Quawpahs pulling out of casino partnership

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) – An American Indian tribe based in Oklahoma is pulling out of a partnership seeking to build a casino in southeast Kansas.

John Berrey, chairman of the Quapaw Tribe, announced Wednesday that the tribe will not partners with developer Phil Ruffin to build a casino north of Pittsburg. The proposal is one of three plans being considered for a state-owned casino in southeast Kansas.

Berrey said the decision came after a lawsuit filed by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt sought to block the tribe from expanding its Downstream Casino, which is in Oklahoma, across the state border into Kansas.

Berrey says the tribe believes Kansas leaders are hostile to its participation in the proposal.

Ruffin told The Joplin Globe (http://bit.ly/1ExKPSq ) that he will proceed with licensing efforts for the proposed casino.