Once again, a bill that would place 76 acres of land containing several Cherokee historic sites in eastern Tennessee in trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, H.R. 548, passed the House on Tuesday, Feb. 7 by a unanimous voice vote. 

Kituwah, LLC will be investing more than $300 million over the next four years in a deal that will see them become part owners and operators of Sports Illustrated Resorts.

Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Bryan Newland announced on Thursday, Feb. 2 that the Tribal Energy Development Capacity Grant Program awarded more than $2.5 million to federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native entities to develop Tribal energy resources.

Wolftown Tribal Council Rep. Bo Crowe was not present for Tuesday morning’s (Jan. 31) Budget Council meeting. Instead, Chairperson Richard French read out a statement on his behalf:

As the Museum of the Cherokee Indian enters its 75th Anniversary year, its leadership is looking to the future.  The Museum was established in 1948 and has been at its current location in the cultural district of Cherokee since 1976. 

James Ralph Brady, 55, of Cherokee, N.C. was sentenced to four years in prison on Thursday, Jan. 26 followed by five years of supervised release for the arson of a home that caused approximately $10,000 in damage, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Brady was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution.

The Cherokee Police Commission met on Thursday, Jan. 19 to address items at the turn of the year and any ongoings issues involving the police department.