Sovereignty is in the news these days.

It's in Rhode Island, where tempers are running hot in an ongoing skirmish between the Narragansett Indian Tribe and state attorney general over whether the tribe can sell tax-free tobacco.

It's in the Hamptons, where the Shinnecock Indian Nation has begun to clear land for a casino, contravening local zoning and state gaming laws.

Airport Commission Asks FAA to Move on Jail, Land Transfer

By ELIZABETH BOMZE

Conversations around the airport commission table on Wednesday night left both the dormitory housing and new jail propositions for further discussion. Two proposals, however, will be sent to the FAA: to place a jail behind the Hot Tin Roof in the southwest corner of the airport property, and to make a land swap between the airport and the state forest.

Airport manager Bill Weibrecht attributes the continued delay to the question of how best to use airport land.

New County Manager Still on Hold; She Says Nothing Wrong with Resume

By MANDY LOCKE

One week after Dukes County commissioners hoped to restore their government image with a new leader at the helm, recently-hired county manager Laurie Perry has not yet reported to work.

Commissioners ducked behind closed doors again Wednesday night to discuss "non-union personnel contracts."

They took no action, and said they would hold another meeting next week.

New County Manager Still on Hold; She Says Nothing Wrong with Resume

By MANDY LOCKE

One week after Dukes County commissioners hoped to restore their government image with a new leader at the helm, recently-hired county manager Laurie Perry has not yet reported to work.

Commissioners ducked behind closed doors again Wednesday night to discuss \"non-union personnel contracts.\"

They took no action, and said they would hold another meeting next week.

The Club That Does What Needs Doing

By CHRIS BURRELL

Not a drop of Portuguese blood flows in Barbara Humber's veins. Her ancestry is Scottish and Irish, but hand her a pile of linguica, garlic and potatoes, and she can cook up a genuine batch of sopa.

Ms. Humber is just one of a growing number of Islanders who have not only joined the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs but now play pivotal roles in it despite a glaring deficit: They aren't Portuguese-Americans.

The reasons aren't really that complicated.

Following the die off of juvenile shellfish at the Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group in recent weeks, there will be a summit of the minds next Wednesday at the Tisbury Town Hall. Shellfish constables, biologists, members of the Lagoon Pond Association and the Tisbury Waterways Inc. will meet at noon to talk about the next step in protecting the water quality in the pond.