Mineola's Martins claims a State Senate first

Jack Martins (R-Mineola) says he believes he's the first Portuguese-American to be elected state senator in New York. Martins told about 200 people in the Capitol's Senate chamber after his swearing-in that his parents came from Portugal in the 1960s, before he was born. He explained later that his family is originally from northern Portugal, and he visits "once or twice every year." As a former president of the New York State Portuguese Civic Association, Martins said he's proud of this first - as difficult as it may be to quickly document.

- Patrick Whittle