Cherokee Nation Entertainment sues Arkansas over passage of anti-casino amendment

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate, Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

The Pope County casino license holder sued the state of Arkansas Friday after voters approved a statewide ballot initiative that repealed the license and requires countywide elections for future casinos in the state.

Plaintiffs have asked a federal judge to declare the amendment unconstitutional and issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent the amendment from taking effect on Nov. 13.

Arkansans supported the constitutional amendment, known as Issue 2, on Tuesday 637,110 to 505,038, according to complete but unofficial results from the secretary of state’s office. The majority of voters in seven counties, including Pope County, rejected the proposed amendment.

Cherokee Nation Entertainment sues Arkansas over passage of anti-casino amendment

Legends Resort & Casino

A rendering of Legends Resort & Casino in Pope County.

Special master recommends disqualifying thousands of anti-casino measure signatures

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

A special master to the Arkansas Supreme Court found nearly 6,000 signatures supporting an anti-casino ballot initiative should be disqualified because of insufficient addresses, according to a report submitted Monday.

Other challenges to the proposed ballot measure — such as potential issues with an agent signing affidavits in place of a sponsor — that were made in an original action petition filed last month were rejected.

Special Master Randy Wright’s report will inform the state’s highest court as it determines whether votes cast on the proposed constitutional amendment in November will be counted. Additional briefs are expected in the coming weeks, and petitioners said a ruling is likely in mid-October.

Special master recommends disqualifying thousands of anti-casino measure signatures

Legends Resort & Casino

A rendering of Legends Resort & Casino in Pope County.

Cherokee Nation awarded Pope County casino license

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The Arkansas Racing Commission has unanimously approved a license to build a casino in Pope County.

The Cherokee Nation Entertainment made a presentation to the commission at a meeting on Thursday, following years of legal disputes over the casino license and an ongoing ballot initiative to possibly prevent the casino from being built.

A spokesman for the Cherokee Nation Entertainment told the commission that they are in the planning phase, but could build the whole facility in 18 months. The state-of-the-art casino will be owned by Cherokee Nation, and go by the name Legends Casino.

Cherokee Nation awarded Pope County casino license

Legends Resort & Casino

A rendering of the casino planned for construction in Pope County.