Louisiana has ranked dead last 16 out of the 19 years the United Health Foundation has conducted its annual state health rankings. While it may not have been a cause to celebrate, Louisiana’s jump from 49 to 47 in the group’s 2009 report gave many a reason to hope. “A lot of things people thought were not possible in Louisiana are suddenly possible,” said Dr. Charlie Brown, chairman of the steering committee for the Louisiana Campaign fo ... Jump to full article >>

WAY TO GO: Jeff Hammond, Wanganui Hospital’s director of nursing, explains the nicotine replacement therapy to registered nurse Katy Mackay. Improving health systems is one thing but changing the public mindset about some health issues is another matter. And the chief executive of Wanganui’s district health board says it’s changing that mindset that will win the war over smoking addiction, diabetes and cardiovascular disease ... Jump to full article >>

The American Cancer Society asks smokers to give up the habit for one day today as part of the Great American Smokeout. A $2 million federal grant could help St. Joseph fight an anti-smoking battle of its own with longer lasting results. The City Council gave the City of St. Joseph Health Department the green light Monday to apply for the Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant — part of the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act of 200 ... Jump to full article >>

South Dakota’s statewide smoking ban has now made its way to a courtroom. Both sides of the issue gathered Tuesday in Hughes County where they heard from a judge for the first time. The statewide smoking ban has been a red hot issue since state lawmakers passed the law seven months ago. One of the decisions made Tuesday by the judge is that the American Cancer Society can join the case. The organization argues that the smoking ban should ... Jump to full article >>

The smoking ban legal battle could be decided as early as next Tuesday. Smoking ban opponents filed a lawsuit calling for a judge to decide whether rejected petition signatures should have been thrown out. A hearing is set for Tuesday in Hughes County. That’s when a judge is expected to rule on several motions that were filed from both sides of the lawsuit. And because both sides are asking for a summary judgement, the judge could rule on ... Jump to full article >>

With its technology for eliminating key toxins in tobacco, the outfit has huge potential, especially if it wins a court fight against R.J. Reynolds Investors will be watching intently as a big tobacco industry patent-infringement case goes to trial in mid-May: a David-and-Goliath court battle pitting the second-largest U.S. cigarette maker, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, a unit of Reynolds American (RAI), against the tiny and little-known Star Scientif ... Jump to full article >>