21.  Florida was the first state (now there are 3) banning homosexual adoptions, but the ACLU is contesting the law in a separate case.

22.  For example, New Jersey was the first state to set a target for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

23.  For example, the law firm headed by Scruggs represented Mississippi, the first state to sue, and was later hired by 29 other states.

24.  First state Treasurer Joseph D. Malone, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, proposed doing away with the 2.5 percent excise tax that automobile owners pay each year.

25.  Florida was also the first state to contribute to the memorial foundation in July 1990 with a $20,000 grant.

26.  For Texas, poised to be the first state to take its fight with the tobacco industry to trial, a loss would be costly and embarrassing.

27.  Fox acknowledged some of his own challenges on Saturday when he delivered his first state of the nation speech.

28.  For years, New Hampshire prided itself on being the first primary state.

29.  For the first time Arab states stretching from Morocco to Saudi Arabia were openly aligning with Israel and leaving Iran, Syria, Libya and Iraq on the sidelines.

30.  Friday Massachusetts will become the first state in the country to launch an initiative aimed at protecting gay and lesbian college students.