OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An attorney for an Omaha pool hall isn’t discouraged after a judge rejected his request to suspend enforcement of a statewide indoor smoking ban. Ted Boecker (BECK-ur) said this week’s ruling isn’t a final determination and Big John’s Billiards will continue to try and prove the law is unconstitutional. A judge has yet to rule on his request to throw out the law altogether. Boecker had filed the r ... Jump to full article >>

“Classification of tobacco as a drug should be avoided at all costs.” 1974 British American Tobacco memo After three tobacco cessation classes, Gulf County Sheriff Joe Nugent was hanging on. So was his staff. He and almost a dozen of his support personnel, investigators and deputies, along with other city and county employees, were halfway through their series of tobacco cessation classes. And they hadn’t lost that focused inte ... Jump to full article >>

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) – A proposal to ban smoking in outdoor dining areas in Los Angeles was approved by a City Council committee today. However, Councilman Tom LaBonge, the chairman and only member of the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee present, said he would visit several establishments which would be affected by the smoking ban before the full council considers the proposal. “Before this goes forward, I’m going t ... Jump to full article >>

Last week the state House passed House Bill 4377 to create smokefree workplaces, with exemptions for casinos and existing cigar bars. The bill is now before the Senate. But smokefree advocates are less than pleased. Past efforts to move forward to make Michigan workplaces smokefree had stalled over this particular sticking point, leaving Michigan one of only 13 states without a smoking ban in bars and restaurants. The new version sponsored by Re ... Jump to full article >>

Elections have consequences, and one vote makes a difference. With heavy opposition voiced by Place One representative Bob Allen, Frisco City Council voted Tuesday night to direct staff to drop any further pursuit of a change in the anti-smoking ordinance to allow a cigar bar in Frisco Square. Allen’s predecessor prior to the May 9 election, Tony Felker, had voiced support for allowing such a personal choice when the matter came before council ... Jump to full article >>