Service Groups Funded

Tens of thousanda of American's , from teenagers to baby boomers , soon will get a fresh chance to lend a helping hand in atime of neeed .

The House voted 275-149 Tuesday for $ 5.7 billion that triples positions in the Clinton-era Ameri-Corps progams , its largest expansion since the agency's creation in 1993 , and establishes a fund to help nonprofit organizations recuit and manage more volunteers .

Bid made for Tropicana Casino

A group led by billionaire investor Carl Icahn is offering $ 200 million to buy Tropicana Casino and resort in Atlantic City . The low ball offer shows just how steep a toll the recession has taken on the economy and the casino business in particular , ayear ago , the Tropicana was expected to fetch $ 1 billion .

Icahn's offer sets the minimum price for the Tropicana in abankrupcy court auction expected tp be authorized by state casino regulators within two weeks .