Ryan Langone of Rome, N.Y. was named the Oneida Nation’s Employee of the Year at a recognition dinner held March 4 in The Showroom at Turning Stone Resort. Langone was awarded a trip for two to one of the following vacation destinations: Disney World, Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon. To further demonstrate the Oneida Nation’s appreciation to its employees, the Nation provided the same prize to the runner-up; Heather Light of North Bay, a public affairs specialist in the Nation’s Media Relations office. Read more »

Legal theories upon which David Vickers and Scott Peterman, leaders of Upstate Citizens for Equality, staked their credibility in efforts to rally public support against the U.S. Department of Interior's decision to accept more than 13,000 acres of Oneida Nation reservation into federal trust, have been dismissed in yet another federal court ruling. The decision was issued yesterday, March 4, by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. The federal court rejected Vickers and Peterman's decade-long challenges to the legality of gaming at Turning Stone, which was a significant part of their opposition to Oneida trust land. The court specifically ruled against allegations that the Oneida gaming compact is invalid and that gaming cannot occur on the Oneida reservation. In so ruling, the Court -- yet again -- reaffirmed that the Oneida Nation's 300,000 acres reservation was never disestablished. Read more »

Highly publicized legal challenges by Assemblyman David Townsend, Oneida County Legislator Michael J. Hennessy and the Central NY Fair Business Association to the May 2008 decision by the U.S. Department of Interior taking take 13,000 acres of land into trust for the benefit of the Oneida Indian Nation were dealt a severe blow in a March 1 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. The federal court upheld the constitutionality of trust land in New York State, reaffirmed that the Oneida reservation was never disestablished, rejected challenges to the legality of gaming at Turning Stone, denied challenges to the DOI's transfer of the 18 acre "Verona test site" parcel into trust, and dropped all claims against Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter. Read more »

Special Section: Golf Casinos - Continental Airlines magazine

Alicia Keys brings 'The Element of Freedom Tour' to Turning Stone Thursday - Syracuse Post Standard - Entertainment Blog

Court rules in favor of Oneida Indian Nation against Upstate Citizens for Equality - Oneida Daily Dispatch

Judge dismisses citizens' group's Nation claims - Utica Observer Dispatch

Court Guts Hennessy and Townsend's Challenges to Oneida Trust Land - Madison County Courier

Gaming Claims by Vickers, Peterman and UCE rejected in new federal court ruling - Utica Daily News

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