http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/org/kbd.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.demopolistimes.com/articles/2008/04/23/serendipity/serendipity9828.txt http://tobacco.org/news/264179.html In recognition of Kick Butts Day on April 2, sixth-grade students at Demopolis Middle School had a chance to "kick butts" during a poster contest demonstrating the dangers of tobacco use. The students joined thousands across the country who were taking part in Kick Butts Day, a nationwide initiative that makes kids leaders in the effort to stop youth tobacco use. Demopolis Times Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kltv.com/global/story.asp?s=8107701 http://tobacco.org/news/263397.html Many East Texans participated in an event to encourage students to live tobacco free lives. Wednesday is Texas Tobacco-Free Kids Day and students at schools across East Texas demonstrated on the downtown Tyler square, wore t-shirts, and learned about the awareness of tobacco use and second hand smoke. At various schools 66 teachers and students wore black shirts with tobacco facts on the font and back. The number 66 represents the number of people that die every day in Texas from tobacco related deaths. KLTV ABC 7 dcapper@kltv.com Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080412/NEWS01/804120316/1002/NEWS01 http://tobacco.org/news/263131.html In honor of Kick Butts Day, the Coshocton County stand team, an anti-tobacco teen group, has teamed up with Coshocton Behavioral Health Choices and Kids America to free the community of tobacco trash. The theme, Do your part to clean up our community! 'Bag the Butts and Stuff the Snuff,' urges a tobacco trash community cleanup. From 9 to 11 a.m. every Saturday in April, the community is invited to drop off tobacco trash at a specially marked dumpster located at Kids America Coshocton Tribune Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://media.www.signal-online.net/media/storage/paper771/news/2008/04/09/News/College.And.Local.Students.Team.Up.To.kick.Butts-3310804.shtml http://tobacco.org/news/263042.html Students demonstrated against tobacco use last week for 'Kick Butts Day,' aimed at educating students of all ages. Rebel U at the College, local high schools and other colleges collaborated to kick off "Project 1200," an anti-smoking demonstration, at the College last week, according to Ermal Bojdani, Rebel U president. The Signal Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.republicanherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19466195&BRD=2626&PAG=461&dept_id=532624&rfi=6 http://tobacco.org/news/262990.html Today, 370 youths will simultaneously fall to the ground on the Schuylkill County Courthouse lawn. They represent the number of county residents who die each year from tobacco use-related diseases, according to the county's Busted! Teens Kickin' Nicotine group. One purpose of the 2008 Kick Butts Day DROP II Extravaganza -- to be held today from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. -- is for TKN to restate its goal. "We have to spread the message that tobacco use is extremely dangerous to our health and it will eventually limit the goals and expectations we strive to accomplish," said Kelly Kalovcak, TKN public relations manager and a senior at Minersville Area Junior/Senior High School. . . . According to the TKN Web site, www.smokefreeyouth.org/tknhome.htm, today's program will include speeches from the county commissioners as well as recognition of community leaders, businesses and organizations for their contributions to tobacco-use prevention. TKN members are hoping their voices will be heard by legislators. "We would appreciate very much if they would enforce a smoke-free bill in Pennsylvania," Kalovcak said. Pottsville Republican brissmiller@republicanherald.com (BRANDY RISSMILLER STAFF WRITER ) Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.stowsentry.com/news/article/3597301 http://tobacco.org/news/262989.html Cuyahoga Falls -- He's tired of breathing in secondhand smoke. And he's letting everyone know. Munroe Falls resident Tyler Fisher, 12, hosted a rally April 5 at the Falls River Square Amphitheater in Cuyahoga Falls in an effort to bring awareness about the harmful effects of cigarette smoking. He organized the rally as part of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' 13th annual Kick Butts Day, which was officially scheduled for April 2. Approximately 20 people listened to the Kimpton Middle School seventh-grader talk about the harmful substances in cigarettes. "We're standing up against Big Tobacco targeting youth," Tyler said after the rally, which he said was the first of several events he intends to organize. Stow Sentry stowsentry@recordpub.com (Holly Schoenstein Reporter) Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.republicanherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19470628&BRD=2626&PAG=461&dept_id=532624&rfi=6 http://tobacco.org/news/262988.html Those statistics ignited members of "Busted! Teens Kickin' Nicotine" with a desire to make people aware of the dangers. On Wednesday, during the 2008 Kick Butts Day DROP II, 370 students from 12 area schools simultaneously fell onto the Schuylkill County Courthouse lawn, representing the county residents who lose their lives annually from tobacco use. After the students stayed on the ground for one minute, Kelly Kalovcak, TKN public relations manager and a senior at Minersville Area High School, said tobacco "isn't finished killing in Schuylkill County," prompting 55 students to stand up. . . . A six-member state House/Senate panel was expected to vote April 1 on a new version of Senate Bill 246, which either would exclude smoking in nearly all public places or allow exceptions, according to The Associated Press. The panel voted 4-2 delay action until April 29. "This bill cannot be delayed again," Wally Choplick, TKN Web site manager and senior at Shenandoah Valley High School, said. "Locally, we encourage all Schuylkill County residents to reach out to their senators and representatives to share their thoughts about the smoke-free workplace legislation and support SB 246." Pottsville Republican brissmiller@republicanherald.com (BRANDY RISSMILLER STAFF WRITER ) Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.picayune-times.com/showstory.heitml?show=t&k.number=20378&pubname=times&headline=Smokers+to+pledge%2C+%22no+smoking+in+home%2C+cars%22 http://tobacco.org/news/262844.html The Gurdon School District Coordinated School Health will be sending home "Smoke-free Home and Car" pledges to the parents of students in grades K-8 next week. "In recognition of the National Kick-Butts Day on April 2, 2008, we are asking for parents to join us in the fight against second-hand smoke by committing to be a smoke-free home and car family." said Lisa Turner, Gurdon Coordinated School Health Coordinator. When the student returns the pledge card to their teacher their name will be entered into a drawing for a $25 and $50 Wal-Mart gift card. The deadline for the pledge cards is April 11, 2008. Nevada County Picayune nevadacountypicayune@yahoo.com Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.csnews.com/csn/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003785610 http://tobacco.org/news/262767.html In the wake of the recently adopted policy of Wegmans Food Markets and a few other upstate New York grocers not to carry tobacco products, emboldened anti-smoking advocates introduced ads this week urging other supermarket operators in the state to dump cigarettes as well. Two separate full-page ads ran in major upstate New York state newspapers, one sponsored by the state Department of Health and the other by the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition, a group consisting of health groups and medical providers. The ads coincided with Kick Butts Day on April 3, which encourages young people to take action against tobacco use at over 2,000 events across the nation. The ad from the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition noted that Wegmans and two smaller grocers in the state, DeCicco Family Markets of Yonkers and Budwey's of Buffalo, have instituted no-tobacco policies; and asked, "When will area supermarkets put health before profits by kicking butts?" The ad from the Health Department showed images of wholesome food found in supermarkets, with a pile of cigarettes in the center, and posed the question, "Which item doesn't belong?" Convenience Store News Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/539315/?sc=rsmn http://tobacco.org/news/262691.html In an effort to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and to help teen smokers quit, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center marked the 13th annual National Kick Butts Day today by announcing a proactive plan to expand the use of its ASPIRE Web site to students nationwide through collaborations with state education and health agencies. Newswise Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x1091562846 http://tobacco.org/news/262660.html This week, Family Guidance Center of Ironton held "Guitar Hero" tournaments as part of Kick Butts Day at two Lawrence County middle schools, challenging students' skills on the video game and offering them more reasons to say no. "I told them we promote young and old people living a healthy lifestyle," prevention and development manager Mollie Stevens said to more than 40 Chesapeake Middle School students Thursday afternoon. "That segued to why we're here, to have good and clean fun." Huntington Herald-Dispatch Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/area_high_schoolers_lead_in_fight_against_youth_tobacco_use/3552/ http://tobacco.org/news/262633.html Area high school students kicked butts Wednesday when they became leaders in the fight against youth tobacco use. During the 13th annual Kick Butts Day, students gathered in front of E.C. Glass High School for a press conference followed by a cigarette butt cleanup. "Smoking is a big problem and we're trying to solve it," said Brookville High School junior Genelle Smith, while holding a sign emblazoned with the message: "Keep your butt in your car, the Earth is not your ash tray." The day, spearheaded by Centra Health, is a national event created to raise awareness about the harms of tobacco use and secondhand smoke, especially among teens. It also called attention to continued tobacco marketing and sales to teens. Lynchburg News & Advance amccallum@newsadvance.com (Annie McCallum) Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=100949&catid=57 http://tobacco.org/news/262631.html April 2 is Kick Butts Day in North Carolina and in an effort to encourage more people to quit smoking, four Lexington restaurants are going smoke-free. Davidson County Health officials are working with restaurants in the "World Capital of Barbecue" as part of a smoke-free dining campaign, to offer a healthier environment in the county for employees and customers. In a news release Tim Myers of John Wayne's Barbecue said he surveyed his adult customers to ask their opinion about going smoke-free, and 80 percent supported the idea. Myers says going smoke-free is a tough business decision, but one that makes sense for those with asthma, other health problems, and families with children. WFMY NEWS 2 news@wfmy.com Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2008/2008-04-02_commissioner_urges_supermarkets_to_kick_tobacco.htm http://tobacco.org/news/262605.html State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., today is urging New York State supermarkets to be good neighbors and stop selling tobacco products. In a full-page ad in major upstate newspapers, Commissioner Daines appealed to stores to discontinue the advertising and sale of tobacco products, following the lead of three food market chains that have already done so. "Grocery stores are very important members of the community and New Yorkers need their leadership on this issue," Commissioner Daines said. "This is the only product being sold by food markets that, when used as intended, will kill their customers and increase the number of those dying from devastating diseases like cancer." Commissioner Daines noted that some food market chains have in recent months decided to stop selling tobacco products and that others stores should, too. "Stores which adopt a no-tobacco sales policy would be recognized as community and industry leaders," said Commissioner Daines. New York State Department of Health Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.patriotledger.com/news/x948021449 http://tobacco.org/news/262594.html Bob Mehrman does not have to tell people to stop smoking; he lets his voice do the talking. Mehrman, 80, a former Boston radio personality, used an electrolarynx to speak through a hole in his throat after he had his vocal cords, larynx and voice box removed 18 years ago when cancer caused by smoking was found on his vocal cords. "For anybody to lose their natural voice is a disaster," Mehrman said, his mechanical and robotic voice filling the Galvin Middle School gym Wednesday. "I breathe through this hole in my neck. I cough, I sneeze through this hole in my neck. I no longer have any connection between my nose and my mouth ... I can't blow up a balloon, I can't blow a whistle, I can't do any of these things, but I'm still here," he said. Mehrman was a guest speaker for the second annual "Kick Butts Day" promoted by Tobacco Free Mass., a coalition of health organizations that advocates prevention and quitting of tobacco use. Quincy Patriot Ledger lcampenella@ledger.com (L.E. Campenella The Patriot Ledger) Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT