Highlights
The Seminole Tribe proudly states it is the only Indian Tribe in North America never to have signed a Peace Treaty with the U.S. government and claims to be one of a handful who has never been conquered. Operating out of tribal headquarters in Hollywood, Fl., the Seminoles own more than 96,000 acres statewide, with much of its reservation land located deep in the Everglades on the Big Cypress reservation. The tribe's history as one of the oldest and most independent tribes in the Southeast is sometimes overshadowed by its groundbreaking - and very lucrative - foray into gaming. In 1979 under former tribal Chairman James Billie, the Seminoles became the first Indian tribe in the country to op...
The Seminole Tribe proudly states it is the only Indian Tribe in North America never to have signed a Peace Treaty with the U.S. government and claims to be one of a handful who has never been conquered. Operating out of tribal headquarters in Hollywood, Fl., the Seminoles own more than 96,000 acres statewide, with much of its reservation land located deep in the Everglades on the Big Cypress reservation. The tribe's history as one of the oldest and most independent tribes in the Southeast is sometimes overshadowed by its groundbreaking - and very lucrative - foray into gaming. In 1979 under former tribal Chairman James Billie, the Seminoles became the first Indian tribe in the country to open a bingo hall, then fought off repeated attempts by former Broward County Sheriff Bob Butterworth to shut down their operations. At the time the tribe was deep in poverty. In the early 1980s the tribe defeated Butterworth and state officials in federal court, where its status as a sovereign nation free to conduct limited gaming operations was established. Soon after, Indian bingo halls and casinos began popping up around the country. Now numbering more than 3,300 members, the Seminoles were nearly wiped out by U.S. soldiers in the 1850s as the federal government pushed to eradicate the tribe and take its land in Northeast Florida and Southern Georgia. By 1858, when "the last shooting war ended," the tribe numbered only 100 to 300 members. Most were women and girls, since government soldiers targeted men and boys. Even as late as the 1950s, when U.S. census takers would come to the reservation, tribal elders would often send young men into hiding, fearing the government. In 1954, the Seminole tribe adopted its current constitution and won federal tribal status. Today the tribe operates seven casinos across Florida with revenues of more than $1 billion annually. In late 2006 the tribe bought the London-based Hard Rock restaurant and hotel chain, winning worldwide attention. Each tribe member earns $120,000 annually in gambling dividend, but most Seminoles prefer to remain on reservation lands, living in modest homes with fellow tribe members. The current tribal chairman is Mitchell Cypress. The Seminoles also operate the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum in the Everglades, and are the fourth largest cattle producers in the state. The Seminole headquarters is located at 6300 Stirling Road, Hollywood, FL 33024.
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Can 'sin' taxes be a savior for Florida's ailing budget?
Tallahassee BureauIt's been two decades since Tallahassee imposed an across-the-board tax increase to pay for classrooms, health care, prisons and roads. A 6-cent sales tax on services was enacted and quickly repealed in 1987, amid a furor that cost Republican Gov. Bob...Tags: Charlie Crist, State Budgets, Local Authority, Economic Policy, Government
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Schedule of South Florida holiday boat parades 2008
SunSentinel.comThe Christmas trees are arriving in South Florida by the truckloads to makeshift lots at churches, hardware stores and grocery stores. Which could only mean one thing: holiday boat parades are around the corner. Here's a listing of parades happening,...Tags: Boca Raton, Bars and Clubs, Dining and Drinking, Key West, Port Everglades
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Republican opposition eases to Seminole casino compact as $60 million sit in limbo
TALLAHASSEE BUREAUFlorida's multibillion-dollar budget deficit is forcing Republican legislative leaders to reconsider their opposition to a deal that Gov. Charlie Crist struck last year to expand tribal gambling. Officials for the Seminole Tribe of Florida have met...Tags: Bill McCollum, Casino and Gambling, Gaming and Lotteries, Casino and Gambling Industry, Charlie Crist
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Health Department honored for screening rate
Sentinel Medical WriterThe Seminole County Health Department has been recognized by the state for its efforts to screen refugees for tuberculosis. The Florida Department of Health recently named Seminole the state's "2008 Refugee Program of the Year for a Medium Sized County"...Tags: Refugee
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With Florida in hole, lawmakers could fold on Indian casinos deal
Tallahassee BureauFlorida's multibillion-dollar budget deficit is forcing Republican legislative leaders to reconsider their opposition to a deal that Gov. Charlie Crist struck last year to expand tribal gambling. Officials for the Seminole Tribe of Florida have met...Tags: Bill McCollum, Casino and Gambling, Charlie Crist, Lawyers, Florida State Seminoles
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Gambling blog: Blackjack offered in Tampa
The Seminole Tribe of Florida launched blackjack last week at its Tampa casino. Tribe spokesman Gary Bitner said no decision has been made regarding when or whether the Seminole Coconut Creek or the Seminole Classic Hollywood casinos would add...Tags: Casino and Gambling Industry, Casino and Gambling, Dining and Drinking, Wine, Beer, and Spirits, Coconut Creek
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Palm Beach Princess, day-cruise gambling ship, gets new owner
South Florida Sun-SentinelThe Palm Beach Princess, South Florida's only running day-cruise ship, has been acquired for about $6 million. South Florida resident Mauro Sebben is the new owner, according to a company press release. His purchase clears the company's debt, a...Tags: Gaming and Lotteries, Casino and Gambling Industry, Casino and Gambling, Imperial and Royal Matters, Bankruptcy
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Seminoles expand blackjack to Tampa
Mayo on the Side: Broward news columnist Michael Mayo | Sun-Sentinel BlogsUnder the cover of pre-dawn darkness, the Seminole Tribe quietly launched blackjack and other table games at its Tampa Hard Rock location on Thursday. The tribe expanded table games to a second location despite an ongoing legal battle over the......Tags: Bill McCollum, Gaming and Lotteries, Casino and Gambling Industry, Casino and Gambling, Charlie Crist
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Former Broward public safety chief takes job with Seminoles
The Miami HeraldBroward County's one-time emergency management director has quit for a job with the Seminole Tribe. Lori Vun Kannon is now the assistant director of emergency management for the Seminole Tribe. In 2007, then-County Administrator Pam Brangaccio tapped...Tags: Hurricanes, Broward County, Miami (Miami-Dade, Florida), Meteorological Disasters, Natural Disasters
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BACK IN BLACK
Tallahassee BureauBobby Bowden can remember a time, long ago, when college football players and coaches gave little thought to the color of the uniform their teams would wear. It was a time, Bowden said, when opposing teams might both wear a dark-colored jersey "because we...Tags: Football, Nike Incorporated, Bobby Bowden, Florida State Seminoles, Florida State University
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Seminoles start blackjack in Tampa; what next for Broward?
SunSentinel.comBlackjack has taken another step into Florida, with cards starting to fly at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. Contrary to the Seminole Tribe's splashy celebrity-laden debut of blackjack at its Hard Rock casino in Hollywood on June 22, the casino...Tags: Gaming and Lotteries, Casino and Gambling, Casino and Gambling Industry, Charlie Crist, Bodies of Water
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Blackjack tables open at Seminole casino in Tampa
South Florida Sun-SentinelBlackjack has taken another step into Florida, with cards starting to fly at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. Contrary to the Seminole Tribe's splashy, celebrity-laden debut of blackjack at its Hard Rock casino in Hollywood on June 22, the casino...Tags: Bill McCollum, Gaming and Lotteries, Casino and Gambling, Casino and Gambling Industry, Charlie Crist
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