IN BRIEF

ELKO

Ensign says mining bill will die in Senate

U.S. Sen. John Ensign said a mining reform bill passed by the House that imposes first-ever federal royalties on mining will be "dead on arrival" in the Senate, if it makes it that far.

"There's no chance for that bill in the Senate," Ensign, R-Nev., said during a conference call with rural reporters on Thursday. "I'm not even convinced we'll hear it."

The Hard-rock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007, passed by the House in November, would impose the first-ever federal royalties on gold, silver, copper and other metals mines, strengthen environmental controls and give federal agencies the ability to say "No" to a mine that would irreparably harm the environment.

It would allow local, state and tribal governments to petition the federal government to withdraw certain lands from the filing of new mining claims.

ATLANTIC CITY

Casino company won't have to file bankruptcy

Debt holders have OK'd a deal that will prevent Tropicana Casinos and Resorts from having to file for bankruptcy, a spokesman for Tropicana and its parent companies said.

The deal approved late Thursday was designed to avoid harming Tropicana's casinos in other states, including Nevada. That's where regulators said this week they would more closely examine the company's operations after it lost a license to operate the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City.

The company said it plans to sell its casinos in Atlantic City, Evansville, Ind., and Vicksburg, Miss., to pay debt.

NEW YORK

As investors hunt bargains, Treasurys dip

Treasury prices dropped Friday as investors ventured into the stock market to look for bargains.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 0.81 points to 107.0 with a yield of 4.17 percent, up from 4.06 percent late Thursday.