51.  But officials said they believed there was no connection between the two cases.

52.  But officials said they believed the two cases were not connected.

53.  But six construction companies involved in the two cases denied paying mobsters for protection.

54.  But the differences are profound, according to investigators involved in the two cases.

55.  But the doctors in the two cases said several things set them apart from Kevorkian.

56.  But the other cases are now in limbo, as is the status of the entire initiative.

57.  But the other cases were reported in a quick cascade.

58.  But the two cases showed how fervently some companies work to keep themselves out of the news.

59.  But Tuesday, Gische flatly refused to consolidate the two cases and said that they had little common ground.

60.  But there are sharp distinctions between the two cases.