http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/CA.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=8336792&nav=9qrx http://tobacco.org/news/265396.html Eight Palm Desert stores were issued citations for allegedly selling tobacco to underage decoys, the Sheriff's Department reported Friday. Officers and three youths too young to buy cigarettes went to 36 locations in Palm Desert . . . In addition to criminal charges, the stores could be cited for violating the Palm Desert Municipal Code and face administrative penalties and a have their licenses to sell tobacco suspended for a month, Taylor said. Anyone who sees juveniles buying tobacco or alcohol in Palm Desert was asked to call Palm Desert police at (760) 836-3215. KESQ News Channel 3 Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_9265833 http://tobacco.org/news/265314.html CHICO -- In the future, smokers at Chico State University may be told to take a walk, if the campus elects a partial or total smoking ban on campus. The issue will up for a vote today at a meeting of the Academic Senate, beginning at 2:30 p.m. in Kendall Hall Room 207. A final order from President Paul Zingg would follow recommendations made by the Academic Senate. If passed, enactment of the new rules would be months away. Chico Enterprise-Record hhacking@chicoer.com (HEATHER HACKING-Staff Writer) Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_adctlid=v%7Cjq2q43wvsl855o%7Cx48lz4ng4qou43&xid=x48l5x5rfq8saa&done=search.php%3Fsearchparams%3Da%253A5%253A%257Bs%253A9%253A%2522issuedate%2522%253BN%253Bs%253A6%253A%2522author%2522%253BN%253Bs%253A5%253A%2522title%2522%253BN%253Bs%253A4%253A%2522body%2522%253BN%253Bs%253A12%253A%2522article_type%2522%253Bs%253A17%253A%25221192656582969_969%2522%253B%257D http://tobacco.org/news/265306.html the numbers tell a depressing story in Asian-American communities in particular. Research has shown that the numbers of deaths due to cancer is rising faster in Asian Americans than in any other ethnic group. In addition, lung cancer rates are 18 percent higher among Southeast Asian men than for Caucasians. And Asian American and Pacific Islander females are actually the only racial, ethnic or gender group in the nation for which cancer is the leading cause of death. In 2005, 1 out of 5 Asian American males smoked. Here in California, 36 percent of Korean American men and 32 percent of Vietnamese American men smoke cigarettes. Among cigarette smokers in California and Hawaii, Native Hawaiians and other Polynesians are more susceptible to and have higher incidence rates of lung cancer (263.9/100,000) than Whites, Japanese Americans, and Latinos. The numbers don't tell the story of the pain that these grim numbers symbolize for our families and friends. . . . The best way to seriously cut smoking rates is by ensuring that Medi-Cal, the state's health insurance program for the elderly, disabled and poor, covers the full range of smoking cessation services. Today. Medi-Cal only provides partial smoking cessation benefits and too few patients or doctors even know about these benefits. What's worse is that Medi-Cal's policy does not reflect the most current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and does not cover all FDA-approved smoking cessation medications. That needs to change. Assembly Bill 2662, (Dymally, D-Los Angeles) which is supported by the California Medical Association and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, will increase public awareness of the benefits available for Medi-Cal recipients in order to help smokers quit. . . . For decades, cigarette makers have prayed on the Asian community. Now, it's time to kick the habit once and for all. With Medi-Cal providing smoking cessation treatment for all recipients, California's Asian community may be able to break the tobacco addiction for good. Capitol Weekly Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107231.php http://tobacco.org/news/265235.html Geri Jenkins, RN President of the California Nurses Association, and nurse at UC San Diego Medical Center; called on voters to reject attacks by tobacco, oil, predatory lenders and health insurance companies on Assembly candidate Marty Block. "Voters need to know that the bad guys are trying to fool them," said Geri Jenkins, RN. "The Civil Justice Reform PAC is nothing more than a front for nearly $839,000 in dirty money." The PAC Californians For Balance And Fairness In The Civil Justice System, Sponsored By Civil Justice Association Of California has so far spent over $30,000 opposing candidate Marty Block in the race for the 78th Assembly District. The PAC is funded primarily by the tobacco, oil, health insurance industries as well as predatory lenders like Ameriquest and Countrywide. "This PAC is funded by the same people that claim tobacco and smoking aren't harmful. Medical News TODAY Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.modbee.com/local/story/293444.html http://tobacco.org/news/265228.html Although the numbers have dropped in recent years, the hard drinking and two-packs-a-day cigarette habit are threatening the health of many valley residents, says a study released Thursday. Central Valley residents outpace the rest of the state in alcohol and tobacco use. They also are more likely to die from heart attacks, strokes or cancer, health conditions often tied to smoking and alcohol abuse, says a Great Valley Center study on the health status of the Central Valley. . . . the San Joaquin Valley still has more smokers per capita than other regions of California. The valley has dropped close to 4 percentage points since 1999. "We know that smoking is a risk factor leading to lung cancer and heart disease," said Phoebe Leung, assistant director at the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency. "It definitely impacts the health of people in the county." It's well-known that smokers have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic lung problems. Pregnant women who smoke run the risk of miscarriage and other pregnancy complications. Modesto Bee metro@modbee.com (KEN CARLSON) Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/05/12/ap4996977.html http://tobacco.org/news/265217.html The Supreme Court rejected an appeal Monday by a California smoker who alleged the multibillion dollar tobacco settlement between 46 states and the four major cigarette companies was anticompetitive and violated antitrust laws. Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Brown & Williamson and Lorillard Inc. agreed in November 1998 to pay the states more than $200 billion over 25 years as part of the settlement. In June 2004, Steve Sanders sued the four companies and the state of California, arguing that the terms of the agreement effectively penalized tobacco companies if they gained market share. Tobacco companies would have to make larger payments to the states if they cut prices and increased their sales relative to rivals, Sanders said in court filings. AP Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/212231-u.s.-supreme-court-rejects-smokers-lawsuit http://tobacco.org/news/265216.html The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal Monday by a California smoker who alleged the $206 billion tobacco settlement between 46 states and the four major cigarette companies violated antitrust laws. As a part of the multi-state settlement, Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Brown & Williamson and Lorillard Inc. agreed in November 1998 to pay the states to settle claims by the states for smoking related costs they incur. Without comment, the nation's high court declined to hear the case that Steve Sanders brought originally in June 2004, when he sued the four tobacco companies and the state of California. Legal NewsLine csrizo@hotmail.com (Chris Rizo) Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20080512-708428.html http://tobacco.org/news/265215.html The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ended a California class-action lawsuit brought by smokers alleging a nationwide tobacco settlement violated federal antitrust laws and allowed tobacco companies to uniformly raise cigarette prices. The lawsuit was filed against California and all the major U.S. tobacco manufacturers in 2004. . . . The Supreme Court rejected the appeal without comment. . . . The case is Sanders v. Brown, 07-995. The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080509/news_1mc9smoke.html http://tobacco.org/news/265158.html Walking across the Palomar College main campus can seem like a stroll backward in time, to an era of prevalent and loosely restricted smoking. But students who have pushed for two years to keep the clouds of secondhand smoke limited to a few outdoor areas have cleared a major hurdle, despite objections from faculty and staff labor groups. If approved by the community college district board of trustees, the proposal would make five designated smoking areas the only places on campus where it is permissible to light up. San Diego Union-Tribune jeff.ristine@uniontrib.com (Jeff Ristine STAFF WRITER) Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.10news.com/news/16210151/detail.html?rss=sand&psp=news http://tobacco.org/news/265157.html San Diego police searched Friday for a cigarette-smoking bandit who robbed a kitchen store at gunpoint in Old Town. . . . The robber, who smelled of cigarettes, entered the business and demanded cash from a clerk at gunpoint, then fled on foot, Tom said. KGTV-Ch. 10 webstaff@10news.com Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.sacbee.com/roseville/story/918239.html http://tobacco.org/news/265156.html Two talented 14-year-olds have created art destined for high places. Jerreht Harris of Roseville and Janal Jansma of North Highlands crafted anti-smoking ads that will be featured on billboards overlooking busy roads and streets throughout greater Sacramento. Their separate designs were the top winners in the 15th annual anti-tobacco billboard design contest sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, it was announced last week. More than 8,300 students from Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties entered this year's contest, the goal of which is to persuade teens not to light up. Sacramento Bee esanchez@sacbee.com (Edgar Sanchez) Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://cbs2.com/local/Reno.Sacramento.Prison.2.720961.html http://tobacco.org/news/265136.html A former cook at a federal prison and his brother have plead guilty to accepting bribes to smuggle tobacco products to inmates. Federal prosecutors say 34-year-old Michael Megill sneaked chewing and smoking tobacco into the Federal Correctional Institution at Herlong and left it hidden for inmates to find. His brother, 32-year-old Jeremy Megill, arranged for payments from inmates' families for the deliveries. AP Sat, 10 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire9-2008may09,0,6215428.story http://tobacco.org/news/265065.html As city officials gathered today to celebrate Griffith Park's comeback a year after the devastating blaze that scarred 800 acres of its picturesque hills, authorities continue to assess whether to file charges against the man they believe started the fire. Los Angeles County prosecutors have refused to identify the man they detained soon after the fire broke out in the early afternoon of May 8, 2007, in Aberdeen Canyon, northeast of the Roosevelt Golf Course and near the Greek Theatre. . . . Described as a man in 20s who lives out of state, the suspect was questioned and eventually cited on suspicion of smoking in a restricted area. But no criminal charges have been filed in the case, which officials say remains under investigation. Part of what prosecutors must sort out is whether the alleged actions were intentional, criminally reckless or an accident. Los Angeles Times andrew.blankstein@latimes.com (Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer) Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20080509-9999-1mc9smoke.html http://tobacco.org/news/264994.html Walking across the Palomar College main campus can seem like a stroll backward in time, to an era of prevalent and loosely restricted smoking. But students who have pushed for two years to keep the clouds of secondhand smoke limited to a few outdoor areas have cleared a major hurdle, despite objections from faculty and staff labor groups. If approved by the community college district board of trustees, the proposal would make five designated smoking areas the only places on campus where it is permissible to light up. The proposed policy was approved on a 13-5 vote of the college's Strategic Planning Council this week. San Diego Union-Tribune jennifer.davies@uniontrib.com (Jeff Ristine UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER) Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/16183247/detail.html?rss=dgo&psp=news http://tobacco.org/news/264865.html Another county beach is on its way to being added to the list of places where smoking is banned. The Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to draft an ordinance banning smoking on Carlsbad beaches. The Council will vote on the ordinance in early June. NBC San Diego 7/39 webstaff@NBCSandiego.com Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT