http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/about.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.news-expressky.com/articles/2009/11/21/top_story/01free.txt http://tobacco.org/news/293112.html Pikeville College announced Friday that the school will be tobacco-free by the fall semester of 2010. The decision has not been endorsed by all faculty members, however. Some students and faculty feel their rights are being infringed upon. One of those students is Cathy Coleman, a social work and psychology major, who says the decision to ban smoking from the school was done without getting student opinions first. "We have rights as smokers just like people that don't smoke," she said. "We're paying to go to school here and we should be allowed to smoke if we choose to." Appalachian News-Express Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.uta.edu/president/about/messages/2009/nov20.php http://tobacco.org/news/293108.html Earlier this year, we convened a 15-member committee of students and staff to review UT Arlington's current policy regarding tobacco use on campus and to explore the possibility of advancing a tobacco-free initiative for the University. Jean Hood, vice president for human resources, chaired the Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative Committee. For almost eight months, the committee conducted a thorough assessment of issues and attitudes related to the use of tobacco products on campus. . . . In September, the committee issued its findings to the campus community and forwarded its final recommendations to me. After the final report was issued, the committee welcomed additional input and responses from students, faculty, and staff. We received 205 responses. Having weighed all of the information and input on the matter, I am satisfied that the committee has thoroughly researched and considered this issue. Therefore, I accept and concur with the committee's recommendations to make UT Arlington a tobacco-free campus. We are not telling anyone they can no longer use tobacco. That was never the intent, and it is not the case. Use of tobacco products is a personal choice. With the new policy, we're simply saying that the use of tobacco on campus will not be permissible and that we will become a tobacco-free campus by August 1, 2011. Meanwhile, during the next 21 months leading up to August 1, 2011, we will address issues of enforcement. During this time, we also will be more vigilant in enforcing our current policy, which prohibits smoking within 50 feet of any campus building. The one exception--and this is the only element of the recommendations that I would like to clarify--is that we will allow individuals to use tobacco products in their personal vehicles, provided they do so with the windows closed and properly dispose of waste material. No use of tobacco products will be permitted in University-owned vehicles, regardless of whether they are on campus or off campus. Additionally, I am pleased to report that the University is offering support for anyone who wishes to stop using tobacco. UT Arlington jds@uta.edu Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1778566.html http://tobacco.org/news/293107.html Students and faculty will no longer be allowed to light up on the University of Texas at Arlington's campus, President James Spaniolo said Friday, as the school becomes the first four-year college in the region to ban smoking and tobacco use campus wide. The ban is scheduled to take place in August 2011. "Many of us remember a time when smoking was commonplace in offices, malls, airplanes, public buildings, sports arenas, and even hospitals," Spaniolo said in a written response. "But times have changed, and it is time for UT Arlington to take the next step forward in protecting the health of our campus community." Fort Worth Star-Telegram /personas?plckUserId=@Nyx.Key (NATHANIEL JONES) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/112109dnmetuta.2d60fa06e.html http://tobacco.org/news/293106.html The University of Texas at Arlington is banning smoking on campus - indoors and out. The ban, announced today, takes effect in August 2011. It's believed to be the first of its kind at a four-year college in North Texas. "The use of tobacco is a serious issue that affects the health and well-being of our entire campus community," James Spaniolo, UTA's president, said in a written statement. "During the past two decades, we have experienced a sea change in attitudes, culture, policies, and laws related to tobacco use... [T]imes have changed, and it is time for UT Arlington to take the next step forward in protecting the health of our campus community." Dallas Morning News btomaso@dallasnews.com (BRUCE TOMASO / The Dallas Morning News) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.theshorthorn.com/content/view/18327/265/ http://tobacco.org/news/293105.html Students, faculty, staff and visitors will not be allowed to smoke or use tobacco products on campus after that date, President James Spaniolo announced Friday. In a letter addressing the issue, President James Spaniolo said during the next two years before the ban, the university will focus on vigilant enforcement of the current smoking policy, which doesn't allow anyone to smoke inside or within 50 feet of all campus buildings. Spaniolo said people will be allowed to use tobacco products in their personal vehicles, but only if the windows are up and products are disposed correctly. "This sentiment respects the belief that an individual vehicle is personal property," university spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said. "This is the president respecting personal space." The Shorthorn jim.cotten@yahoo.comNO Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://news10now.com/cny-news-1013-content/top_stories/488270/suny-cortland-says-no-thanks-to-big-tobacco?ap=1&MP4 http://tobacco.org/news/293104.html Studies show 18 to 25-year olds have the highest rate of tobacco use at 18 percent nationwide, and it's the only group whose numbers are not going down. SUNY Cortland has partnered with the Onondaga County Health department to address the issue, and educators told Tamara Lindstrom that means saying no thanks to big tobacco. . . . Concerns like these are driving SUNY Cortland to take a closer look at smoking policies. "Our buildings are tobacco-free. Our entire campus is not tobacco free. So we want to look at the outdoors because secondhand smoke certainly is a concern," said health educator Catherine Smith. That's just one of the initiatives included in the Colleges for Change program. The program aims to reduce smoking among students through education and tougher tobacco policies. About 14 percent of SUNY Cortland students smoke, lower than the national average. But educators want to see that number go down. News 10 Now Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://newsok.com/edmond-parks-board-oks-smoking-ban-plan/article/3419108 http://tobacco.org/news/293103.html The Edmond Parks and Recreation Advisory Board unanimously approved a proposed ordinance banning smoking in the city's parks and playgrounds. The ordinance now goes to the city council. If approved, the ordinance would go into effect 30 days later. Board member Dennis Shockley said the ordinance was drafted by City Attorney Steve Murdock and patterned after a similar ordinance adopted in Norman this summer. The ordinance prohibits smoking within 50 feet of Edmond city park playgrounds, including Pelican Bay Aquatic Center, and the fenced areas at all Edmond athletic complexes. NewsOK jduncan@newsok.com (JOHN A. WILLIAMS ) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/70664417.html http://tobacco.org/news/293102.html To help kick the habit of smoking, Glasgow residents are hoping to resurrect a previous ordinance that would ban smoking in all public buildings. Linda Craiger supports a ban on public smoking, but it's not just for her own health. "My mother has lung disease of long-standing and its difficult for her to be in a place where people are smoking," she says. WBKO TV 13 ryan.dearbone@wbko.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://blogs.federaltimes.com/federal-times-blog/2009/11/20/a-smoke-free-outdoors/ http://tobacco.org/news/293101.html Rep. Eliot Engel is trying again to ban smoking near federal buildings. The New York Democrat unsuccessfully introduced a bill during the last Congress to ban smoking within 25 feet of any federal building’s entrances, exits, windows that can be opened and ventilation intakes. Engel reintroduced the bill Nov. 18 to correspond with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out smoking-cessation campaign. The Surgeon General reported in 2006 that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. One step we can take in limiting such exposure is to free the entrances of buildings of the clouds of smoke often found when smokers gather outside of entrances and exits. The problem with this is simple – how else are people going to avoid secondhand smoke when the only ways in and out of a building is blocked by smoke?" The bill would clarify various levels of guidance involving smoking near federal buildings. Federal Times Blog dlindsey@atpco.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20091121/NEWS01/911210316/1002/rss01 http://tobacco.org/news/293100.html Confronted with a public smoking ban, higher sin taxes and more anti-smoking efforts, fewer Ohioans are lighting up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 20.2 percent of Ohioans smoked in 2008, a 7.5 percent decline from 2001, when Ohio ranked fourth in the country for smokers. The CDC data goes back to 1998, when the smoking rate was 26.2. Ohio now has the 17th-highest rate of smokers, according to the study. The CDC reports 21.5 percent of men in Ohio smoked and 19 percent of women. But there are fears those numbers could rise again. In 2008, the state cut funding for the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation, which funded community anti-smoking initiatives after the state received its share of a settlement with tobacco companies. The foundation began in 2000 with a $40 million budget. Chillicothe Gazette jalaimo@nncogannett.com (JESSICA ALAIMO CentralOhio.com ) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.atmoreadvance.com/articles/2009/11/21/news/news2.txt http://tobacco.org/news/293098.html Patients entering the ER at Atmore Community Hospital will be able to breath easier beginning Thursday when the campus goes smokefree - indoors and outdoors. The new policy coincides with the Great American Smokeout, a day set aside yearly to urge smokers to quit. "It's a company-wide initiative," ACH Administrator Bill Perkins said. "All of the Baptist Health Cares are going smokefree. Jay Hospital has already implemented the policy." Atmore Advance Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.atmoreadvance.com/articles/2009/11/21/news/news2.txt http://tobacco.org/news/293096.html Patients entering the ER at Atmore Community Hospital will be able to breath easier beginning Thursday when the campus goes smokefree - indoors and outdoors. The new policy coincides with the Great American Smokeout, a day set aside yearly to urge smokers to quit. "It's a company-wide initiative," ACH Administrator Bill Perkins said. "All of the Baptist Health Cares are going smokefree. Jay Hospital has already implemented the policy." Atmore Advance Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/santamonica/Will_Santa_Monica_Create_Non-Smoking_Apartments_and_Codos.php http://tobacco.org/news/293095.html The Santa Monicans for Non-Smoking Renters Rights wants the city to expand non-smoking laws by creating non-smoking sections in multifamily residential buildings, including individual units. The group is asking that the City Council review its current non-smoking laws, and look into expanding those laws to require that landlords designate sections of apartment buildings and condominiums as non-smoking. They also ask that City Council require landlords to disclose information on locations of smoking and non-smoking units to potential renters and buyers. The Santa Monicans for Non-Smoking Renters Rights, formerly known as the Alliance for Protection from Secondhand Smoke in Apartments and Condominiums, have been successful in the past when they lobbied the City Council to ban smoking in common areas of condominiums and apartments. The City Council has been urged to take up measures similar to that of Oakland and Calabasas Canyon News Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/11/21/stcharles/news/1122stc-smoke0.txt http://tobacco.org/news/293094.html Most Lake Saint Louis aldermen said Monday they are on board with pursuing a smoking ban for the city. Alderman John Pellerito, Ward 3, said he plans to draft a new ordinance that would ban all indoor smoking in public areas. Five of the city's six aldermen informally expressed support for the measure at their meeting Monday. One council member voted against pursuing a smoking ban, and the mayor also opposed the proposal. "I got a 5-to-1 vote of confidence to continue on with the smoking ban," Pellerito said. Suburban Journals jscott@yourjournal.com (Joe Scott) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.mcpost.com/article.php?id=2327 http://tobacco.org/news/293093.html When the statewide smoking ban took effect in 1999, Capitola's cigarette and cigar puffers were driven outdoors. But soon the outdoors -- or at least much of it -- may no longer be an option. A proposal put forth by Capitola Councilman Dennis Norton would ban smoking on the Esplanade, the wharf, at city parks, the library, City Hall and the Stockton Avenue Bridge. Beyond that, Norton also hinted at the possibility of a citywide ban in 2010 that would apply to all public outdoor spaces. Citing concerns about secondhand smoke and piles of cigarette butt litter, Norton says it's time to take action. Mid-County Post ads@mcpost.com (R.T. Sideman) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT