Council Bluffs, Iowa — A federal judge issued a ruling to block the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska from building a casino in Carter Lake.

KETV NewsWatch 7 obtained documents showing that a judge in the southern district of Iowa reversed a decision by the National Indian Gaming Commission that approved the casino plans. The ruling said the commission lacked the authority to approve the plans.

Attorneys general for Nebraska and Iowa, as well as the city of Council Bluffs, filed suit against the casino plan.

Leaders of a citizen’s group opposed to the casino called the ruling „tremendous.“ They thanked Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning for filing the lawsuit.

Calls to the Ponca Tribe have not yet been returned.