Senate budget writers voted Thursday afternoon to liquidate an endowment containing more than $400 million of Texas’ tobacco-settlement money and give the money to 10 academic health science centers, including the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. The centers would take a 15 percent cut in their state funding in the proposed two-year budget, said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan. He said the ... Jump to full article >>

DANVILLE — Every package of cigarettes sold in Illinois adds money to the state’s school fund. Illinois tags a 98-cent tax on every package of cigarettes sold in the state, collecting an estimated $560 million during fiscal year 2010. The tax stands almost as a twin to Indiana’s cigarette tax — which is 99.5 cents per pack. Illinois’ tax rate ranks 32nd nationally, with Indiana’s rate coming in at number 33. Some members of the Illin ... Jump to full article >>

Local schools could face big cuts to the money they use for the operation of buses and special education programs unless lawmakers vote to raise cigarette taxes by $1 a pack. That move could be unlikely, though. The Illinois Senate approved a cigarette tax hike more than a year ago, but since then, House lawmakers haven’t shown much interest in doing the same. Under the budget lawmakers sent to Gov. Pat Quinn, schools would take a more than $3 ... 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 >>

Star Scientific Breaks New Ground, Plans FDA Filing for Approval of First ‘Modified Risk’ Tobacco Product; Nominates Curtis Wright, MD, MPH for FDA Advisory Committee PORTAGE | The Portage Township School Board this week approved a ban on all tobacco products on school property effective Jan. 1, but now are investigating how they could control another questionable substance – nicotine-laden candy. Board member Glenda Owens said ... Jump to full article >>