http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/TX.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/may/13/richardson-city-council-bans-smoking-most-business/ http://tobacco.org/news/265273.html On Monday, the Richardson City Council passed tighter smoking regulations which will eliminate smoking in many public areas. The decision came after seven public meetings that sometimes created contentious public debates including some tension between council members. Exemptions were added for bars and businesses that primarily exist to sell tobacco. The new regulations would ban smoking in most restaurants. Exceptions would be made for patio areas that are more than 10 feet away from the main entrance . . . The president of the University of Texas at Dallas student government presented a declaration by the student government council opposing a smoking ban specifically because of the hookah bar issue. He stated that many students attend the hookah bars as a way to relax and to socialize. The declaration was made in part because in previous meetings some proponents of a ban argued that smokers were likely to be less educated. This irritated some professionals who apparently are regular customers at the hookah establishments. With this UTD declaration council member John Murphy declared the idea that all smokers are less educated as "debunked." Still some audience members still thought the regulations did not protect hookah bars Pegasus News Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/DN-richsmoking_07met.ART.State.Edition1.466bb90.html http://tobacco.org/news/265264.html After making a few tweaks, Richardson City Council members are expected to vote today on an ordinance that would force all but a few businesses to go smoke-free. While the council remains deeply divided on whether to enact some of the toughest smoking rules in North Texas, a slim majority appears to have come to a resolution on what the ban will include. Last week, council members settled on a proposed ordinance that would: •Ban smoking in public parks and at outdoor public events. •Ban smoking in all businesses, including restaurants and bars. Retailers that make 90 percent or more of their revenue from tobacco sales would be exempt. Denton Record-Chronicle imccann@dallasnews.com (IAN McCANN / The Dallas Morning News) Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/051408dnmetdalsmokingban.f84b15ae.html http://tobacco.org/news/265261.html Dallas County commissioners voted this morning to ban smoking in the county's new landscaped outdoor plaza. Founders Plaza is now officially added to the list of designated non-smoking areas in hopes of making the area more friendly to visitors and eliminating the eyesore of discarded cigarette butts. Outdoor smoking bans have created controversy in other American cities because there is no scientific evidence that walking by someone who's smoking outside creates a health hazard. The motive in some other cities was to discourage loitering. In Dallas County, it's for different aesthetic reasons: employees are littering the plaza with cigarette butts. Dallas Morning News kkrause@dallasnews.com (KEVIN KRAUSE / The Dallas Morning News) Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5771568.html http://tobacco.org/news/265249.html You could call it the deal that keeps on giving. The five plaintiffs' lawyer firms that helped then-Attorney General Dan Morales score a $17.3 billion settlement for state government against the tobacco industry 10 years ago continue to benefit from their estimated $3.3 billion in legal fees. . . . Republicans, including then-Gov. George W. Bush, fought the fees, fearing that much of the money would end up in Democratic campaigns. And it has . . . But with Democrats fighting to regain a majority of the Texas House during this election or in 2010 -- Republicans now hold a 79-71 edge -- the tobacco money could become important in some legislative races this fall. Much of it will be routed through Texans for Insurance Reform, a trial lawyer committee that has drawn heavy financial support from three members of the anti-tobacco team -- John Eddie Williams of Houston, Walter Umphrey of Beaumont and Harold Nix of Daingerfield. The PAC backed more losers than winners in several primary races (Democratic and Republican) this spring. In Houston, it gave more than $17,000 to Armando Walle, who unseated Rep. Kevin Bailey, a Democrat with ties to Republican Speaker Tom Craddick. But it lost more than $130,000 backing an unsuccessful primary challenger to another Craddick Democrat, Rep. Kino Flores of Palmview. Houston Chronicle clay.robison@chron.com (CLAY ROBISON) Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=8308988&nav=0s3cG3mA http://tobacco.org/news/265197.html The fire department has ruled an overnight fire accidental. Thirteen people are looking for a new home after a cigarette sparked the fire at an apartment complex at 1917 Hearthstone just after 2 a.m. Monday. KXAN-TV36 Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.courier-gazette.com/articles/2008/05/12/breaking_news/55.txt http://tobacco.org/news/265191.html Beginning at 4 a.m. Monday morning, city crews plan to reopen the section of F.M. 3537 that has been closed all day due to a nearby fire fueled by hay bales. Fire investigators have also determined a discarded cigarette started the fire, which forced the closure of F.M. 3537, between Independence and Custer Road, early this morning. This section of roadway is commonly called 'East Main Street'. McKinney Courier-Gazette Sun, 11 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Association_honors_0506.d330269e.html http://tobacco.org/news/265183.html State Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, received the American Heart Association’s “Heart of Honor” award for her contributions to a House bill to help reduce heart disease and stroke. “I was so proud to have been a part of it,” she said Monday at the awards ceremony at Presbyterian Hospital of Denton. Denton Record-Chronicle kramirez@dentonrc.com (Karina Ramírez / Staff Writer) Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kvii.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=132998 http://tobacco.org/news/265180.html Speak Out Amarillo along with most of the smoking community was excited to go 2 for 2 by rejecting the smoking ban issue yesterday. The vote was extremely close, just like it was back in 2005. 238 votes made all the difference in the controversial smoking ban issue. That may sound like a lot, but when you compare that to the nearly 17,000 total votes, it gives special meaning to the phrase, every vote counts. One person we spoke with says everybody is entitled to their own opinion as long as it doesn't infringe on anyone else's rights. "If it is far away, if they can have one section for it, that's fine. But if its just throughout the whole restaurant, its not fine. I don't agree with it," says Amarillo Resident I-esha Lair. The final tally came to 8,163 in favor of the smoking ban, and 8,401 against the ban. Why did only a small percentage of citizens make their voices heard? Many of the people we spoke with remained on the fence with this issue and didn't think either side was absolutely right. ProNews 7 Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kvii.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=133172 http://tobacco.org/news/265169.html the proposed smoking ban for the City of Amarillo has been snuffed by voters. Now after two tries, what's next for the folks with Breathe Easy Amarillo? After the election Saturday night, Ken Cargle told us ProNews 7 it was too early to decide what to do next. We got in touch with him again Monday and he tells us Breathe Easy has not met since Saturday, so there are no future plans to put this on the ballot again. City Commissioner Jim Simms says that even if they tried, they'd have to wait at least 90-days before starting another petition, and it couldn't even get on the ballot until next year. ProNews 7 Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://myhighplains.com/content/fulltext/?cid=8459 http://tobacco.org/news/265168.html Polling places close at 7 p.m. and if you still want to vote you must go to your correct precinct. The smoking ban didn't pass back in 2005 and this year only about 7,300 people made it to the polls for early voting. In 2005 we saw twice the turnout. If the ban does pass it will mean no smoking in public places like restaurants or bars, and no smoking within 10 feet of the entrance or window. KCIT-TV Fox14 / KCPN-LP kcpn33  Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA051108.smokingban.KENS.f0d95791.html http://tobacco.org/news/265131.html Five years ago, San Antonio passed a smoking ban, but some detractors say we just didn't go far enough. Here, many restaurants still allow smoking in separate enclosed areas or on patios. Smoking is also allowed in stand-alone bars. But since San Antonio passed its ban in 2003, hundreds of cities across the country have passed stricter smoking bans, including Kerrville. Voters in Kerrville banned smoking nearly everywhere -- bars, parks and even city sidewalks. San Antonio Express-News Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.amarillo.com/stories/051108/new_10295511.shtml http://tobacco.org/news/265121.html Amarillo residents have once against snuffed out a citywide smoking ban. Amarillo's second attempt at a smoking ban Saturday was as close as its 2005 try. With all precincts reporting in, those against the ban had 50.72 percent of the vote. "Everyone wants to change our way of life," said Scott Camarata, who heads Speak Out Amarillo, a group opposing the ban. "There's nothing wrong with the way our life is now." . . . Camarata thanked the assembled group Saturday night at Cafe Marizon, the Polk Street eatery where supporters gathered to wait for the results. The ban is being supported by Breathe Easy Amarillo, a reincarnation of a 2005 anti-smoking group that got the issue back on the ballot. Breathe Easy raised more than $31,000 based on campaign reports and focused on direct mailing, TV advertisements and telephone solicitation to drum up support for the ban. "I think it's pretty obvious Amarillo voters are split down the middle on this issue," said Ken Cargle, chair of Breathe Easy. "If you can have a tie, this is a tie." Amarillo Globe-Times newsroomfb@amarillo.com (Sean Thomas) Sun, 11 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20080511/OPINION04/805100349 http://tobacco.org/news/265071.html If I were "silver tongued" and fluent of speech, like Barack Obama, I would plead my case before the council. Being not so, I will try the printed page. Due to the anti-smoking hysteria in the last 40 years, smoking numbers have declined. Smokers have no large lobby protecting their rights, no large number of oxen are being gored. Once again, I request the ban be modified so people can smoke outside in the open air. This ban unless modified will surely gore my ox. Tyler Morning Telegraph Sun, 11 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.khou.com/news/state/stories/khou080508_mh_BalletAustinfirefolo.df7fcca8.html http://tobacco.org/news/265056.html Austin fire investigators say a discarded cigarette sparked a fire at the Ballet Austin building in Central Austin. The historic building caught fire Tuesday night. KHOU CBS 11 Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://myhighplains.com/content/fulltext/?cid=8450 http://tobacco.org/news/265044.html At stake in Saturday's election, Amarillo's smoking ordinance. If the ban passes, you won't be able to smoke in public places in Amarillo. KCIT-TV Fox14 / KCPN-LP kcpn33  Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT