Rensselaer, NY, Feb 14, 2012 — A state Senator from Western New York was back at work at the state capitol yesterday, following an incident over the weekend at the Seneca Nation Casino in Niagara Falls where he and his wife were involved in a fight. The fight broke out after a diabetes fundraiser at the Casino. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jan 13, 2012 — One of the main planks in Governor Cuomo's State of the State address was the legalization of casinos in New York. Expanding gaming to non-Native casinos would require an amendment to the state Constitution. That's a long political process, and could add to the mix of lobbying money flowing into Albany. The Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports.  Go to full article

Lake George, NY, Dec 21, 2011 — Village officials in Lake George have voted to launch a study that would examine possible impacts of casino gambling on the Adirondack resort. The study could cost as much as $15,000. But as Martha Foley reports, some local leaders think it's important to begin thinking about a new gambling industry now as lawmakers in Albany consider liberalizing the state's gaming laws.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Dec 05, 2011 — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new jobs plan over the weekend. It centers on expanding gaming, and could mean a casino in the catskills, tax credits, and other initiatives.

The plan could be the centerpiece of Gov. Cuomo's second year in office, or it could be presented at a special session of the legislature to be held as early as this week.

The Assembly is coming back to Albany tomorrow for an afternoon conference, and possibly a special session.

In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Aug 15, 2011 — State Senator Patty Ritchie is looking to find out what her constituents think about the suggestion Governor Andrew Cuomo made last week, that New York should take a look at non-Native casino gambling. And she's doing it via an online poll on her website.  Go to full article

Irving, NY, Aug 11, 2011 — Seneca Nation president Robert Odawi Porter is using an historic piece of cloth to deliver a message to New York State about native sovereignty. He said payment of the cloth and a small sum according to an 18th century treaty symbolizes native nations' freedom from state taxation and right to land.

The history lesson came on the same day that Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he is considering legalizing gambling in New York. That would have a profound effect on native nations and tribes around the state who rely on their casinos for revenue. Martha Foley and Dave Bullard report.  Go to full article

Niagara Falls, ON, Aug 11, 2011 — Employment numbers aren't good in western New York. But the Seneca Nation is bucking the trend. The Nation is working fast to fill jobs, especially those calling for highly-skilled workers.

There are enough jobs that the Senecas are looking outside of their own community to fill those positions. Case in point: Seneca Niagara Casino. The Innovation Trail's Daniel Robison reports.

Support for the Innovation Trail comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Innovation Trail is a collaboration between five upstate public media outlets, reporting about New York's innovation economy.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Aug 10, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo says he's re examining the state's approach to casino gambling, and is looking at whether and how gaming in New York should be expanded.

Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Salamanca, NY, Aug 08, 2011 — This week, we're going to take a look around Indian Country in New York. Taxing native smoke shops have grabbed headlines lately. But we're going to look deeper at some of the political, economic, and social trends shaping New York's native tribes and nations.

Today, the Seneca Nation, south of Buffalo. Casinos and tobacco sales have turned it from an empoverished territory to one of the top ten employer in western New York.

The Nation's new president, Robert Odawi Porter, has taken a lead role in negotiating native issues with the Cuomo Administration.

Porter wants the Senecas to go beyond smoke shops and slot machines. He's a Harvard-educated lawyer and academic. And he wants to recast one of the darkest moments of the Seneca people into an economic boon. David Sommerstein has this profile.  Go to full article

Wampsville, NY, Nov 23, 2010 — When Eliot Spitzer was Governor, New York's legislature passed a law approving up to three casinos to be built in the Catskills Mountains, a day trip from New York City. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe was thought to be odds-on favorites for one.

But yesterday, it was a little known tribe from Wisconsin inking a deal with Governor David Paterson for a Catskills casino.  Go to full article