Cigarette taxes imposed in New York will become the nation’s highest under a measure approved Monday by the state Legislature, and the state will end two decades of debate by requiring the collection of taxes on cigarette sales by Indian retailers. The moves against the tobacco industry and Indian cigarette merchants were driven by a revenue-finding frenzy — in this case, $440 million worth of added tax receipts — by Gov. David A. Pat ... Jump to full article >>

The S.C. House approved a 50-cent increase to the state’s lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax Wednesday. But lawmakers are uncertain if they have enough votes to overturn an expected veto by Gov. Mark Sanford. The version approved by the House keeps the basics of a previously approved Senate cigarette tax hike: The 50-cents-a-pack tax would bring in an estimated $136.1 million a year. The money would go to help pay for Medicaid, the state& ... Jump to full article >>

Thick August air and cigar smoke will turn downtown Keene into a giant humidor this summer, but just for one day. At the April 15 City Council meeting councilors voted 11-3 in favor of allowing a local business owner to hold a cigar tasting event on the sidewalk outside his Central Square store on Aug. 28. Clark Anderson, owner of CC&H Framing and Cigars, requested use of the sidewalk and parking spaces adjacent to his shop for the 12-hour ... Jump to full article >>

The state Senate voted 38-0 Thurday to approve a bill to apply the provisions of the “New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act” to restrict the use of electronic smoking devices, commonly known as “e-cigarettes.” The bill (S-3053) would expand the definition of “smoking” to include e-cigarettes and extend the ban on smoking by minors to include the use of e-cigarettes.  It would define smoking as the burning or inhaling of tobacco or any other ... Jump to full article >>