Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Brown’s Business Ties Questioned

The chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee asked Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown to provide “complete information” about a promissory note to a firm that Brown formerly co-owned. The note was owed by Corridor Broadcasting Corp., a firm owned by Nolanda Hill, to First International Communications Corp., the company formerly owned by Brown and Hill. Rep. William F. Clinger (R-Pa.) told Brown the existence of the note “seems contrary” to his earlier statement that he had no business ties with Corridor.