Judge rejects request from Muscogee Nation to block Tulsa law enforcement
A federal judge has declined to grant a Muscogee Nation request to stop Tulsa law enforcement from arresting or issuing citations to tribal nation citizens.
In February, the Muscogee Creek Nation filed a motion for the Oklahoma Northern District Court to grant a temporary restraining order on Tulsa law enforcement.
The original request was to keep Tulsa police from exercising jurisdiction over Native Americans who committed crimes on Muscogee Creek Nation land, but were non-members of the tribe itself, until the lawsuit had been resolved.
The lawsuit filed by the Muscogee Nation asks a judge to declare the tribe has the sovereign right to prosecute its tribal citizens for traffic infractions.
But the judge declined to make the move and will allow Tulsa Police to issue citations to Natives in the city.
“In addition, the Nation has not persuaded this court that the requested order temporarily enjoining the defendants from exercising criminal jurisdiction over non-member Indians is not adverse to the public interest,” the document reads. “Wherefore, the plaintiff’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order is denied.”
The Muscogee Nation issued a statement on the matter, saying tribal leaders will continue to fight in the case.
“The Nation appreciates the Court’s identification of issues of central importance and looks forward to proving up those matters at the preliminary injunction stage,” the statement reads.
Attorneys will appear in federal court for a hearing to potentially dismiss the case on Monday afternoon.
Osage LLC, federal, state and regional partners mark major milestone in establishing Tulsa and the Osage Nation as national leaders in advanced aerial mobility
TULSA, Oklahoma — Osage LLC marked a significant milestone on April 24, as Osage Nation’s Self-Governance and Strategic Planning Director Candy Thomas and Osage LLC Board Member Rick Perrier accepted the keys to the newly renovated Skyway 36 drone testing facility from Darren Burns, President and CEO of Wallace Design Collective.
The new facility has the capabilities to simulate natural wind and weather conditions in a laboratory setting for highly repeatable drone testing and helps establish Skyway36 as a centerpiece for the Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility (TRAM) Cluster.
Construction of the 19,000-square-foot drone testing and validation facility was made possible through a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant, breaking ground in May of 2024. Completing this construction project marks the latest significant milestone in a multi-agency, public-private initiative to position Tulsa and the Osage Nation as national leaders in advanced aerial mobility. Partners include Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and his staff, Tulsa Innovation Labs and the City of Tulsa.
Thomas emphasized the leadership provided by DronePort Network, which helps support communities in the rapid scalability of drone technology. She commended general contractor Bronze Oak LLC on their guidance and professionalism, as well as the integration efforts of the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG). These entities ensured that all partners were informed of progress and were available to address any obstacles.
The next step is welcoming Swiss-based company WindShape and their equipment as the first tenant in the Skyway36 Droneport and Technology Innovation Center. The company plans to house eight specialized labs, each designed to test and validate different drone systems, such as a climate lab for assessing weather resilience, a propulsion lab to validate propulsion units, and two free-flight activity labs equipped with motion tracking cameras, GPS generators, and other digital tools that simulate a drone’s flight mission. A ceremony to welcome WindShape is scheduled for later this spring or early summer.
Russell Goff, CEO of Osage LLC, said the facility’s completion represents more than just a construction milestone. This public-private partnership is a vision realized for the region.
“This is what tribal-led innovation and economic development look like,” Goff said. “Skyway36 is fast becoming a cornerstone of the nation’s uncrewed aircraft testing infrastructure and shows what’s possible when sovereign tribal nations engage in public-private partnerships.”
Located within the Osage Nation, Skyway36 is just minutes from downtown Tulsa and provides direct access to Skyway Range, a 1,200-square-mile Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) UAS flight corridor developed by Osage LLC, Oklahoma State University, and Tulsa Innovation Labs. The broader Skyway36 campus also includes a 3,000-foot runway for small fixed-wing aircraft and helipad space for UAS and eVTOL vehicles.
The project has garnered support from diverse stakeholders, including Oklahoma State University, the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Tulsa Innovation Labs, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The EDA provided a $38.2 million federal grant as part of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, helping establish TRAM as a national model for regional collaboration in next-generation transportation technologies.
Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant announces 3 Months 3 Millionaires return this summer
Casino to give away $4.8 million this summer
DURANT, Okla. - For the third summer in a row, Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant is making three lucky Rewards Club members millionaires! 3 Months 3 Millionaires is back, and guests have a chance to win a share of $4.8 million!
The million-dollar drawings will be held on Saturdays June 7, July 5 and August 2. and winners must be present to claim the prize. Players can start earning entries into the drawings on May 1 at 12 a.m. For details and rules, please visit 3 Months 3 Millionaires (3M3M) and don’t forget to check out our midweek promotions for other ways to earn entries into the million-dollar drawings.
“Making someone a millionaire is life changing, and the fact that we’ve been able to do that for six of our Choctaw Rewards Club members is incredible,” said Jeff Penz, senior director of gaming & hospitality, Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant. “We’re excited to bring 3 Months 3 Millionaires back for the third year in a row to give more guests an opportunity to walk away a millionaire.”
The past two summers, guests have visited from every state in the U.S. to participate in 3 Months 3 Millionaires. All six winners have been from Texas, with two of last year’s millionaires residing in Collin County.
The Rewards Club member who won the second drawing in 2024, is a Trenton, Texas, native.
“I didn’t think I would ever win, but then it happened. It felt pretty good to have my name called,” he said. “Come out and try because I would have never thought I would have won. Choctaw is the place to come. It’s the only casino I like to play at.”
The winner of the second drawing in 2023 was from Lancaster, Texas, and used her newfound wealth to retire.
“It was one million blessings for me and my family,” she said. “I wish I could be here every day, but I can’t. I enjoy coming to Choctaw, and I tell everyone about it. I say, ‘Come and play if you can, and if you enjoy it, like I do, it’s not going to be hard to win.’”
Summer Pool Entertainment
Head to Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant this summer for a chance to become a millionaire, and don’t miss out on all the other fun activities going on around the property! AQUA, the family-friendly pool, and Oasis, the newly remodeled 21+ pool, are the perfect places to cool off ahead of drawing nights. There will be special weekend tasting events with some of our favorite liquor brands, DJs to keep the party going and much more.
Live Entertainment
The three-time Academy of Country Music (ACM) Theater of the Year award winning Choctaw Grand Theater will feature exciting entertainment all summer long!
- May 9: Little Big Town
- May 18: Halsey
- May 24: Diplo
- June 21: Maxwell
- August 3: Counting Crows
- August 22: Darius Rucker
- August 28: Train
Car Shows
You also won’t want to miss our classic and unique car show, Rooftop Rally After Dark, featuring celebrity judge Richard Rawlings of Gas Monkey Garage and “Fast N’ Loud” fame on Thursday, June 26, and Thursday, July 17. It’s free to enter, and guests will receive $25 in free play. Rawlings will judge each car and award prizes in a number of categories.
Native American eatery expands to Denver International Airport
By Tribal Business News Staff
An American Indian-owned restaurant opened its newest location at Denver International Airport on April 7, expanding its presence in Colorado's food scene.
Tocabe, founded by Osage Nation member Ben Jacobs and business partner Matt Chandra, is now operating near Gate A38 in Concourse A. The restaurant offers dishes featuring Indigenous ingredients, including bison ribs, fry bread tacos and green chili stew.
“Denver International Airport is a gateway to the world, and we're proud to be offering a taste of Native culture and cuisine to visitors from around the globe,” Jacobs told trade publication QSR. “This is food that tells a story. It's a story of the Indigenous communities across the country and food from the Rocky Mountain region.”
The airport location is operated by Mission Yogurt, Inc., a Denver-based hospitality company specializing in airport dining. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for April 29, featuring traditional American Indian performances.
Tocabe sources ingredients “Native first, local second,” following the company's commitment to supporting Indigenous producers. This approach extends to its other business lines, including an online marketplace where customers can order Native-sourced ingredients.
The company has worked to maintain strong connections to Denver's Native community. Jacobs credits the Denver Indian Center with supporting him during his childhood. “I ended up in this city because of the Denver Indian Center. It's only right to make sure we're taking care of our local community members,” Jacobs told Tribal Business News last year.
This commitment led to Tocabe's Direct-to-Tribe Ready Meal program, which has distributed over 17,800 meals to tribal communities. In February, the company began providing free pre-made meals to the Denver Indian Center and Denver Indian Health and Family Services.
The California-based Christensen Fund invested $3 million last year to support Tocabe's meal program and supply chain development. In 2023, the company also partnered with Red Lake Nation to purchase a 50% ownership stake in Arctic Circle Wild Seafoods.
