http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/IL.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x392614169/Letter-Smoke-free-law-under-attack http://tobacco.org/news/333633.html Once again, the health of Illinois citizens is under attack by an effort to weaken the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. Rep. Anthony DeLuca of Chicago Heights recently introduced a bill to allow businesses to buy smoking licenses from local liquor control commissioners. Another bill would allow bars, strip clubs and other establishments, for a fee, to apply for smoking licenses, provided they installed filtration systems for the air. According to the American Cancer Society, "This bill is a potential setback for the health and well-being of the people of Illinois. If adopted, residents throughout the state will be denied the life-saving, public health protections of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act."? The ACS firmly believes that everyone deserves the right to breathe clean air, free of the cancer-causing poisons known to exist in secondhand smoke. . . . Illinois workers' desire to work in a smoke-free environment and to shop, eat out and breathe clean air doesn't matter to DeLuca. We must put a stop to this and not allow Illinois lawmakers to put their special interests above our health. State Journal-Register Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://triblocal.com/downers-grove/2012/02/09/man-arrested-twice-for-smoking-and-drinking-at-laundromat/ http://tobacco.org/news/333594.html A Westmont man was arrested for smoking cigarettes and drinking inside the same Downers Grove laundromat twice in two days, police said. Officers were called to Fairview Quick Wash, in the 5100 block of Fairview Avenue, by a frustrated customer who repeatedly told the 56-year-old man to put out cigarettes he was smoking inside the business, despite a prominent no-smoking sign and a statewide ban on smoking indoors in public spaces, according to a police report. Chicago Tribune bslodysko@tribune.com ( Brian Slodysko TribLocal reporter) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.chillicothetimesbulletin.com/newsnow/x1341770166/Illinois-Tobacco-Free-Communities-grant-assist-in-checking-Smoke-Free-Act-compliance http://tobacco.org/news/333592.html Local government officials announced a collaborative effort to enforce the Smoke-Free Illinois Act within the community. The Peoria City/County Health Department is providing Illinois Tobacco-Free Communities Grant funds to support coordination of local law enforcement efforts to conduct Smoke-Free Act compliance checks in public places where smoking is prohibited. The Smoke-Free Illinois Act prohibits smoking in virtually all public places in order to reduce exposure to second hand smoke. Chillicothe Times-Bulletin mgillespie@timestoday.com (Anonymous) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://northernstar.info/city/dekalb/article_160c1134-52cc-11e1-b570-0019bb30f31a.html http://tobacco.org/news/333572.html In Jan. 2011, State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, introduced legislation that would amend the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. The legislation would allow municipalities the choice to offer smoking licenses to eligible establishments. According to the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2008, smoking in virtually all public places and workplaces is prohibited, including educational institutions, restaurants and bars. Even if this legislation was to pass, DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen said he would not be in favor of offering licenses. "It's probably the most irresponsible piece of legislation introduced by a legislator," Povlsen said. Northern Star editor@northernstar.info Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.suntimes.com/news/10475987-418/tobacco-shop-wholesaler-sue-county-over-new-tax.html http://tobacco.org/news/333514.html A Chicago tobacco shop as well as a local wholesaler are trying to stamp out a new Cook County tax on cigars, snuff and loose tobacco, saying the tax language on the books is so “unconstitutionally vague” that “you’d have to hire a fortune teller” to determine its meaning. Arangold Corp., a tobacco wholesaler in suburban Northbrook, and Loop-based retailer Iwan Ries Co. recently filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court asking a judge to halt the tax, which kicks in March 1. The new tax — an expansion of the cigarette tax — was approved by the Cook County Board as part of the larger 2012 budget and was expected to bring in $9.6 million this year for the cash-strapped government. The lawsuit filed against Cook County and Revenue Director Zahra Ali calls the tax unconstitutional for a number of reasons, according to legal papers filed in circuit court, including when the tax is imposed. The attorney for the company questions whether the tax is imposed when the wholesaler receives a shipment or at the time it’s sold to the consumer. Chicago Sun-Times Reporter/ldonovan@suntimes.com (LISA DONOVAN Cook County Reporter/ldonovan) Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2012/02/05/99248694/index.xml http://tobacco.org/news/333464.html Five years later, there is a chance establishments such as Hill's Tap could pull out the ash trays again. State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, has introduced legislation in Springfield that would give municipalities a choice as to whether or not they want to offer smoking licenses for bars, casinos, veteran posts and adult entertainment clubs. Similar measures have failed in the past and support could be lacking; even the once-reluctant Hill sees little need to bring smoking back into bars. "I kind of like the clean air ... most people have gotten used to it," Hill said. "I don't know if it's been good or bad for business. Nobody has money anyway." DeLuca said he is not trying to circumvent the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, but give power back to local government. To prevent widespread exemptions, DeLuca included strict requirements for an organization to be eligible. For a bar to receive a license, it must prove less than 10 percent of revenue comes from food sales. DeKalb Daily Chronicle jengelhardt@shawmedia.com (JEFF ENGELHARDT) Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wrex.com/story/16647093/housing-authority-in-freeport-going-smoke-free http://tobacco.org/news/332958.html People living in Freeport public housing won't be able to smoke in their apartments much longer. All units will be smoke free by June 1st. The Housing Authority of the City of Freeport (HACF) says it had people fill out surveys about the smoking ban and most agreed with the idea. "Honestly, I've been a smoker for 25 years and I agree totally with it," Katrisha Shultheis lives in HACF's Parkside Apartments Complex. She feels the new smoking ban will promote better health and keep units clean. WREX-TV Channel 13 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.journalstandard.com/newsnow/x1368170583/Smoking-to-be-banned-on-Freeport-Housing-Authority-properties http://tobacco.org/news/332956.html Effective June 1, residents of properties owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Freeport will not be allowed to smoke on Housing Authority property. Smokers will not be allowed to smoke in their apartments or building and have to smoke 15 feet or more from HACF entrances. “HACF's board of directors unanimously approved the smoke-free policy in November to be added in the proposed modifications to the lease,” Larry Williams, executive director of HACF, said in a press release. Freeport Journal-Standard jtamborello@journalstandard.com ( Mike Moreau Correspondent) Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://parkridge.suntimes.com/news/10331089-418/officials-mull-zoning-exceptions-for-park-ridge-hookah-lounge.html http://tobacco.org/news/332927.html The Park Ridge Planning and Zoning Commission could hear a proposal later this month for a hookah lounge looking to open in the city. City Planner Jon Branham said a request for a text amendment allowing hookah establishments in the city could go before the commission for consideration at its Feb. 14 meeting. The business will also require approval of a special-use permit in order open. The city’s Zoning Ordinance currently does not contain provisions for establishments that allow the smoking of hookah water pipes. The hookah lounge is proposed for 114 Higgins Road. Plans call for it to sell tobacco products and allow customers to smoke hookah pipes inside, Branham said. A statewide ban prohibits smoking in all public places. But “hookah bars” are exempt Chicago Sun-Times jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com (JENNIFER JOHNSON) Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dailyillini.com/index.php/article/2012/01/committee_discusses_campus_smoking_ban http://tobacco.org/news/332905.html Faculty members and students are taking steps toward making a campus-wide smoking ban a reality. The Ad Hoc Committee Investigating a Smoke-Free Campus met Monday and was put together by the Office of the Chancellor as a response to a student vote in favor of progress toward a ban. The committee aims to examine the feasibility of a smoke-free campus, develop options for such a campus and make a recommendation to Chancellor Phyllis Wise, who will make the ultimate decision about the matter. This committee is also charged with developing a strategic plan for a change in policy, if that is the outcome. At its meeting Monday, the committee discussed examples of other large university campuses that have set forth their own smoke-free initiatives. The Daily Illini Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.videtteonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35947:ill-considers-loosening-smoking-ban-in-bars-restaurants&catid=60:newsstate&Itemid=53 http://tobacco.org/news/332882.html If the ban is loosened, individual bars, restaurants, and other facilities hosting events with tobacco products will be able to apply for a smoking license that would exempt them from the no smoking ban. “We think this is a terrible idea,” Katie Lorenz, American Lung Association communications manager, said. “The Smoke Free Illinois Act promotes public health and protects workers from disease and death caused by secondhand smoke,” Lorenz added. This new legislation would require all public places applying for a smoking license to have an air filtration system, which is not always effective at eliminating smoke. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, it was estimated that exposure to secondhand smoke kills at least 65,000 people a year in the United States who do not smoke, including 2,900 in Illinois. The Daily Vidette Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120125/news/701259734 http://tobacco.org/news/332834.html A small park district in unincorporated Lake County near Gurnee has become completely tobacco- and smoke-free. Grandwood Park Park District's policy, enacted through a board vote Jan. 11, applies to all property and vehicles. The decision came in the wake of a presentation by teenagers in the Lake County chapter of REALITY Illinois, a tobacco-prevention group. Park board Vice President Nancy Carlson said Wednesday the policy was the proper move, considering a vast majority of residents there don't use tobacco products. Round Lake Area Park District has a ban on using any tobacco products or smoking at all properties except its golf course, according to the Lake County Health Department. Buffalo Grove, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lindenhurst, Hawthorn Woods and Vernon Hills are among the communities where smoking in parks is prohibited. However, Grandwood Park went beyond the others by making work vehicles used by employees a tobacco- and smoke-free zone. Chicago Daily Herald hrrecruit@we-online.com (Bob Susnjara) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2381050&spid= http://tobacco.org/news/332687.html A 57-year-old man died Wednesday morning after his bed caught on fire while he was smoking and using an oxygen tank in the Little Village neighborhood. The man's bed caught on fire at 9:09 a.m. in the 3100 block of North Hamlin Avenue, police News Affairs Officer Darryl Baety said. Family members extinguished the fire and found him unresponsive. Andrzej Piotrowski, 57, of 3123 N. Hamlin Ave., was pronounced dead on the scene at 9:51 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. WLS-TV ABC7 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://triblocal.com/gurnee/community/stories/2012/01/grandwood-park-park-district-goes-tobacco-free/ http://tobacco.org/news/332671.html On January 11, the Grandwood Park Park District passed a policy making all its property and vehicles tobacco and smoke-free. This district is now Illinois' first completely tobacco-free park district. Teens in the Lake County chapter of REALITY Illinois, a tobacco prevention group, played a role in the District's decision. Last November, they presented information on tobacco-free parks to the board, including the benefits of tobacco-free parks for the environment, the community and overall public health. They also presented survey data they collected from over 1,200 Lake County residents and 150 residents in the Grandwood Park zip code. Survey results showed that 84 percent of residents support tobacco-free parks. Chicago Tribune TFLC@lakecountyil.gov (Lake County Health Department) Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/10133903-418/lowell-councilman-wants-to-repeal-smoking-ban-jaywalking-ordinance.html http://tobacco.org/news/332521.html One new town councilman would like to reignite the debate over the town’s smoking and jaywalking ordinances. New town councilman Edgar Corns, R-5, said he is ready to repeal the town’s smoking and jaywalking ordinances because the first is not business-friendly and the latter unfairly targets senior citizens crossing Commercial Avenue in the downtown shopping district. “I think we should set the jaywalking and smoking ordinances aside,” Corns said. Corns said while he was campaigning he heard from business owners who say the smoking ban still is causing them to lose business to neighboring communities, such as Cedar Lake, that do not have similar bans. The town should follow the state on the issue, he said. “It’s just my opinion. I’m trying to support the local businesses,” Corns said. Chicago Sun-Times Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT