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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Tribe mum on mandated donations

Chief Allan, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, was surprised and happy after a House committee voted unanimously to introduce the tribe's proposed law-enforcement legislation on Tuesday. (Betsy Russell)
Chief Allan, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, was surprised and happy after a House committee voted unanimously to introduce the tribe's proposed law-enforcement legislation on Tuesday. (Betsy Russell)

Chief Allan, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe

COEUR d'ALENE - It has been two years since the Coeur d'Alene Tribe last officially announced it was contributing a percentage of its annual net gaming income to support educational programs and schools in Idaho.

It has also been two years since public school districts throughout the region, including one that sits on the reservation, have received a contribution of funds from the tribe.

Tribe spokesman Helo Hancock told The Press by email that the tribe has made its required contributions for fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011 as mandated under the tribe's gaming compact with the state, but he would not reveal to whom the funds were disbursed. Full story. Maureen Donlan, Cda Press

The Press reports, "No one at the state government level could confirm for The Press whether the tribe's required education disbursements have been made. The contributions are not monitored by the Idaho Department of Education."

Who, if anyone, should monitor the Tribe's promised contributions to Idaho schools?



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.