The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe band closed on two hotels Thursday, March 7, the Crowne Plaza on Kellogg Boulevard and the DoubleTree by Hilton on Minnesota Street.  Combined, the two hotels have more than 720 guest rooms.

The band, which runs Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley about 80 to 90 miles north of the Twin Cities, says there are no plans to bring casinos to downtown St. Paul.  The band has apparently not ruled out a casino by announcing there is no plan currently to bring casino gaming to downtown St. Paul.  Any casino in St. Paul (there is a casino in downtown Duluth) would have to be approved by the state and federal government. 

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_22765166/mille-lacs-band-plans-new-restaurants-st-paul