
California agencies float Colorado River water cuts proposal
October 6, 2022 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California water agencies that rely on the parched Colorado River said Wednesday they can reduce their use by one-tenth starting in 2023 in response to calls for cuts from the federal government.
US takes aim at some Trump offshore safety rule rollbacks
September 13, 2022 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — The U.S. Department of the Interior said Monday that it wants to reverse some Trump administration rollbacks of offshore safety rules to prevent blowouts like the BP catastrophe that killed 11 people and fouled the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
Feds issue guidance on cleanup plan for abandoned coal mines
July 21, 2022 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The U.S. Department of the Interior on Thursday issued guidance for nearly $725 million in funding available this fiscal year for the reclamation of abandoned coal mines and cleanup of acid mine drainage.
Lease terms for California offshore wind projects released
May 26, 2022 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Biden administration has released the lease terms for offshore wind projects that would place hundreds of turbines in California's coastal waters — the first such project off the nation's Pacific coast.
Lawmakers want money for National Park maintenance
May 21, 2022 GMTBAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — Lawmakers from Maine and Colorado are calling on senators to increase funding for infrastructure maintenance on federal lands.
Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine and Democratic Rep.
2 companies bid $315M to develop wind power off Carolinas
May 12, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Two energy companies bid a combined $315 million in an auction for the rights to produce power from wind energy in two areas off the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina, the U.S.
First pope, now US churches face boarding-school reckoning
April 6, 2022 GMTAs Native Americans cautiously welcome Pope Francis’ historic apology for abuses at Catholic-run boarding schools for Indigenous children in Canada, U.S.
Feds seek new names for 28 Wisconsin geographic features
April 5, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis., (AP) — Federal officials are looking for suggestions from the public on new monikers for nearly 30 geographic features in Wisconsin with names they’ve declared derogatory to American Indians.
US ready to auction wind energy rights off Carolinas coast
March 25, 2022 GMTMYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — The federal government plans to auction off the rights to produce power from wind energy in two areas offshore of North Carolina and South Carolina.
Evers signs sports betting deal at Potawatomi facilities
February 18, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers has signed a deal allowing wagers on sports and other events at the Forest County Potawatomi’s tribal casinos.
The governor’s office and tribal Chairman Ned Daniels Jr.
Biden plan to spend $725M to clean up abandoned coal mines
February 7, 2022 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Nearly $725 million in federal funding is available this fiscal year to 22 states and the Navajo Nation for the reclamation of abandoned coal mines and cleanup of acid mine drainage, the U.S.
4 federal agencies want prairie remnant lawsuit dismissed
February 7, 2022 GMTROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Four agencies have joined Rockford's airport authority in asking a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit that seeks to protect a 25-acre prairie remnant from an airport expansion project.
Feds oppose latest legal effort to block tribe’s reservation
January 22, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Federal authorities are opposing renewed efforts to block a Massachusetts tribe’s sovereign reservation and its planned resort casino.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, in a legal brief filed in Boston federal court on Jan.
Construction to begin soon on new US offshore wind farm
January 19, 2022 GMTConstruction will soon begin on the second commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project to gain approval in the United States, the developers said.
The U.S.
Arizona Sen. Peshlakai resigns, moves to Interior Department
December 23, 2021 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — The first Native American woman elected to Arizona’s Senate has resigned to take a position with the U.S. Department of the Interior.
“I will begin work at the federal level in the new year and will be more impactful for all of the western United States,” Democratic state Sen.
Evers signs gambling deal with St. Croix Chippewa
December 21, 2021 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gamblers may soon have more opportunities to wager on sports in Wisconsin.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration announced Monday that it has amended its gaming compact with the St.
FAA: Georgia spaceport decision near, but more study needed
December 17, 2021 GMTKINGSLAND, Ga. (AP) — A federal agency expects to announce its decision Monday on whether to allow a launchpad that would send commercial rockets into space from coastal Georgia.
However, the Federal Aviation Administration is emphasizing that a license authorizing Camden County to operate a spaceport would not yet permit the launch of any rockets.
Interior Department approves 2nd large US offshore wind farm
November 24, 2021 GMTThe Biden administration approved an offshore wind farm off the coasts of Rhode Island and New York on Wednesday as part of a plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
Seminole Tribe appealing order blocking gambling expansion
November 23, 2021 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Seminole Tribe of Florida on Tuesday moved to appeal a federal judge's decision to block its deal with the state to expand gambling and online sports betting throughout Florida.
Feds to begin leasing process for wind farms off Wilmington
October 29, 2021 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Thursday that it's going ahead with the lease of a nearly 200-square mile area off the North Carolina coast for offshore wind development.
Georgia county seeking federal designation for its WWII role
September 25, 2021 GMTBRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A coastal Georgia community is seeking a special designation from the federal government for its role during World War II.
Feds sign off on Connecticut plan to allow online gaming
September 9, 2021 GMTHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gov. Ned Lamont announced Thursday that Connecticut has received a key federal approval for its plan to allow legalized sports wagering, online gambling and other new forms of betting.
WA tribal casinos get final federal OK for sports betting
September 2, 2021 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Sports betting in tribal casinos in Washington could be offered in some by the opening week of the NFL season.
The Seattle Times reports the U.S.
Connecticut panel OKs sports betting, online gambling rules
August 31, 2021 GMTWith the NFL regular season kicking off Sept. 9, the state of Connecticut took a major step closer on Tuesday toward legalized sports wagering, online gambling and other new forms of betting after a legislative committee approved emergency regulations for the new gambling market.
Park Service pushes back against licensing Georgia spaceport
August 13, 2021 GMTSAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — The National Park Service is pushing back after a U.S. government report recommended approval of a launch pad for commercial rockets on the Georgia coast, saying a chance of explosive misfires over a federally protected island popular with tourists and campers poses an “unacceptable risk.”
US officials approve Florida-Seminole sports betting deal
August 6, 2021 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Federal officials approved a deal Friday that will allow the Seminole Tribe to operate sports betting and add roulette and craps to its seven Florida casinos, with the state potentially receiving $20 billion over the next 30 years.
Oklahoma sues federal agency over coal mining oversight
July 19, 2021 GMTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma is suing the U.S. Department of the Interior over the federal agency’s plan to strip Oklahoma of its jurisdiction to regulate coal mining on tribal reservations, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Monday.
Florida governor signs bill for Seminole sports betting deal
May 25, 2021 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Seminole Tribe would be able to operate sports betting and add roulette and craps to its casinos and Florida would potentially receive $20 billion over the next 30 years, under legislation signed by the governor Tuesday.
Feds OK new Arizona tribal casino and sports betting deal
May 24, 2021 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — Gambling on sporting events and online fantasy sports betting became legal in Arizona on Monday, along with a host of new gambling options at tribal casinos, after the U.S. Department of the Interior approved an updated tribal gaming compact with the state.
Florida OKs sports betting operated by Seminole Tribe
May 19, 2021 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Seminole Tribe would be able to operate sports betting and add roulette and craps to its casinos and Florida would potentially receive $20 billion over the next 30 years, under an agreement the Legislature approved Wednesday.
Murkowski resource report disappoints Pebble Mine opponents
November 12, 2020 GMTANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Opponents of Alaska's Pebble Mine said they are disappointed with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s wording of a bill to fund federal resource agencies.
Murkowski was involved in releasing the bill Tuesday that includes a 240-word passage about the mine in an explanatory report, Alaska Public Media reported.
Amended suit details Interior’s reversal on tribal-state agreement
February 22, 2019 GMTDetailing "the extraordinary political pressure” they say caused U.S. Department of the Interior officials to "buckle,” the state and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe have renewed their bid to compel approval of a tribal-state gaming agreement critical to the East Windsor casino project.
Judge sides with N.M. in dispute over Pojoaque gaming compact
April 24, 2017 GMTA federal appeals court has rejected an appeal by the U.S. Department of the Interior and Pojoaque Pueblo that would have given the agency the right to negotiate a gaming compact with the tribe over the objections of the state government.