State and tribal lawyers were in federal court Wednesday to argue whether the Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has the authority to open an off-reservation casino in Lansing.

After the city council approved the plans, the agreement moved forward with the sale and transfer of one parcel of land from the city to the tribe.

All that remains, according to tribal and city officials, is the application to have the land taken into trust.

That application must be approved by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. Once that happens, the tribe can begin operating gaming facilities onsite, and move forward with plans to build a 125,000-square-foot casino.

For the full article, see Angela Wittrock, "Fight over Lansing casino opens in federal court", MLive, January 23, 2013.