http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/KY.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.kentucky.com/179/story/495037.html http://tobacco.org/news/270238.html Urban County Councilman David Stevens' proposed revisions to Lexington's smoke-free law will be heard by the council's services committee on Sept. 9. Stevens introduced a proposal Tuesday that would close loopholes that exempt some workplaces and private organizations from complying with the law and would tighten the exemption for retail tobacco stores. Lexington Herald-Leader Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080819/NEWS01/808190411/1008/NEWS01 http://tobacco.org/news/270197.html Smoking bans don't cause financial hardship to bingo halls and other charitable gambling operations in Kentucky, according to a University of Kentucky study released yesterday. The findings run counter to the experience of some Louisville bingo supporters, who say there was a huge decline in revenue after metro government began enforcing a strict smoking ban in July 2007 that removed exemptions for the halls. The study, commissioned by UK's College of Public Health, looked at charitable gambling revenues before and after smoking bans took effect in 13 Kentucky counties, including Jefferson. It acknowledges that there has been a decline in charitable gambling revenue but says a number of other factors -- from unemployment to the high cost of gasoline -- have had an impact. The study found that total gross revenues, for all charitable gambling in all 13 counties, dropped by an average of $1.5million a quarter after enactment of the bans, an amount the study says is statistically insignificant. Data for the study came primarily from the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming. The study also used economic data, including unemployment rates and other labor force statistics, from the U.S. Department of Labor. Louisville Courier-Journal dklepal@courier-journal.com (Dan Klepal) Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/494218.html http://tobacco.org/news/270196.html Smoking could be prohibited in bingo halls and all workplaces, not just ones the public has access to, if a proposal to revise Lexington's 4-year-old smoke-free law is approved. Urban County Councilman David Stevens plans to introduce on Tuesday a smoking ban revision that would close loopholes that exempt some workplaces and private organizations and would tighten the exemption for retail tobacco stores. The goal of the changes is "to correct evasions in the law and to extend it to workplaces to protect more people," Stevens said. Lexington Herald-Leader mku@herald-leader.com (Michelle Ku) Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/494202.html http://tobacco.org/news/270195.html Smoking bans that have popped up around Kentucky haven't put a dent in bingo's bottom line, a new study shows. "We found there's really no link between smoke-free laws and bingo revenues, one way or the other," co-author Ellen Hahn said Monday. She is director of the University of Kentucky's Tobacco Policy Research Program. Bingo has been a major fund-raiser for a number of groups, including public-school sports and band booster clubs in Lexington. The study comes as the Urban County Council prepares to consider tweaking the city's 2003 indoor smoking ban. Among the proposed changes to be introduced at a council work session Tuesday is language that would clear the air in bingo parlors. Lexington Herald-Leader amead@herald-leader.com (Andy Mead) Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/NEWS0101/808140414 http://tobacco.org/news/270104.html Gov. Steve Beshear said yesterday that he continues to support an increase in Kentucky's cigarette tax as a way to raise revenue and cut the state's high rate of smoking. "Folks, I like to be number one in Kentucky," Beshear said, speaking at the monthly meeting of the Louisville Forum, a nonpartisan public-interest group. "But there are some things in Kentucky we're number one in that we ought to be ashamed of."' Kentucky has the nation's highest rate of smoking and one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the country -- currently ranking 47th, at 30 cents a pack. It also has some of the highest rates of smoking-related illnesses, including cancer, respiratory ailments and vascular and heart disease. Louisville Courier-Journal dyetter@courier-journal.com (Deborah Yetter) Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/NEWS01/808140397 http://tobacco.org/news/270087.html Asthma-related emergency room visits dropped sharply after Lexington's smoking ban took effect in 2004, according to a University of Kentucky study. The study, which researchers believe to be the first of its kind, assessed visits to emergency departments in four Lexington hospitals 40 months before the smoking ban and 32 months afterward, finding an average 22 percent decline in asthma visits -- 24 percent for adults and 18 percent for children up to 19 years old. "We can't say smoke-free laws cause these declines. We can say there's a significant relationship," said University of Kentucky nursing professor Ellen Hahn, one of seven authors of the study to be published in the September issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. "This adds to the growing body of evidence that we have significant health benefits from smoke-free laws." Louisville Courier-Journal lungar@courier-journal.com (Laura Ungar) Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/489076.html http://tobacco.org/news/270024.html Gov. Steve Beshear says he'll keep pushing for a higher state cigarette tax as a way to raise needed revenue and improve the health of Kentuckians. The governor made a pitch for additional state revenue in remarks Wednesday to the Louisville Forum, a nonpartisan, public issues group. He's been making similar comments in other stops around the state. AP Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/whas11_topstories_080813_breshear.436a9d4a.html http://tobacco.org/news/270023.html In an appearance before the Louisville Forum today, Governor Beshear was asked about his top priority. He replied that bringing in new revenue to the state was his number one priority. Watch this story That likely means higher taxes and that's bad news for smokers. Beshear tried and failed to get a 70-cent per pack increase in Kentucky's cigarette tax, which is currently 30-cents, third lowest in the country. When state lawmakers get back to Frankfort in January, he'll probably try again. WHAS-TV Channel 11 iteam@whas11.com Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.medwire-news.md/48/76939/Respiratory/Anti-smoking_legislation_cuts_asthma_hospitalizations.html http://tobacco.org/news/270007.html Eliminating second-hand cigarette smoke (SHS) exposure by enacting smoke-free legislation can decrease emergency department (ED) visits for asthma, according to US researchers. "The [US] National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Expert Panel on the diagnosis and management of asthma recently updated guidelines for the management of asthma, identifying SHS as a major trigger in asthma morbidity and recommending that clinicians advise their patients who have asthma not to smoke and to avoid involuntary exposure to SHS," Ellen Hahn and colleagues from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, explain in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. However, as the authors point out, "SHS is difficult to avoid unless legislation is passed to create smoke-free workplaces and public places in all communities." Hahn and team assessed ED visits for asthma in four hospitals before and after the implementation of smoke-free legislation in Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky. During the 32 months after implementation of a smoke-free law, the team found that there was a significant 22% decline in ED visits for asthma after controlling for seasonality, secular trends, and the demographics of the at-risk population. MedWire News Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.news-tribune.net/archivesearch/local_story_219094839.html http://tobacco.org/news/269868.html As more cities in Southern Indiana and Kentucky go smoke-free, Clarksville is becoming an island for smokers and establishments that cater to them. But a new study conducted by the University of Kentucky College of nursing shows that it may not be in the best interest for Clarksville businesses and residents. Indoor air pollution was found to be nearly 10 times higher in four Clarksville restaurants and one bar than across the river . . . The study was conducted using Persona Aerosol Monitors to measure the levels of fine particulate air pollution. A similar study was done in New Albany, and found that 10 businesses that allow smoking are exposing employees and customers to indoor air pollution three times above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard, according to ITPC. News-Tribune.net Evening News) Melissa.Moody@newsandtribune.com (MELISSA MOODY) Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.news-tribune.net/archivesearch/local_story_212173736.html http://tobacco.org/news/269866.html I have many friends who cross the river to be able to smoke indoors. When seeking a restaurant or bar for a relaxing meal or drinks, we come to New Albany. I eat out less often in Louisville than I ever did before their smoking ban. I never go to Louisville bars anymore, nor do my friends. . . . I know of restaurants that have closed or are struggling in Louisville, because they lost their smoking loyal bar customers. News-Tribune.net Evening News) newsroom@newsandtribune.com (Sandy Davidson, Louisville ) Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2008/august/23337.htm http://tobacco.org/news/269632.html Since its inception, the tobacco research and extension collaboration between the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has helped both universities successfully further and improve their tobacco research and extension efforts. “It’s a win-win-win-win situation for the University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, the tobacco industry and growers,” said Bob Miller, UK/UT tobacco breeding and genetics researcher. UK and UT combined efforts to meet the needs of both states in 1999 before the tobacco buyout. . . . Both states tobacco production guides are available at county extension offices in both states. Kentucky’s guide is available online at http://www.ca.uky.edu/Ag/Tobacco and Tennessee’s guide can be viewed at http://tobaccoinfo.utk.edu. SeedQuest Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808030453 http://tobacco.org/news/269536.html The issue of federal regulation of tobacco now sits with the Senate, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will play a key role in what happens next. The Kentucky Republican has until at least Sept. 8 to ponder his options. That's when Congress returns from the August recess it began Friday. The House last week passed legislation giving the federal Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco. The bill passed by a veto-proof margin of 326-12. The Senate is close to a veto-proof margin with 57 co-sponsors on a bill similar to the House's. . . . "The senator remains concerned that giving the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco will have a major impact on the thousands of Kentucky farm families who rely on the crop to make a living," McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer said. . . . He also has received more money from the tobacco industry than any other senator this election cycle -- $116,400, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Before you decide you know what McConnell will do, consider that the second-highest tobacco money recipient at $78,656 is Sen. John McCain, of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee and a co-sponsor of the Senate tobacco-control bill. In ninth place for tobacco contributions with $25,745 is Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and also a co-sponsor of the tobacco bill. Louisville Courier-Journal jcarroll@courier-journal.com Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/NEWS01/807310395 http://tobacco.org/news/269365.html The bill goes to the Senate, where a similar measure is awaiting action. Its fate, however, is uncertain because Senate Republicans, led by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are blocking action on bills as they press for votes on expanding domestic energy production. . . . The legislation is opposed by the Bush administration, which said in a position statement released yesterday that the federal government this year will spend almost $700 million to combat smoking. . . . Few tobacco companies have factories in Kentucky. But there are an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 tobacco farms in the state, said Roger Quarles, president of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association in Lexington. He said the tobacco control bill "in proper form could be beneficial to our producers." The legislation currently does not allow easy introduction of new tobacco products that are less harmful -- something Quarles said he would like the Senate to fix. Louisville Courier-Journal jcarroll@courier-journal.com (James R. Carroll) Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/25872534.html http://tobacco.org/news/269210.html Investigators now think a discarded cigarette likely sparked Monday night's fire at Deja Vu, on New Circle Road. The cigarette lit a column, holding up a canopy in the front of the building. WKYT-TV CBS 27 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT