1.   And at the statehouse, a legislative ethics committee rejected charges of ethics violations against acting governor Donald DiFrancesco.

2.   And another Republican, soon to be the acting governor, appeared to toughen his own stand.

3.   And Friday his press secretary, Rob Gray, clearly signaled the acting governor is prepared to lay the blame on a Patriots move on the Democratic Legislature.

4.   And last Tuesday, Swift, the acting governor of Massachusetts, surprised fellow Republicans from Boston to the White House by bowing out of the gubernatorial race.

5.   As acting governor once Whitman resigns, DiFrancesco will be free to discard her proposals and add his own.

6.   As acting governor, Swift can make appointments and fill jobs, but it will be virtually impossible for her to move an agenda forward on Beacon Hill.

7.   As recently as February, the acting governor seemed to be still solidly against raising wages.

8.   At least some who read the Texas Constitution say it leaves the possibility that Perry could continue in that dual status of lieutenant governor and acting governor.

9.   Automatically, Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, became acting governor, and became able to call a special session.

10.   Board members felt resentful toward the acting governor because they believed she had failed to publicly support Massport and Buckingham following the terrorist attacks, the Massport official said.