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Dilsaver traveled with four other Nebraska teens to Winston-Salem, N.C., this past week to join in a protest outside the Reynolds American Building during Tuesday's shareholders meeting.
"It was really an eye opener," she said.
Dilsaver is a member of No Limits Nebraska, a youth-led tobacco use prevention movement that uses activism to spread its message, "There are no limits to what big tobacco will do to addict teens to their deadly products and there are no limits to what Nebraska teens will do to fight back," according to a press release from the group.
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COLUMBUS -- Each of the 1,200 flags sticking up from the ground represented one person who will no longer be living after today.
Dubbed Project 1200, the display is set up on the south side of Scotus Central Catholic. It was organized and put up this week by Scotus juniors Krista Mulligan and Nicholas Raimondo, who serve as state youth board members of No Limits, a Nebraska anti-tobacco movement that is led by youth.
Raimondo said they put up the display to get out an important message.
“The number 1,200 represents the number of people who die every day in the U.S. from tobacco,” Raimondo said. . . .
According to its Web site, www.nolimitsnebraska.com, the group is so named because there are no limits to what the tobacco companies do to market their products, and there are no limits to what teens in Nebraska will do to stop them.
The fairness of Omaha's smoking ban was in question on Thursday before the state Supreme Court.
Owners of the Marylebone Tavern said the smoking ban violates the state constitution by creating special privileges to other businesses.
The ban allows a five-year grace period for bars that don't serve food, for keno parlors and for Horsemen's Park.
Attorneys for both sides argued before a meeting of the Nebraska Supreme Court held at Creighton Law School. The Marylebone argued that all businesses should be treated the same. The city said the ban should be phased in.
The Nebraska Supreme Court says the state will have to go through arbitration to settle its dispute with three tobacco companies over a $4.5 million reduction in the state's 2006 settlement payment.
Nebraska and several other states sued R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (NYSE:RAI) , Lorillard Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris (NYSE:MO) USA over the payment discrepancy. But the 1998 settlement between the companies and 46 states calls for an arbiter to resolve disputes over adjustments to the payments.
The Nebraska Supreme Court said in its ruling released Friday that nearly every court that has examined disputes about these settlement payments has concluded the issue does not belong in court because the settlement language is clear.
A co-owner of an Omaha bar hopes the state Supreme Court will agree with her that the exceptions to the city's smoking ban unfairly benefit certain businesses.
But the lawyer for Marylebone Tavern co-owner Michelle Hug will also have to convince the high court's judges that this case is worth their time in light of the new statewide smoking ban the Legislature approved last month.
Otherwise the court may not consider the fairness of the exceptions included in the 2006 Omaha ban. Most businesses have already had to comply with the Omaha ban, but the City Council allowed a five-year grace period for bars that don't serve food, for keno parlors and for Horsemen's Park, a horse track.
Will a smoking ban save tax money or end up costing us more? If people kick the habit, it could save the state on medical bills. But will the state lose out on cigarette taxes?
"There is no doubt second hand smoking is harmful," Sen. Joel Johnson said, as he read over a surgeon general's report. Johnson, a retired doctor said smoking is more than a nuisance; it's a drain on taxpayers. He said it costs far more than the taxes it brings in.
2nd hand smoke is becoming a thing of the past. After 2 cities, Omaha and Lincoln, create a smoking ban the Nebraska Legislature passes their own state-wide law. Officials say Omaha's ban had too many exclusions, one business may have fallen in the ordinance while a place across the street was exempt. So, the state has followed the blue print of Lincoln, which has had a lot of success.
"It'd function much better if it was a universal playing field and level playing field," said State Senator Joel Johnson, the man who proposed the smoking ban.
Nebraska lawmakers vote 34-14 in favor of a law that prohibits smoking in all public buildings and workplaces, including bars and restaurants.
The Bonzai Beach Club is a slice of surf paradise. It's known for its pizza and its atmosphere.
But starting June 1, you won't see anyone light up at the bar.
Owner Brent Lindner said, "There's going to be some adjustments but everyone who's been in the business over the years has known this was coming."
Lindner attended a city council meeting, where the vote was 8-2 in favor of a city smoking ban.
The city of Grand Island will go smoke free a full year before the rest of the state. Monday Grand Island City Council approved a city-wide smoking ban that takes effect June of this year.
The smoking ban passed by a vote of 8 to 2 at a special city council meeting Monday morning.
The ban takes effect June 1st in all public places.
The Grand Island City Council voted Monday to enact a citywide smoking ban, but removed a 10-foot arc rule from the new law.
The citywide smoking ban will go into effect June 1 a full year in advance of a statewide smoking ban approved last week.
"What we gain is 365 days of clean air in public places," said Councilman Kirk Ramsey.
Katrinka Fullerton finished a cigarette after lunch at Leanne's Restaurant in Cortland on Wednesday, the day after Gov. Dave Heineman signed into law a statewide smoking ban that will go into effect in June 2009.
Fullerton, 41, said she didn't much care one way or another that smoking will be banned in bars, restaurants and most other work places. She'll still eat at Leanne's.
The three men sitting with her had different opinions.
"In the restaurants, it should have been (banned) years ago," said Fullerton's husband, Dean, 60. "But it should be left alone in bars."
All Nebraska workplaces, including restaurants, bars and gaming facilities, will be smoke-free beginning June 1, 2009, thanks to legislation overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature last week and signed into law today by Governor Dave Heineman. Governor Heineman and the Legislature have delivered a historic victory for public health and protected the right of all Nebraskans to breathe clean air. Nebraska is the 23rd state to pass a strong smoke-free law that includes restaurants and bars. Nebraska's smoke-free law adds to the growing momentum across the country and around the world to protect all workers and the public from the serious health hazards of secondhand smoke. No one should have to put their health at risk in order to earn a paycheck or enjoy a night out.
We congratulate the legislators, organizations and businesses that have championed this critical public health measure, including the Partnership for Smokefree Nebraska, the Nebraska Restaurant Association and Big Red Keno.
Nebraska joins 22 other states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico in passing smoke-free laws that cover restaurants and bars.
Gov. Dave Heineman on Tuesday signed into a law a statewide smoking ban that will go into effect in June 2009, outlawing smoking in bars, restaurants and most other workplaces.
"Some of our customers aren't going to be very happy," said Eliza Lee, who works at one of the only restaurants in Ainsworth that allows smoking, The Depot.
But in the end, public health concerns trumped those of business owners who have said they have the right to let patrons partake in a legal activity.
"In weighing the merits of this bill, I took into account the valid concerns about local control and the rights of business owners, as well as the health concerns and the rights of the public to clean indoor air," Heineman said in a statement. "The public health concern is a critical one, and that is why I signed" the law.
It's been a long time coming for some state senators and Nebraska residents, but the Legislature on Friday gave its blessing to a statewide smoking ban.
The ban, nearly identical to Lincoln's three-year-old ban, will go into effect June 1, 2009, if Gov. Dave Heineman signs it within five days.
Heineman said he will review the bill and decide within that time period. The question, he said, is whether the public health issue overrides business concerns about government interfering in people's lives.
The pool halls include a bar and a delicatessen where “burgers and fries” are prepared. The buildings have 18-foot ceilings, and each building has six large “smoke eaters” to remove smoke. A warning sign posted on the front door of each pool hall states: “WARNING[:] ‘SMOKER FRIENDLY POOL HALL[.]’ The air in this building may be hazardous to your health[.] NON-SMOKERSE NTER AT AT [sic] YOUR OWN RISK [.] IT’S YOUR CHOICE[.] Cigarette Smoke Cleaned Electronically[.]” . . .
Prout testified that he had made no attempt to comply with the Act’s requirements. In fact, he did not believe it would be possible to come into compliance by modifying the pool halls. However, Falter, the Department’s representative, testified that Big John’s could divide the Omaha building into smoking and nonsmoking areas and thereby comply with the Act.
CONCLUSION
We find no error on the record. The record shows that the district court’s affirmance of the Department’s denial of a waiver conformed to the law, was supported by competent evidence, and was not arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable. The judgment of the district court is affirmed.