21.   At the same time, some states have begun to question the wisdom of investing in companies that they are suing because of health care costs associated with smoking.

22.   At that point, the state began to negotiate with the Oneidas.

23.   Audubon societies formed at the turn of the century to protect the birds, and the state began passing ever-stricter laws governing recreational hunting.

24.   Because of some recent nursing home scandals, for example, many states are beginning to tighten oversight of the industry, which has been lightly regulated.

25.   Before the crime rates fell, many states had begun toughening their criminal justice systems, imposing longer minimum sentences for a wider spectrum of crimes and ending parole.

26.   A half-dozen other states have begun to leverage highway bonds with future federal aid, and several have reported early success.

27.   According to the study, the state has begun to place low-wage families in hotels and motels because the shelter system cannot meet the increased demand.

28.   After a reporter for The New York Times raised questions about the case, the state began pressing for stronger action, leading to the civil and criminal filings.

29.   After Elway retired as quarterback for the Denver Broncos, many leading state Republicans began promoting him as a congressional candidate.

30.   After that, business steadily declined as tracks in other states expanded to year-round racing, casinos opened in Atlantic City and states began running lotteries.