White Earth tribe wants stadium action

The White Earth tribe in northwestern Minnesota is looking to be part of the Vikings stadium solution with a Twin Cities-area casino.

Leaders of Northwestern Minnesota's White Earth Tribe will ask the Legislature to let them build a Twin Cities-area casino as a way to help pay for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium.

Tribal chairwoman Erma Vizenor will pitch the proposal Thursday at a Capitol news conference. She first raised the idea in December at a state Capitol hearing on various proposals to bankroll the Vikings' stadium push.

Backers say casino revenue estimated at $300 million a year could be split between the 20,000-member tribe to meet financial needs, and the state to pay stadium costs.

But the proposal will be a tough sell to lawmakers wary of expanded gambling. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed a White Earth-owned Twin Cities casino in 2005, but a state Senate committee killed the proposal.