Indian tribe, Wilson reach gambling deal
Story-Date: 03:55 a.m. PST Saturday , March 7, 1998

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STATE NEWS IN BRIEF

Indian tribe, Wilson reach gambling deal



After months of negotiations, the Wilson administration and a single Indian
tribe have signed a comprehensive agreement allowing video lottery
games at tribal casinos in California. The deal with the Pala Band of
Mission Indians -- an 835-member tribe from northern San Diego County --
spells out the kinds of gambling that will be permitted at Pala Band
casinos.

At least six tribes have indicated initial support for the deal. But others
see it as a blow to Indian sovereignty.

1Senators introduce
new Salton Sea bill California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein
introduced their own legislation earmarking $330 million to restore the
Salton Sea in memory of the late Rep. Sonny Bono. Unlike a bill offered
last week by House leaders, including Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., the
proposal Thursday by the two Democrats would give the Interior Department
up to 18 months to study all options for cleaning up the sea and developing
a restoration plan.



Plane wreckage found near Novato

The wreckage of a twin-engine cargo plane was found on Mount Burdell near
Novato on Friday with the body of the pilot inside, the Coast Guard said.
The crew of a Coast Guard helicopter from San Francisco spotted the plane,
which belonged to Airpack Airlines in Seattle. A helicopter landed and
found "a deceased female in the wreckage," the Coast Guard said. The plane
was flying from Sonoma County to Oakland.

2Official: Give carts
to S.F. homeless Supervisor Amos Brown has proposed giving homeless San
Franciscans free, personalized shopping carts to protect their belongings
and cut down on pilferage. "We could have designated areas for people to
park their carts, and have them locked," he said.



Mercury News wire services  



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