11:49 a.m. - ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty and three tribal leaders from northern Minnesota will tour the state Friday to tout a Twin Cities casino venture between the tribes and the state, a spokesman for the White Earth Band of Ojibwe said.

The state senator who is planning to carry Pawlenty's proposal in the Senate said Thursday the sides are "close to an agreement" on a plan that would allow two casinos -- one the state-tribal casino, the other possibly the so-called "racino" desired by the owners of Canterbury Park in Shakopee.

"If everything is resolved, I think there's an announcement Friday," said Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul.

Pawlenty's spokesman would not confirm that a state-tribal deal had been struck, or comment on aspects of what might be in it. But he said negotiations between the governor's office and tribal leaders have been active in recent days.

The spokesman, Brian McClung, indicated Pawlenty's office would release details "once things are set."

Gary Padrta, the public relations director for the White Earth Band, said White Earth Chairwoman Erma Vizenor was planning a media tour Friday with Pawlenty and the chairman of the Red Lake and Leech Lake tribes, that would take them to Twin Cities, Rochester and Duluth in Minnesota and Fargo, N.D.

The three tribes have been negotiating with the governor's office since Pawlenty decided to embark on a new casino. That came after southern Minnesota tribes that own metro-area casinos rejected Pawlenty's request that they share a portion of their casino profits in exchange for a continued monopoly in the Twin Cities gambling market.

The three northern tribes are seeking access to the lucrative Twin Cities market. Pappas said the deal as she understands it would set a deadline for other tribes to join into the deal with the state.

Pappas acknowledged that many of her Senate colleagues remain strongly opposed to gambling expansion. She said authorizing a casino at Canterbury Park, something long sought by some lawmakers, could be a way to sweeten the deal -- but carries risks in itself.

"It could go either way," Pappas said. "Sometimes these things fall with the additional weight."