DENVER TRAIL LEADS TO BROWN AND PENA

A federal investigation of funding irregularities in the construction of the new Denver Airport is focusing on a transaction involving Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and Transportation Secretary Federico Pena, the Los Angeles Times reports. According to a story in today's issue, the Transportation Department is scrutinizing thousands of dollars in payments made by the city of Denver to Brown's firm while he was acting as a Washington lobbyist for Pena, who was mayor of Denver at the time. Investigators are trying to determine whether federal airport construction funds were improperly diverted to other city services. TIME Denver bureau chief Richard Woodbury notes the long-delayed $4.9 billion airport project has triggered 10 federal, state and local investigations. In separate probes, the Justice Department is considering the appointment of independent counsels to investigate Brown and Pena for alleged improprieties unrelated to the airport.