Appeals court voids order closing Bay Mills casino

VANDERBILT, Mich. (AP) -- A federal appeals court has voided a judge's order that forced the 2011 closing of the Bay Mills Indian Community's casino in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday sent the case back to U.S. District Court in Michigan, which could rule on the casino's legality. The Vanderbilt casino opened in November 2010 and is located about 125 miles south of the Bay Mills reservation in the Upper Peninsula. The tribe appealed the closing. On its website, the tribe calls the ruling a step in the right direction. It says many issues remain, but it hopes to move forward with planned casino developments. The Michigan attorney general's office, which is part of the case against the casino, is considering whether to appeal. Published: Fri, Aug 17, 2012