31.   Michael Johnson moved a step closer to an exalted place in Olympic history last night.

32.   More important, the Suns moved a step closer to the Pacific Division championship.

33.   Nevertheless, the administration moved one step closer to that option yesterday when Clinton nominated deputy national security adviser Sandy Berger to head the National Security Council.

34.   New York City moved a step closer to developing new or renovated stadiums for its professional baseball teams.

35.   No one said it in so many words, but Ricky Watters moved one step closer to Philadelphia yesterday.

36.   On Friday the general left the court smiling and waving at spectators, slowly moving one step at a time down a long, winding staircase.

37.   On Monday night, they moved a step closer.

38.   On Saturday, those negotiators moved a step closer to agreement on the final details.

39.   Products made by the two companies will move a step closer to approval when the expert panel meets at the end of January.

40.   Recently that moved a step nearer when Warner, the predominant supplier of DVDs, broadened its distribution from seven test markets and made them available across the country.