Frederica Freyberg:

A federal judge in Madison has denied the request of non-tribal residents on the Lac du Flambeau reservation to remove barricades blocking roads that access their properties. The roads have been blocked to more than 50 homes since late January over an easement dispute. The judge gave the homeowners until next Tuesday to explain under what jurisdictional authority the court could issue such a temporary restraining order. Tribal president John D. Johnson Sr. said, “We feel for the impacted property owners and hope this ruling encourages all property owners to press for immediate action by the town, the title insurance companies, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to resolve this matter.”