Tobacco News

Hoping to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections, colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, and other childhood illnesses linked to secondhand smoke exposure, Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it illegal to smoke in vehicles when young children are present.

Some local residents say the bill, recently introduced into the Ohio Senate, is too invasive, while others say it doesn’t go far enough because it would only protect children who are younger than 6.
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Ottawa’s Board of Health will vote this evening on a plan to force smokers to butt out on City property and on patios.

The Public Health unit is recommending the board expand Ottawa’s Smoke Free bylaw to ban smoking in municipal parks, beaches, on municipal properties and on bar and restaurant patios.
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The Berkeley City Council will consider recommending an analysis on an ordinance that would give landlords in Berkeley the power to ban smoking in their tenancies.
The recommendation, proposed by Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Max Anderson and set to come up at the council’s meeting Tuesday, asks the city’s Community Health Commission and Rent Stabilization Board to analyze the possibility of crafting a smoke free housing ordinance similar to California Senate Bill 332, which went into effect Jan. 1and which gives landlords the right to make their rental properties smoke free. Ream more »

Postdoctoral physics student Patrick Coles has started a petition to ban smoking on the Carnegie Mellon campus.

As of last Thursday, the petition had received a total of 534 signatures on ipetitions.com. Coles said that he was “quite pleased by the support” his petition has received. “We are at the point where we should start talking to the administration,” he said. “The main issue is to protect people’s right to breathe clean air and to promote a healthy campus,” Coles said.
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The Casper City Council agreed Thursday to continue on schedule with consideration of a smoking ban proposal.
Initial discussion of the proposal is scheduled for Feb. 13 and a detailed ordinance has yet to be constructed. Mayor Kenyne Schlager suggested during the work session that a separate public meeting be held at a later date to debate the issue. Councilman Paul Bertoglio agreed, adding that two meetings may be necessary. Ream more »

The City Council is set to consider new regulations in city parks that include banning smoking and could require permits for “any games” played in the city’s 73 parks.
The smoking law would forbid smoking within 100 feet of parks and beaches and also ban the disposal of tobacco products. Groups could apply for smoking permits for their activities.

The law would also require trainers and instructors using parks for commercial classes to get permits. Ream more »

Illinois officials say the recession, which hit in December 2007 — and not just a statewide smoking ban implemented in 2008 — played a significant role in the decline of revenue that state’s gaming facilities.

But still, risking a decline in gaming revenues by enacting a comprehensive smoking ban that includes Casino Aztar may cause the Evansville City Council to shy away from including the riverboat in a proposed expansion of the city’s smoking ordinance.
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A proposed city-wide smoking ban took center stage at the Evansville City Council meeting Monday evening.

Supporters say it will save in health insurance costs, but Casino Aztar representatives say a ban could mean millions is lost revenue and nearly 300 jobs lost.

It was a sea of red at Monday’s city council meeting. Riverboat workers like Gordon Jones asked council members to exempt Casino Aztar from a proposed city-wide smoking ban. Ream more »

An ordinance that would tighten Evansville’s smoking ban will be introduced to City Council tonight and will include short presentations by representatives from Casino Aztar and the local Smoke Free initiative.

This will be the second time City Council has taken on the smoking ban after it came to a stalemate on the issue in March 2010. Shortly before the November election, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Missy Mosby was the lone opponent to a smoking ban. Mosby had said business owners in her ward said the ban would badly hurt business. Ream more »

Smoking could be banned in all Rowan County parks if county commissioners adopt a requested ordinance Tuesday.

The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will consider the ban on tobacco products at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Rowan County Administration Building.

County Manager Gary Page wrote to commissioners in a memo that the ordinance was requested by Whitey Harwood. Ream more »