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.

Carter Lake, Iowa (AP) - A federal judge has combined lawsuits filed by Nebraska and Iowa opposing the Ponca Tribe's plans to build a casino in Carter Lake. Iowa claimed in its lawsuit that the tribe shouldn't be allowed to build the casino because it deceived the federal government to get land in Carter Lake placed in a trust. The tribe had previously said it planned to use the land to provide health care services.