IN BRIEF

     Conservatives push
     Clinton on panel
     
      WASHINGTON -- Stepping up their campaign against legalized gambling, Christian conservatives warned President Clinton on Tuesday against rewarding campaign contributors with seats on a national commission studying the social consequences of casinos.
      In a letter, Christian Coalition Director Ralph Reed promised Clinton "strong and steadfast opposition" if his appointments are drawn from the gambling industry."
      Contending that gambling leads to lost jobs, broken homes and heightened violence, Reed also planned to push Clinton on the matter in an editorial commentary in The New York Times this week.
      White House spokesmen had no comment Tuesday on Reed's latest letter.
      The president's three appointments to the nine-member panel were to have been named six months ago. White House spokesman Mike McCurry says the holdup has resulted from a careful selection process intent on ensuring the panel's balance.
      The gambling study commission was created last year by Congress to investigate charges that the spread of casinos was taking a social toll on the nation.
     
     Primadonna posts
     record earnings
     
      Primadonna Resorts Inc. announced record first-quarter earnings of $10.1 million, or 34 cents a share, for the three months ended March 31.
      Revenues, net of promotional allowances, increased to $71.5 million from $59.8 million for the same period a year ago.
      Operating cash flow, as measured by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, increased by 63 percent over the same period last year to $28.4 million from $17.4 million.
      The increases are attributable to the opening of the New York-New York hotel, a joint venture between Primadonna and MGM Grand Inc.
     
     Barrick's gold
     production drops
     
      Barrick Gold Corp. said its first-quarter profit fell 24 percent, more than expected, because of lower gold production.
      Net income at the world's second-largest gold producer fell to $55 million, or 15 cents a share, from $72 million, or 20 cents, in the year-earlier period.
      Revenue for the Toronto-based mining company fell 8.4 percent to $306 million from $334 million.
      The earnings missed the average estimate of 16 cents a share from 10 analysts surveyed by IBES International Inc.
     
     Gasoline prices
     rise sharply
     
      Retail gas prices in northern California, Nevada and Utah are up dramatically, the California State Automobile Association reported Monday.
      In Nevada, the average for self-serve regular unleaded has risen 6 cents to $1.43. The Las Vegas average rose 3 cents to $1.39. Reno's average climbed 8 cents to $1.47.
      The regional averages for self-serve unleaded in northern California, Nevada and Utah are up 4 to 12 cents compared to last month.
      The national average for self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.25, down 4 cents from last month, and 1 cent more than a year ago.
     
     FiberChem expects
     second-quarter loss
     
      FiberChem Inc. said it expects a fiscal second-quarter loss of about $890,000 as a result of a $250,000 charge for writing off interest on debt.
      The maker of fiber-optic chemical sensors said it expects revenue of about $620,000. FiberChem reported a loss of $500,000, or 2 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.
      The charge is related to a temporary reduction of warrant and option prices, the Las Vegas-based company said in a statement.
      FiberChem also said it will develop its Sensor-on-a-Chip technology for the Department of Energy with Bechtel Nevada Corp.
     
     Treasury note yields
     hit two-year high
     
      WASHINGTON -- Yields on two-year Treasury notes rose in Tuesday's auction to the highest level in two years.
      The high yield was 6.460 percent, up from 6.270 percent at the last auction on March 25. It was the highest rate since two-year notes sold for 6.524 percent on April, 25, 1995.
      The notes will carry a coupon interest rate of 6 3/8 percent with each $10,000 in face value selling for $9,984.30. A total of $17 billion in notes were sold out of bids totaling $41.4 billion.