EXTRA...

Vote early and often; Indian land act in High Court;Artificial oyster reefs in Wellfleet; Better Verizon service in Cataumet; Let's do the Time Warp Again

TODAYs quote:
                                      "Vote Early and Vote Often"
                                                                                 - Al Capone

Dispute over Indian land act heads to high court
Supreme Court ruling could affect Wampanoag casino plans

MIDDLEBORO - The U.S. Supreme Court was scheduled today to take up a dispute between the governor of Rhode Island and the Narragansett Indians that could affect the Mashpee Wampanoag's push for a casino in Middleboro.

The issue has far-reaching implications and Indian rights groups fear the case could undermine the status of tribal land across the country. If upheld, the claim could affect any tribe federally recognized after 1934, which includes both the Mashpee and Aquinnah in Massachusetts and the Narragansett in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island is arguing that it's unconstitutional for the secretary of interior to take land into trust for tribes recognized after the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act.

Seventeen states, including Massachusetts, have signed on to the action filed by Rhode Island Gov. Donald L. Carcieri against Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In addition, the Council of State Governments, National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Counties, And International City/County Management Association have side with Carcieri... Enterprise. See previous story here.
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Artificial Oyster Reefs Could Revive Ocean Health

BOSTON - For some people, oysters are just a tasty appetizer best served with a squeeze of lemon. But they also play a key role in keeping oceans health. Some wild oyster populations, though, have plummeted.

So the Massachusetts Audubon Society is building artificial oyster reefs at its Wellfleet Bay wildlife sanctuary on Cape Cod. The hope is to learn new ways to revive oyster beds nationwide. WBUR's health/science reporter Sacha Pfeiffer visited the sanctuary and has this story.

Just a short walk from Wellfleet Bay, Bob Prescott kicks a huge mound of shells.

"You can see lemons in here. There's even a fork up in here. Cocktail sauce on that one." ... WBUR.org or listen to Real Audio on their site.

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Verizon expands network coverage in Barnstable County

Cataumet Residents to Benefit from new cell site

CATAUMET - In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Barnstable County, Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site. The new site increases high-speed wireless data coverage and capacity along Routes 28 and 28A in Cataumet, Massachusetts and the surrounding area.

"We've always believed that even the most advanced cell phone is only as good as the network it runs on," said director for Network Systems Performance for Verizon Wireless, Richard Enright.

Verizon Wireless has invested more than $48 billion since it was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services like BroadbandAccess and V CAST. Regionally the company has invested over $2.2 billion into its New England network, including over $100 million during the first six months of 2008. As the wireless carrier with America's largest 3G network, every Verizon Wireless cell site in New England provides wireless broadband connectivity.

"We've always believed that even the most advanced cell phone is only as good as the network it runs on," said director for Network Systems Performance for Verizon Wireless, Richard Enright. "We continue to aggressively invest into our wireless networks across New England to increase coverage and capacity for our customers." ... PRNewswire.com.

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Let's Do the Time Warp...Again

Seeing Rocky Horror Picture Show in Ptown for the first time

I have to thank the ChillerTV channel for a great walk down memory lane over this past weekend.

The cable channel devoted to providing round the clock horror programming -- from movies to old TV series like "Tales From The Crypt" and "Kolchak The Night Stalker" -- had some fun over the weekend, showing "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." ...

...I first saw the movie in the summer of 1977, when I was 14 years old. My family used to rent a cabin in Truro, a small beach town on Cape Cod, every summer, and the next town over was one of the Bay State's great resort communities, Provincetown. There were several small movie houses in the downtown area, and one of them was showing "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." My sister and I both wanted to see it, and somehow we managed to talk my mother into taking us. ... TheLedger.com.