1.   Astra said state and federal authorities were investigating, and that the company was cooperating.

2.   Bell defended his expenses, saying the state deliberately left out information as part of an effort to disgrace the board.

3.   Birmingham, meanwhile, said the state stood to gain tremendously by keeping the Patriots remain in state.

4.   Brad Hutensky, an owner of the Hutensky Group, said that state and city help will be needed.

5.   A good idea, says state Sen. Cheryl A. Jacques, a Democrat from Needham.

6.   A federal judge struck down a state law banning Internet and mail-order sales of cigarettes on Friday, saying the state had unduly interfered with interstate commerce.

7.   All in all, the primary still accomplished its goal, said former state Sen. Stan Barnes, who sponsored the legislation.

8.   But Betsy Hite of the California Association of Health Facilities said the state and federal governments need to provide more money to improve conditions.

9.   But nearly as many also said the state should send drug offenders to treatment programs rather than build new prisons.

10.   But you know that when she says home state she means Texas.