California IN BRIEF : YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK : Firm Drops Plans to Bid for Concession

Highmark Corp., a Tennessee-based hotel and resort operator, has decided not to bid for the tourist concession at Yosemite National Park, leaving six firms in the running, park officials said. Highmark had been one of seven companies expected to bid for the contract to run the Yosemite Park & Curry Co. Park officials said they did not know why the corporation declined to submit an application but reiterated their satisfaction with the other six bidders. The National Park Service will select a tentative winner Dec. 16 and Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan Jr. will make the final decision by January, officials said. Bidders include a group formed in part by environmental activists and two firms that already run concessions at other national parks.