http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/KS.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.kdheks.gov/tobacco/download/TobaccoReport.pdf http://tobacco.org/news/265332.html Recommendations for state tobacco prevention and cessation programs are best summarized in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs (2007). In this updated guidance document, CDC recommends that states establish tobacco control programs that are comprehensive, sustainable, accountable and include the following programmatic elements: public education efforts, community and school-based programs, cessation programs, enforcement efforts, and monitoring and evaluation. The empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs is vast and growing. Data from a number of states that have implemented programs consistent with the CDC guidelines show significant reductions in youth and adult smoking. The most powerful evidence, however, comes from national studies that look across states and control for as many of the relevant confounding factors as possible. These rigorous studies consistently show the positive effects to health of tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Kansas’ efforts have introduced components of a comprehensive program in communities across the state. As a result, 44 counties have initiated strategies from at least one component of a comprehensive program and are poised to launch full-scale programs that replicate the recommendations of the national guidelines. Some communities have already implemented strategies from more than one component and evidenced successful results. However, as science has shown, to achieve the most success these components must be implemented statewide and simultaneously. Considering the strides that Kansas has made in tobacco control, it should capitalize on the partnerships that exist at the state and local levels by investing in science- based interventions to advance success in reducing the use of and exposure to tobacco. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/18972494.html http://tobacco.org/news/265329.html The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently released the Tobacco Use in Kansas 2007 Status Report. This report highlights current Kansas adult and youth tobacco use statistics, efforts to reduce tobacco use, information about the health effects of secondhand smoke and recommendations to improve tobacco prevention in Kansas. To view the full report visit www.kdheks.gov/tobacco. “Tobacco use remains the most preventable cause of death and disease in the U.S. and in Kansas,” said Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary of KDHE. KAKE TV Channel 10 news@kake.com Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2008/05/05/daily28.html?ana=from_rss http://tobacco.org/news/264896.html A divided Wichita City Council on Tuesday gave its nod of approval to an indoor smoking ban. The measure, crafted as a compromise but passed by just a 4-3 vote, applies to any business that admits people younger than 18. That means bars are exempt so long as they keep out minors and post warning signs about second-hand smoke. The vote was only an initial one. The measure comes up again in June for a second reading, likely with some minor changes. Wichita Business Journal Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kansas.com/news/story/396223.html http://tobacco.org/news/264841.html The City Council approved an indoor smoking ban Tuesday in all Wichita businesses that allow people under age 18 though the doors. But bars may remain smoker-friendly if they keep minors out and post a sign at each entrance warning that it could be smoky inside. The ban would go into effect in late August or early September at the earliest. The council will have a second-reading vote June 3 to formally enact it. The city also opted to ban smoking at Century II and Mid-Continent Airport, the only two city-owned facilities that still allow smoking. Wichita Eagle bwistrom@wichitaeagle.com (BRENT D. WISTROM The Wichita Eagle) Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://blogs.kansas.com/gov/2008/05/05/expect-a-smokin-debate-on-the-smoking-ban-tuesday/ http://tobacco.org/news/264807.html Now it appears the Big Day has come. The Council is finally poised to discuss and vote on a smoking ban. And everyone seems to expect a showdown. Clean Air Wichita, for example, announced by e-mail that speakers from the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, a local health care group and their leaders will be at the meeting. They oppose the ban because they say it doesn't go far enough -- they want something that bans smoking at all businesses, not just food service businesses. The votes line-up in favor of the compromised ban Wichitopekington Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kansas.com/news/updates/story/395685.html http://tobacco.org/news/264803.html The Wichita City Council today approved a smoking ban in all businesses that allow people under age 18 through the doors. People can still smoke at bars as long as the bar posts a sign warning of the health danger and keeps minors out. It will be months before the ban goes into effect. Wichita Eagle Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-05-2008/0004806370&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/264783.html According to new research findings published today in the Southern Medical Journal, if Kentucky fails to implement and enforce strong tobacco control policies more than 17,000 state residents will needlessly die prematurely from smoking over just the next fifteen to twenty years. Kentucky currently has the highest adult smoking rate in the United States. Kentucky also has weak public policies addressing smoking, with a cigarette tax ranked 46th of all states and tobacco control expenditures ranked 39th among states. Using a model called SimSmoke, researchers from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation studied the effect such policies can have on future smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths in Kentucky. SimSmoke is a computer simulation of tobacco control policy effects developed by David Levy, Ph.D., the study's author and a senior research scientist at PIRE. . . . The model examined the impact of tobacco control policies specifically recommended in the Healthy People 2010 goals, PR Newswire Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kansas.com/news/local/story/392424.html http://tobacco.org/news/264583.html The American Lung Association and Clean Air Wichita announced Friday that they will oppose the proposed smoking ban Wichita City Council members will consider next week. In a statement, the association said Wichita's "flawed" proposal "creates an uneven playing field for businesses, makes enforcement difficult and does not protect the health of all people in Wichita." Meanwhile, Clean Air Wichita, which has pressed for a "comprehensive" smoking ban, also criticized the proposed ban, saying in an e-mail to its members that the group "does not want to settle for this watered-down ordinance." Under the proposed ordinance, which appears to have enough council support to pass, indoor smoking would be banned at any food service business that allows people under age 18 to enter. Wichita Eagle bwistrom@wichitaeagle.com (BRENT D. WISTROM The Wichita Eagle) Sat, 03 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.thekansan.com/news/x1632314095 http://tobacco.org/news/264562.html The clean-air ordinance that went into effect in Newton in January doesn’t seem to be affecting businesses negatively — or positively — as some had predicted. While the afternoon coffee drinkers might not come in on a regular basis anymore and some smoking travelers may keep moving, they have been replaced with people who appreciate the smokeless environment. “It’s nice going into a place and not having to put up with the smoke,” said Norman Vogts of Hutchinson, whose wife recently passed away from emphysema. “I used to be a trucker, and they don’t need to smoke in (the restaurants).” Vern and Lu Nutters of McPherson agree. Newton Kansan aaron.budge@thekansan.com (Crystal Hoffman Newton Kansan) Sat, 03 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kansas.com/news/updates/story/391760.html http://tobacco.org/news/264525.html The American Lung Association today ramped up its opposition to the partial smoking ban Wichita City Council members will consider next week. In a statement, the association said Wichita's "flawed" proposal "creates an uneven playing field for businesses, makes enforcement difficult and does not protect the health of all people in Wichita." Meanwhile, Clean Air Wichita, which has pressed for a "comprehensive" smoking ban, also criticized the proposed ban, saying the group "does not want to settle for this watered-down ordinance." Under Wichita's proposed ordinance, indoor smoking would be banned at any food service business that allows people under the age of 18 to enter. But it won't affect non-food businesses. And it allows people to smoke in bars that post signs indicating they allow smoking, bar anyone under 18 from entering and pay a $250 annual license fee. Wichita Eagle Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kansas.com/news/story/391074.html http://tobacco.org/news/264524.html After months of discussion, the Wichita City Council is ready to vote Tuesday on an ordinance that would ban indoor smoking at any food-service business that allows people under the age of 18. That would end smoking in most cafes and restaurants, and it would let bars allow smoking if they keep out kids under 18, post a sign on the front door and pay a $250 annual licensing fee. . . . Carol Thompson, a Galette regular, said she looks forward to the day when she can go into any restaurant and not have to worry about her sinuses. She and her friends seek out smoke-free restaurants. Wichita Eagle bwistrom@wichitaeagle.com (BRENT D. WISTROM The Wichita Eagle) Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/589311.html http://tobacco.org/news/264039.html Kansas City, Kan., residents who want to follow Kansas City's example and adopt a wide-ranging smoking ban may find a recent survey interesting. The survey conducted by the Unified Government showed that 63 percent supported a ban on smoking in enclosed places of employment and all enclosed public spaces. It also showed that nearly 50 percent would want bars and private clubs exempted. Kansas City Star mwiebe@kcstar.com Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kansascitykansan.com/articles/2008/04/21/news/news1.txt http://tobacco.org/news/263943.html If the results of a community-wide survey empower Unified Govern-ment Commissioners, Kansas City, Kan., residents could expect to be asked to approve a smoking ban ordinance and a quarter-cent sales tax soon. The survey, administered by the UG's Research Division, was sent out to 3,500 KCK addresses in mid-January. Subtracting those sent to bad addresses and vacant lots, 2,739 were eventually delivered, and 775 surveys ultimately returned, a response rate of 28.3 percent. Kansas City Kansan nicks@kansascitykansan.com (SAM HARTLE, Kansan Staff Writer) Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.gctelegram.com/News/HNS-smoking-ban-4-19-08 http://tobacco.org/news/263683.html A proposed statewide ban on smoking inside most public places appears stalled in the Legislature. But debate on the matter looks to be far from over. Lawmakers left for their annual spring break earlier this month without voting on legislation that would outlaw smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces. A Senate committee endorsed a bill last month that provided a handful of exceptions to the ban but the measure never came up for discussion before the full chamber. Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, said it isn't likely to resurface after lawmakers return for their wrap-up session April 30. Garden City Telegram cgreen@dailynews.net (CHRIS GREEN) Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.esubulletin.com/articles/opinion/2008/04/10/quitting-smoking-hard-rewarding-road-travel http://tobacco.org/news/263224.html Today I'm ten days into a journey that, five years ago, I didn't think I would find myself in the midst of. Five years ago, I was just a 15-year-old kid with my whole life ahead of me and nothing prompting me to actually acknowledge that fact. In short, I might have been old enough to know better, but I was certainly young enough not to care. So I started smoking. Little did I know how hard it would be to quit. . . . I'm "sticking to my guns" when it comes to the rights of others to make their own decisions, however self-destructive they may be. I refuse to become a self-righteous, cigarette crushing ex-smoker simply because I've made a lifestyle change. Above all else, I know that quitting smoking doesn't happen out of sensitivity to the criticism of others or concern for the opinions of any collective society. It comes only from a personal choice, conviction and dedication to quitting, and only the smoker can make that choice. ESU Bulletin Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT