Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge Rejects Casino Ballot Proposal, Once Again

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has rejected yet another casino ballot referendum, this right time on grounds that the proposed question features ‘ambiguous’ wording.

If gambling proponents in Arkansas want to place the problem of casinos before voters, they’ll have to better merely their amendments that are constitutional submitting them to Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

It’s the second time this present year that their state’s chief legal advisor has rejected a motion that is gambling.

Rutledge said this week that the latest effort can not be effectively summarized for voters to understand in the tiny amount of time they spend inside polling booths.

‘It is my opinion that a true number of improvements or modifications to your ballot title are essential in order to more fully and correctly summarize your proposal,’ the AG ruled. She added that the relevant question, as presently worded, would ‘inevitably lead to confusion.’

The proposal came from a committee named ‘Arkansas Wins in 2018.’ The effort sought to authorize four casinos within the counties of Benton, Boone, Miller, and Pulaski. Tax revenue generated by the gambling facilities would happen earmarked for highway improvements.

Arkansas is certainly one of 11 states without full-fledged commercial or casinos that are tribal. It does, however, allow slot machines and table that is electric at its two parimutuel tracks, Oaklawn Park and Southland Park.

Advocates in a Rut

It was only January that Leslie Rutledge rejected another request to ask Arkansans whether they wish to authorize gambling that is casino-style. Both sought to generate highway funding, the individuals backing the two groups are reportedly unrelated though the two casino ballot referendums.

Proposed by Driving Arkansas Forward, the past effort also sought to create brand new tax revenue from gambling in order to help fix the state roads. It called for the creation of three casinos.

Rutledge dismissed the motion saying there may be confusion ‘whether the words ‘Highway Funding Amendment’ … fairly represents the feature regarding the proposed amendment that is constitutionalgambling enterprises) 1×bet.’

A year earlier, Rutledge rejected Springs that is hot resident Emigh’s casino ballot proposal if you are ‘overly long and complicated.’ Emigh has suggested lots of gambling referendums throughout the years, all unsuccessfully.

His latest was titled, ‘An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution legalizing gambling to the Fairplay Holdings ballot question committee members.’ Confused? So had been Rutledge.

‘Your proposal is wholly bereft of specifics. The problem that is first your reference to Fairplay Holdings,’ the attorney general concluded in her denial.

Referendum Procedure

Arkansas is one of 26 states that enables residents to propose initiatives and/or referendums laws that are recommending consideration. Citizen initiatives and referendums are to create a ‘direct democracy’ in which the single governing power doesn’t rest with the unit that is legislative.

However in Arkansas, the attorney general must first sign off on the proposals and assert that their wording is clear and concise. He or she isn’t to involve their own opinions that are political the approval.

‘The choice to certify or reject a name that is popular ballot name is in no means a reflection of my view associated with merits of a particular proposal,’ Rutledge declared.

Should she have approved the casino referendum that is latest, the Arkansas Wins in 2018 committee could have needed to collect 84.958 valid signatures to put the question in the November ballot.

Guidiville Rancheria Tribe Loses 14-Year Battle for Richmond, California Casino

A federal judge on Thursday permanently quashed a 14-year bid by the by the Guidiville Rancheria Native United states tribe to build a $1.2 billion casino on the web site of a previous United States Navy Depot in Richmond, California.

The idea Molate peninsula, near Richmond, Ca, where the tribe once imagined building a $1.2 billion casino, claiming ties that are ancestral. The land will now be used for a housing development, while its historic wineries will be restored and preserved. (Image: The Center for Land Use Interpretation)

The judge in Oakland officially annihilated the tribe’s casino plan and ruled in 2010 and 2011 that it was not entitled to damages from the city that rejected it.

In 2004, the tribe proposed the construction of a casino at Point Molate, Contra Costa County, nearby the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. The Navy had closed the depot in 1995 and offered the parcel of land to the populous City of Richmond for $1, which in turn desired development ideas for the area.

The Guidiville Ranchera claimed the Point Molate promontory should be transferred to the tribe under the ‘restored lands’ provision of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act despite the fact that its reservation is situated 100 miles to the north, in Ukiah, Mendocino County. The tribe said its ancestors had once inhabited the Bay hundreds of years ago.

‘Reservation Buying’

In 2006, it spent $2 million planning a report in an attempt to prove its claim that is historical to territory.

The report recounted entries in the log of the Spanish ship that landed at the Bay within the 1700s, whose crew ended up being greeted by Indians using clothes made of tule grass, resembling the dress that is ceremonial of Ohlone, from who the tribe claim lineage. But casino opponents accused the tribe of ‘reservation shopping’ and Contra Costa County invested over $1 million trying to disprove the tribe’s historic claim to the land.

It soon changed its tune, however, with regards to had been guaranteed a $12 million a year revenue-sharing deal.

The proposition went to a ballot but was rejected by Richmond voters in 2010 and then by the City Council the following year. But the tribe said it had lost millions pursuing its desire a casino and sued the city for $750 million in damages.

Richmond’s Plan B

Now, because of the litigation officially ended, the town is free to push ahead having its plan that is alternative for Molate. Rather than a Las Vegas-style casino, 670 units that are residential be built in the plot, although the Winehaven District a place of historic winery buildings is preserved for future generations.

The tribe are going to be entitled to some arises from the development that is new the regards to the contract.

‘We are excited to have ended the litigation to ensure that the public planning process can begin, and we can put that land to good use for the benefit of the whole community,’ said Councilwoman Ada Recinos in a statement that is official.

The Richmond area should be happy, while they will know are able to establish brand new project that should be more appealing to area residents and voters alike.

Venetian Company Picnic Turns Deadly in Las Vegas, Police Say Act of ‘Workplace Violence’

A Venetian company picnic in a popular Las Vegas park for locals turned right into a murder scene on Sunday, after an employee arrived to the event with a handgun and allegedly shot at least a couple.

Venetian employee Anthony Wrobel is alleged to possess shot and killed a female executive at Sunset Park over the week-end, nevertheless the motive is unclear and he continues to be at large. (Image: Las Vegas Review-Journal/LVMPD)

The Las Vegas Metro Police Department has identified Anthony Wrobel, 42, as the shooting suspect. Law enforcement says he could be 5’9″, roughly 200 pounds, and remains at large.

‘Wrobel is recognized as ARMED and DANGEROUS,’ Metro Police tweeted night sunday.

According to authorities, Wrobel showed up to the company picnic at Sunset Park around 6 pm local time. He approached a table where executives that are several sitting and proceeded to start fire.

Witnesses said they heard several gunshots. One woman was killed, and a person ended up being transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.

Police said Wrobel’s vehicle was found at nearby McCarran Global Airport, but he’s not been situated. Metro didn’t say if the suspect is believed by them has had a flight or not.

A person with information is asked to get hold of Metro Police at 702-828-3521 or homicide@lvmpd.com.

Sin City Shootings

Las Las Vegas has been marred by shootings at the time of late, the worst, needless to say, being the October 1 massacre that killed 58 people.

2017 was the year that is deadliest on record for Las Vegas murders, with 264 shooting deaths. Even with no mass shooting, 206 homicides nevertheless could have set a murder record that is new.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said the murder rate increase is as a result of the city’s growing population. The Las vegas, nevada metropolitan area — which includes unincorporated areas of Clark County — has an estimated population in excess of 2.2 million, with about 633,000 living in the city’s specific boundaries. A current spate of MS-13 gang murders has placed a city that is already uneasy high alert.

Workplace Violence

Metro Police said Sunday’s shooting was not random, but a deliberate and attack that is targeted. The homicide target is reportedly a female in her 50s, and an executive during The Venetian.

Wrobel was reportedly a casino dealer at the Strip resort. Per Heavy.com, he additionally filed for bankruptcy this season, declaring a lot more than $300,000 in debts while earning roughly $2,900 a month.

Police said the victims were seated at a park picnic dining table when Wrobel shot and approached them. ‘Those employees were having a picnic once the suspect arrived on scene,’ the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said in a statement.