Wednesday, May 17, 2006

As reported by the North Western Indiana Times: "Casino owner Don Barden put
plans on ice this week for a hotel, condominiums and other lakefront
attractions after Mayor Rudy Clay criticized a deal brokered by Barden and
former Mayor Scott King. "'Everything is on hold,' Barden said. 'I'm not
going to be investing tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, in a
hostile environment.' "Clay questioned the legitimacy of the development
agreement struck by Majestic Star casinos owner Barden and the former mayor
just months before King resigned in late March.

"Barden last month hired King as a consultant to his Barden Development
company.

"...Barden and King defended the new agreement Monday, saying it guarantees
a minimum $6 million annually deposited with the city from the casino, a
guarantee not in place earlier..."