DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa Supreme Court justice has temporarily blocked a district court judge’s ruling that suspended the gambling license of a casino under construction in Sioux City.    The Sioux City Journal reports that Justice Brent Appel on Thursday granted an emergency stay of Polk County District Court Judge Robert Hanson’s Dec. 10 ruling suspending the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino license.  The company building the casino has spent $44 million on construction and says stopping it now amounts to an unconstitutional taking of property.

Argosy riverboat casino owners sued the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission after the commission licensed the Hard Rock casino in April instead one proposed by Argosy’s owners.  Attorneys in the case must file arguments by noon Tuesday and the Supreme Court with further review the case.