Smokers in Los Angeles lost another refuge Wednesday when the City Council unanimously approved a ban on lighting up in outdoor cafes, food courts and around the city’s ubiquitous mobile food trucks. With the move, city officials are following the lead of municipalities across California, including Burbank, Beverly Hills, Calabasas and Santa Monica, which already ban smoking in outdoor dining areas. California law bars smoking inside resta ... Jump to full article >>

MALIBU—Following neighboring cities such as Calabasas and its own ban on smoking on the beaches, the Malibu city council members unanimously voted to no longer permit smoking in open spaces. The ban will take effect July 31 and forces smokers to be at least 20 feet away from any public or private property including outdoor dining areas and grocery markets as well as public events. Council member Sharon Barovsky supported the ordinance, but vot ... Jump to full article >>