Top Story OBITUARY | ERNIE STEVENS JR., 66 Wisconsin's Ernie Stevens Jr., chair of Indian Gaming Association and Oneida Nation leader, dies TODD RICHMOND Associated Press Oct 1, 2025 Oct 1, 2025 Updated Nov 7, 2025 This undated image provided by the Indian Gaming Association shows Ernie Stevens Jr. Indian Gaming Association via AP Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save TODD RICHMOND Associated Press Ernie “Big Cat” Stevens Jr., a driving force behind the expansion of Native American gaming for more than two decades, has died. He was 66.kAm%96 x?5:2? v2>:?8 pDD@4:2E:@?[ 2 (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r]\32D65 8C@FA E92E H@C<D E@ AC@E64E EC:36D 2?5 AC@>@E6 EC:32= 82>:?8[ 2??@F?465 |@?52J E92E $E6G6?D 5:65 uC:52J 2E E96 ~?6:52 }2E:@? :? (:D4@?D:?] w:D 2F?E[ q@33: (63DE6C[ 4@?7:C>65 9:D 562E9 :? 2 D9@CE E6=6A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H H:E9 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD @? %F6D52J]k^AmkAm“xE’D D@CE @7 F?72E9@>23=6[” (63DE6C D2:5 @7 $E6G6?D’ 562E9] “w6 H2D AC6EEJ J@F?8 2?5 G:3C2?E 2?5 2E9=6E:4 2?5 962=E9J] xE ;FDE 42>6 2D 2? F?6IA64E65 D9@4< E@ 6G6CJ@?6 H9@ <?6H 9:> E@ =@D6 9:>]”k^Am kAm%96 p! =67E 2 7@==@H\FA >6DD286 H:E9 (63DE6C :?BF:C:?8 23@FE 9@H 96 5:65] s62?2 y24<D@?[ 2 82>:?8 2DD@4:2E:@? DA@<6DA6CD@?[ D2:5 E96 72>:=J 92D ?@E D92C65 E96 42FD6 @7 562E9 H:E9 E96 2DD@4:2E:@? @C E96 AF3=:4 J6E]k^Am People are also reading… Plan Commission gives initial approval to Lake Geneva supper club Memorial Day parade and ceremony scheduled for Williams Bay New golf course opens at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa Lakes Area LifeWay founder plans to establish multi-use campus in Linn Lake Geneva council approves replacement of some traffic signal poles Lake Geneva revises parking ordinance to help BID program Personnel Committee dismisses complaints filed against alderwoman Lake Geneva school district issues statement regarding meeting American Legion post to host Memorial Day parade in Lake Geneva Lake Geneva alders approve donating beach passes to YMCA Restaurant review: Rare Steakhouse happy hour offers luxury at half price Nearly all Great American State Fair acts drop out Music, markets & more this weekend in Lake Geneva Judge allows Trump to implement mail-in voting executive order Events planned throughout Racine County over Memorial Day weekend Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm$E6G6?D H2D :? 9:D `bE9 EH@\J62C E6C> 2D 492:C @7 E96 x?5:2? v2>:?8 pDD@4:2E:@? H96? 96 5:65] x? 2 ?6HD C6=62D6 2??@F?4:?8 $E6G6?D’ 562E9[ E96 2DD@4:2E:@? 42==65 9:> 2 7:6C46 5676?56C @7 E96 x?5:2? v2>:?8 #68F=2E@CJ p4E[ 2 `hgg 7656C2= =2H E92E 7@C>65 E96 =682= 32D:D @7 EC:32= 82>:?8] sFC:?8 9:D E6?FC6 2D 492:C[ EC:32= 82>:?8 C6G6?F6D 4=:>365 7C@> S`` 3:==:@? :? a___ E@ ?62C=J Scc 3:==:@? =2DE J62C[ E96 C6=62D6 D2:5]k^Am kAm“r92:C>2? $E6G6?D’ A2DD:?8 =62G6D 2 G@:5 E92E H:== 36 76=E 24C@DD 2== @7 x?5:2? r@F?ECJ[” y2D@? v:=6D[ E96 2DD@4:2E:@?’D 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 :? E96 C6=62D6] “w6 H2D ?@E @?=J @FC r92:C>2?[ 3FE 2 >6?E@C[ 2 7C:6?5[ 2?5 2 H2CC:@C 7@C EC:32= D@G6C6:8?EJ] w:D =6824J H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 8F:56 @FC H@C< 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D E@ 4@>6]”k^Am kAm$E6G6?D D6CG65 @? E96 ~?6:52 }2E:@? EC:32= 4@F?4:= 7C@> `hhb E@ `hhh[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 3:@8C2A9J @? E96 2DD@4:2E:@?’D H63D:E6] w6 2=D@ D6CG65 2D 7:CDE G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 }2E:@?2= r@?8C6DD @7 p>6C:42? x?5:2?D 2?5 @? E96 3@2C5D @7 G2C:@FD @C82?:K2E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 }2E:@?2= r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? t?E6CAC:D6 s6G6=@A>6?Ej E96 r6?E6C 7@C }2E:G6 p>6C:42? *@FE9j E96 }:<6 }f u@F?52E:@?[ H9:49 DFAA=:6D 8C2?ED E@ EC:32= ?2E:@?Dj 2?5 E96 }2E:G6 p>6C:42? p5G:D@CJ q@2C5 7@C E96 q@JD U2>Aj v:C=D r=F3D @7 p>6C:42]k^Am kAmu@C>6C &]$] x?E6C:@C $64C6E2CJ s63 w22=2?5 HC@E6 @? 96C u2463@@< A286 uC:52J E92E $E6G6?D H2D <:?5 2?5 2=H2JD C625J E@ 96=A]k^AmkAm“w6 H2D EC6>6?5@FD=J @AE:>:DE:4 23@FE E96 23:=:E:6D @7 x?5:86?@FD A6@A=6 2?5 5:DA=2J65 D92CA[ 564:D:G6 =6256CD9:A[” w22=2?5 HC@E6] “(96? x 8@E E96 ?6HD @7 9:D A2DD:?8[ x C62=:K65 E96 5:77:4F=EJ :? :>28:?:?8 E9:D H@C=5 H:E9@FE 9:>] w6 H:== 36 >:DD65]”k^Am kAm$E6G6?D 2?5 9:D H:76[ r96CJ=[ E@86E96C 925 7:G6 49:=5C6? 2?5 `d 8C2?549:=5C6?] %96 ~?6:52 }2E:@? 92D A=2??65 2 >6>@C:2= AC@8C2> 7@C 9:> uC:52J 6G6?:?8 367@C6 96’D :?E6CC65 $2EFC52J >@C?:?8 2E E96 EC:36’D 3FC:2= 8C@F?5D @FED:56 vC66? q2J]k^Am +1 Stevens Locations Madison Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story GOP lawmakers revive medical marijuana debate with new bill The bill would create a “tightly regulated” medical marijuana industry in Wisconsin, one of just 10 states that do not allow prescribing the drug. Democrat David Crowley stresses kitchen table issues in run for governor Crowley said he’s “the only candidate in this race with experience in both the state Legislature as well as experience actually running government.” Dane County to lose detox center unless it pays more for service Tellurian lost more than $773,000 in 2024, with 75% of that due to the county’s underfunding, CEO Kevin Florek said. Polzin: What Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell believes he got wrong in loss to Maryland A bye week gave the Badgers some time for some self-reflection. How Wisconsin's coach handled the quarterback decision is one decision he wish… Key Packers defensive lineman 'week to week' after injuries in tie with Cowboys The injury problems continue to pile up for Green Bay as the defensive line took a hit against the Cowboys. Seasonal nonstop flights to 3 warm weather cities returning for Dane County Regional Airport The new nonstop service will be to popular destinations in Arizona and Florida. Watch Now: Related Video Sun Prairie unveils remodeled and expanded library Canada's economy is struggling, technical recession or not Canada's economy is struggling, technical recession or not US: NASA Moon Mission Rocket Explosion Seen 120 Miles Across Florida Sky. US: NASA Moon Mission Rocket Explosion Seen 120 Miles Across Florida Sky. Boater Captures Blue Origin Rocket Explosion Boater Captures Blue Origin Rocket Explosion Watch Now: Related Video Sun Prairie unveils remodeled and expanded library Canada's economy is struggling, technical recession or not Canada's economy is struggling, technical recession or not US: NASA Moon Mission Rocket Explosion Seen 120 Miles Across Florida Sky. US: NASA Moon Mission Rocket Explosion Seen 120 Miles Across Florida Sky. Boater Captures Blue Origin Rocket Explosion Boater Captures Blue Origin Rocket Explosion
GOP lawmakers revive medical marijuana debate with new bill The bill would create a “tightly regulated” medical marijuana industry in Wisconsin, one of just 10 states that do not allow prescribing the drug.
Democrat David Crowley stresses kitchen table issues in run for governor Crowley said he’s “the only candidate in this race with experience in both the state Legislature as well as experience actually running government.”
Dane County to lose detox center unless it pays more for service Tellurian lost more than $773,000 in 2024, with 75% of that due to the county’s underfunding, CEO Kevin Florek said.
Polzin: What Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell believes he got wrong in loss to Maryland A bye week gave the Badgers some time for some self-reflection. How Wisconsin's coach handled the quarterback decision is one decision he wish…
Key Packers defensive lineman 'week to week' after injuries in tie with Cowboys The injury problems continue to pile up for Green Bay as the defensive line took a hit against the Cowboys.
Seasonal nonstop flights to 3 warm weather cities returning for Dane County Regional Airport The new nonstop service will be to popular destinations in Arizona and Florida.
